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It’s been a while since I drove to San Luis Obispo to get my hands on my favorite cake in the world: the Pink Champagne cake at the iconic Madonna Inn – which I found out thanks to Kacey Musgraves’ song “Dinner with Friends” from her 2024 Deeper Well album. I knew about some of these places in LA, but after this cake tour over the last four months, I have a newfound appreciation for cake in Los Angeles.
LA cake fanatics praise chains like SusieCakes, but I found the frosting on their signature vanilla cake so sweet I could barely finish it. I’ll give them props for the red velvet cake.
Another place I didn’t get the hype with is Sweet Lady Jane, where I tried their famous Triple Berry Cake many moons ago. Following the abrupt closure of their locations in 2023, Sweet Lady Jane is now under new ownership.
While LA has incredible cake shops — Hansen’s being one of the most popular — the only way to try them is by ordering an entire cake. But what if you want to treat yourself to a slice without splurging $40? These are the best places in LA to stop in for a slice (or two).
Magnolia Bakery
📍 8389 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
I can’t believe that not one single list mentions Magnolia Bakery for their cakes. Yes, they might be known for their world-famous banana pudding, but their old-fashioned cakes are my favorite, specifically the chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream. Their carrot cake is also one of their best-sellers. Additionally, they’re constantly adding seasonal cakes – like their Sweetheart Cake for Valentine’s, or the Pumpkin Spice Cake in the fall.
Their most popular cake, however, is the Hummingbird Cake, a delectable concoction of banana and pineapple, with pecans sprinkled throughout and covered in cream cheese icing. It’s so popular that it was sold out when I went there! This cake actually originated in Jamaica and gained widespread popularity in the South around the 1970s.
Magnolia Bakery: Website and Instagram
The White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake from Doan’s Bakery
📍 22526 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
I only came to know about this cake last year when Tom Hanks featured it on Mythical Kitchen’s show Last Meals, where celebrities eat their death row meals. Coined as the “Tom Cruise cake”, every year Tom Cruise sends this white chocolate bundt cake to his dearest peers in the entertainment industry. His rolodex includes Kirsten Dunst, Glen Powell, Jimmy Fallon and Dakota Fanning. Here’s the full list.
It was interesting to learn that the late Diane Keaton introduced Tom and his then-wife, Katie Holmes to the cake back in 2008. It happened during the filming of Mad Money, where Diane had the cake sent to New Orleans. Tom and Katie loved it so much that they bought several cakes for their holiday party in their new Beverly Hills mansion that year. Despite Tom’s convoluted romantic life, his love for this cake hasn’t dwindled in the slightest.
A whole cake retails for $140 and even ships nationwide (only through Goldbelly), but luckily, you can get an individual slice for $9. The Bundt cake is covered in cream cheese frosting, studded with bits of white chocolate, and sprinkled with coconut shavings, all of which surprisingly worked really well together. The cake itself was subtle and not too heavy, and I really enjoyed the white chocolate chunks.
It was really delicious, but not enough for me to choose it as my last dessert on planet Earth like Tom Hanks. Bundt cake is denser and has a firmer crust. I’m partial to a regular soft cake.
Karen Doan, who opened the bakery in 1983, passed away in 2023 at the age of 80. Today, her son Eric, along with his wife Carrie and their children, continue Karen’s legacy of doing everything with love. The bakery itself feels warm and cozy. If you want a peek behind the scenes to see how the cake is made, click here to watch Karen’s interview with Spectrum News in 2021.
Doan’s Bakery: Website and Instagram
The Princess cake
The princess cake, known as prinsesstårta, is arguably Sweden’s most famous dessert. The sponge cake is filled with raspberry jam and creme patisserie – topped with cream, and encased in a smooth layer of green marzipan. It’s gorgeous, incredibly inviting, and a strong contender for my favorite cake in Los Angeles.
Excerpt from lapatisseriedumonde.com: “Prinsesstårta has its origins in the 1920s with Jenny Akerstrom, a Swedish home economics guru who was an instructor to the three daughters of Prince Carl, Duke of Vastergotland: the Princesses Margaretha, Martha and Astrid. The cake was renamed Princess Cake rather than Gron Tarta or Green Cake because the Princesses loved the cake so much.”
In Europe, the Swedish princess cake is usually available by pre-order only at select bakeries. In LA, we’re lucky to be able to stroll in and get a slice at a few places. These are my two favorite spots.
The Princess cake From Quarter Sheets
📍 1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
In 2020, Hannah Ziskin cofounded Quarter Sheets with her husband Aaron Lindell, where they started selling pizza and cake out of their Glendale home. Deemed as the “LA Queen of Cake”, Hannah Ziskin won the Best New Chef award by the prestigious Food and Wine Magazine in 2023.
At the long-awaited brick-and-mortar in Echo Park, Hannah usually rotates her delectable slab cakes, but the princess cake is a permanent fixture on the menu, which, interestingly enough, is deeply rooted in her Los Angeles roots. Growing up, she would always get her birthday cake from Viktor Benes Bakery inside Gelson’s Markets.
To keep things fun and exciting, Hannah usually changes the color of the marzipan. Moreover, instead of the traditional oval shape, she rolls hers into a log, which makes for easier slicing.
It was as incredible as it looks in the pictures, and I relished every single bite. The first thing that stands out is the incredibly moist spongy cake, followed by the symphony of textures: airy cream, tart raspberry jam, and pliable, slightly chewy marzipan. A single slice is priced at $14, but given the quality and superb experience, I’m happy to pay for it.
To see more of Hannah’s beautiful creations, head over to her Instagram page. I had another slice at a different place, where the experience was vastly different. Everything about it was forgettable, especially the distinctively dry sponge cake!
Quarter Sheets does not offer preorders for cake slices, so you’ll need to show up at 5 pm and purchase your slice at the window. Unless you don’t mind waiting about an hour for a table without a reservation, taking it to go is your best bet.
Quarter Sheets: Website and Instagram
The Princess cake From Copenhagen Pastry
📍 11113 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Karen Hansen first came to the U.S. in the early 1980s at 19 years old as an au pair. She returned to Denmark a year later, only to find out that she missed the effervescent energy of Los Angeles. Two years later, she made the permanent move.
In 2013, Karen opened Copenhagen Pastry, a tiny slice of Denmark in Los Angeles, offering a wide array of Danish pastries she grew up with, including Mazarin cake, braided rolls, and flaky puffs, among the bakery’s many specialties. Even though princess cake is not Danish, it’s very popular in Scandinavian countries, and it is a best-seller at Copenhagen Pastry.
On a Saturday morning, there was a constant flow of customers coming in and out.
This princess cake was a joy to eat. It is smaller, softer and cheaper than Quarter Sheets’ – $6.75 a slice – though not quite as moist. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Pair it with a cup of coffee for a delicious breakfast treat. The bakery opens at 8 am but unfortunately, there’s no seating inside.
Copenhagen Pastry: Website and Instagram
The Strawberry whipped cream cake from Phoenix Bakery
📍 969 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
There is no doubt that Los Angeles has changed a lot in the last decades. However, one of the things that still remains the same since the last century, according to multiple reviews, is the strawberry whipped cream cake from Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown.
Founder Fung Chow Chan was born in China in 1909 and moved to the U.S. at 24 years old, in 1933, to study business administration at USC. At first, Fung Chow was going to sell Chinese antiques to American customers, but World War II forced him to pivot, so he started selling Western-style baked goods to the Chinese community. Phoenix Bakery was officially founded in 1938 by Fung Chow, his wife, and family members. It remains the oldest Chinese bakery in Los Angeles and has been recognized by the Los Angeles Conservancy for its historical and cultural significance.
Originally, the almond cookies were the bakery’s signature item. Soon after Fung Chow’s brother joined the bakery, their iconic strawberry whipped cream cake was born.
At a time where social media and food culture was non-existent, the cake didn’t gain popularity in LA until the 1970s. All of this is to say that you’ll find strawberry whipped cream cake at a handful of Asian bakeries across LA, but based on the reviews I’ve come across, Phoenix Bakery does it best.
The light sponge cake, luscious strawberries tucked into soft and airy whipped cream, and soft almond shavings for added texture made for a refreshing bite after a long drive back from Joshua Tree on a hot day. If you don’t want almonds on the frosting, you may have the option to remove them, although I highly recommend keeping them because they’re delicious. The bakery is also known for its almond cookies.
Today, third-generation members of Fung Chow, alongside longtime employees, work tirelessly every day to deliver the quality Fung Chow would have desired. Don’t miss out on their free coffee! If you want a whole cake, you can request it in a round, square, or rectangular shape.
Phoenix Bakery: Website and Instagram
Flouring LA
📍 932 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Born and raised in LA, Heather Wong is the founder of Flouring LA, a tiny cake shop tucked in Chinatown, offering eye-catching rectangular slices that resemble a painting. They’re topped with edible blooms, and they’re so pretty you won’t want to eat them! The shop is nicely decorated in lilac, reflecting Heather’s love for pastels and floral aesthetics.
Popular flavors include black sesame and ube coconut. However, if you’re visiting for the first time, my must-try flavors are passion fruit and chocolate. They’re not overly sweet and the thick buttercream provides a nice contrast with the spongy cake and its balanced flavors. You can either get individual slices, an assortment box, or pre-order a whole cake.
Flouring LA: Website and Instagram
The Olive oil cake from Little Flower Pasadena
📍1424 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
During the pandemic, the olive oil cake by Little House Confections went into a viral sensation: from collaborating with charities to having celebrities posing with it from their kitchens.
In 2021, they opened a short-lived brick-and-mortar — and I loved stopping by for a slice. Olive oil cake in LA is not that common, that’s why I was very surprised when I found out that the bakery Little Flower in Pasadena, in business since 2007, had their own specialty olive oil cake.
This olive oil cake checked all the boxes: soft and moist with rich citrus notes. The creamy glaze on top added a subtle sweetness without overpowering the cake. Although the fruits made for a nice presentation, the cake was already excellent on its own. Little Flower also has a chocolate version with espresso buttercream, but the original is by far their most popular.
In January 2026, founder Christine Moore passed away, but her legacy continues to live on through the bakery thanks to her children and dedicated staff.
With an acclaimed cookbook Little Flower Baking, Christine started baking from her home kitchen in Highland Park in the early aughts, making what would become her signature sea salt caramels and handmade marshmallows.
Little Flower: Website and Instagram
Proof Bakery
📍 3156 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Proof Bakery has been serving the Atwater Village neighborhood since 2010 – from perfectly laminated croissants to vibrant and mouthwatering cakes and pies. I had tried their croissant back in 2021, which made it to my croissant LA guide list. This time, I came back to try their Chocolate Miso Torte as soon as I saw it on Instagram back in March. A decadent chocolate sponge cake layered with a thick layer of miso caramel. The chocolate ganache was silky-smooth, with a slight stickiness that lingered on the palate. I didn’t take a picture of it, but here was another one of their offerings that day.
Their cakes are constantly changing, so by the time you’re reading this, it’s most likely the chocolate miso torte won’t be available. By the end of the month, the cake of the month for April was carrot cake. They’re always updating their cakes on their Instagram, so keep an eye on their page!
The bakery also gets very busy, so make sure you come early!
Proof Bakery: Website and Instagram
The Ube Coffee Cake from San & Wolves
📍 3900 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814
San & Wolves was the first vegan Filipino bakery in California, and they have the best coffee cake in town.
I remember interviewing founder Kym Estrada back in 2021, (read full interview here), when I had to wait almost two hours in line at one of her Long Beach pop-ups, and even met a woman who drove all the way from Orange County. In 2024, after gaining a massive cult-following over the years, Kym finally opened San & Wolves’ brick-and-mortar in the beautiful neighborhood of Belmont Heights.
The bakery, albeit tiny, is a well-oiled machine, offering a wide array of nostalgic Filipino treats. It’s also ube galore: ube cookies, ube Pop-Tarts, ube ensaymada, ube macapuno cake, ube cheez pandesal, ube buns, and my favorite, the ube coffee cake—with deep ube flavor, cinnamon undertones, and a moist, tender crumb. If you have sufficient self-control, I highly recommend pairing it with a cup of coffee at home in the morning. I love how the bitterness of the coffee beautifully balances the sweetness of the cake.
On my last trip, the person in front of me got the last one, so I got a slice of the Chocolate Black Sesame Cake instead, which I highly recommend. The chocolate was delicious and the black sesame buttercream was not too sweet. Everything is so good that it’s hard to believe it’s 100% vegan! This reminds me that I have to drive down there soon for more treats.
Note: website pre-orders are not available on the weekends.
San & Wolves: Website and Instagram
Sweet Red Peach
📍 Inglewood, Pasadena, Carson
As a former school teacher in Compton, Karolyn Plummer used her retirement money to fund her dream business in the year 2000 – where she baked for her family and sold her pastries at local events. The name is an homage to the three bestselling items: sweet potato pie, red velvet and peach cobbler.
Sweet Red Peach opened in 2011 in Inglewood, becoming a neighborhood staple. It is very beloved in the Black community for its Southern treats and cake slices, including flavors like Blue Velvet, Carrot, German Chocolate, and White Vanilla. In 2023, the bakery started expanding with two additional locations in LA (Pasadena and Carson) and two in Atlanta.
I went to the original location on a Friday afternoon, where there was a small line and most of the slices were already sold out. A lovely middle-aged woman standing behind me asked if it was my first time there. She told me she loved all the cakes and was surprised there wasn’t a long line that day. “Sometimes it wraps around the block. Everything is so good here. I love it.” she said
I got two slices: carrot and red velvet cake.
The carrot cake was incredible, with its crushed walnuts and carrot shreds, but it was the cream cheese frosting that took the cake (no pun intended): incredibly smooth and not too sweet. I’m a sucker for red velvet cake, and this one was another winner, with that same cream cheese frosting perfectly complementing the cake’s soft, moist crumb.
I also love anything birthday cake-flavored, and I look forward to trying theirs!
Sweet Red Peach: Website and Instagram
There’s no doubt that Los Angeles has incredible bakeries to stop by for a slice of cake, and I hope you found a new spot you’d like to try through this post!
