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EMPIRE CAKE

Updated

Phone: (212) 242-5858

Address: 112 8 AVENUE 10011

TLDR

Go-to for stunning, moist cakes w/ perfect buttercream ratios. Praised for classic American flavors & unique crème fraîche tang.

Reddit Sentiment for EMPIRE CAKE(based on 57 Reddit opinions)

93% Positive7% Neutral

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

american 13bakery 2cake 27cookies 7cakes 4View All

Neighborhoods

Chelsea

Details

Known for its classic American-style cakes, this bakery consistently delivers moist, flavorful creations with a perfect buttercream-to-cake ratio. Reviewers rave about their vintage-style designs and the subtle tang from the crème fraîche base, which sets their cakes apart. Whether you're looking for a custom birthday cake or a delightful slice of their famous Brooklyn Blackout, this spot is a go-to for satisfying your sweet cravings.

Food Overview

This bakery specializes in classic American-style cakes, celebrated for their moist texture, rich buttercream, and well-balanced sweetness. Highly recommended items include the Brooklyn Blackout cake, black and white cookies, and various swiss rolls. The crème fraîche base in their cakes adds a distinctive tang that customers appreciate.

Highlights / Recommended

"Customers highly recommend the classic American-style cakes, particularly the vanilla base with crème fraîche for its moist texture and slight tang. Specific favorites include the Brooklyn Blackout cake, black and white cookies, and Swiss rolls."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • swiss rolls(2)
  • rainbow cookies(2)

Customer Sentiment

Customers overwhelmingly praise the bakery for its exceptional cakes, highlighting the perfect balance of sweetness and moisture, and the quality of their buttercream. The unique tang from the crème fraîche base is a frequently mentioned highlight.

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About EMPIRE CAKE

Multiple users highly recommend Empire Cake for its classic American-style cakes, specifically noting the moist texture, excellent buttercream ratios, and the unique crème fraîche base that provides a slight tang. It's a long-standing favorite for birthday cakes.
Empire Cake is frequently mentioned as a top contender for the best black and white cookies in NYC, with many praising their elevated take on this classic. Some even suggest their 'breads' version is the best pastry of any kind.
This bakery is recommended for its classic American-style cakes and cupcakes, with users noting they freeze well. The rainbow cookies and Brooklyn Blackout snackcake are specifically highlighted as delicious and popular choices for gifts or personal enjoyment.
Empire Cake is a favorite for American-style cakes, with special mention of their 'Raspberry Lemon' and 'Liz Lemon' cakes, both featuring vanilla cake with lemon curd and distinct buttercream. Their classic vanilla-vanilla is also highly praised.
Empire Cake in Chelsea is recommended as a great spot for birthday cakes. The black and white cookies, swiss roll, and Twix bars are also called out as delicious items.
The pignoli cookie from Empire Cake is recommended as a top pick. The bakery is known for a variety of baked goods including cookies and cakes.
The Brooklyn Blackout cake from Empire Cake is specifically recommended as a top choice.
Empire Cake is recommended, with a particular favorite being their Swiss rolls dipped in dark chocolate. The bakery has locations in Chelsea and Greenwich Village.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Yellow Cake With Chocolate Frosting

"This user agrees with the recommendation for Empire Cakes."

Positive
Mar 1, 2026View Comment →

From post: Yellow Cake With Chocolate Frosting

"This user recommends Empire Cakes, stating it's their go-to for classic American-style cakes and they execute them very well."

Positive
Mar 1, 2026View Comment →

From post: Light Lemon Cake

"This commenter reiterates that Empire Cakes is their favorite place for cakes, praising even their simple vanilla-vanilla as the best due to the crème fraiche base which adds a special touch."

Positive
Feb 25, 2026View Comment →

From post: Light Lemon Cake

"The commenter agrees that Empire Cakes are their favorite bakery in the city."

Positive
Feb 25, 2026View Comment →

From post: Light Lemon Cake

"The commenter loves Empire Cakes in general for American-style cakes and highlights two specific lemon cake options: Raspberry Lemon and Liz Lemon. They inquire if the user was looking for a lemon-flavored cake itself or just a lemon filling."

Positive
Feb 25, 2026View Comment →

From post: Cake Slice Rec

"This user recommended Empire Cakes, describing their cake as classic American style but with crème fraîche in the base for a slight tang and depth. They found it less sweet than other popular options."

Positive
Feb 18, 2026View Comment →

From post: Red Velvet

"The author enjoys Empire Cakes for their basic American style cakes, describing them as dense, moist, with a great, sweet but not cloying buttercream. They also mentioned that the bakery offers red velvet, though they are unsure if they have personally tried it, but have not had any disappointing items from them."

Positive
Feb 3, 2026View Comment →

From post: Birthday Dinner In Nyc Italianamerican Recs

"Empire Cakes was recommended for their classic American-style buttercream cakes, which are also available as cupcakes or slices."

Positive
Dec 29, 2025View Comment →

From post: Rich Doublechocolate Cookies With White Cream In

"Empire Cakes is suggested as a place that likely has whoopie pies, which are similar to the dessert the original poster is looking for."

Neutral
Dec 9, 2025View Comment →

From post: What To Bring The Family From Nyc

"This user shares their habit of taking home leftover cake from Empire Cake, freezing it for future enjoyment."

Positive
Nov 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: What To Bring The Family From Nyc

"This user describes ordering a full quarter-sheet of Empire Cake's rainbow cookies and freezing them, and also buys birthday cakes from there for loved ones."

Positive
Nov 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: What To Bring The Family From Nyc

"This user agrees that Empire Cake is excellent for classic American-style buttercream cakes and cupcakes, and notes that their cakes freeze well."

Positive
Nov 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: What To Bring The Family From Nyc

"This user recommends Empire Cake for their fancy versions of NYC classics like rainbow cookies and black-and-white cookies, also praising their snackcakes, particularly the Brooklyn Blackout."

Positive
Nov 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: Best Midtown Bakeriescafes

"Empire Cake is recommended, and the user particularly enjoyed their Swiss rolls dipped in dark chocolate. The bakery has locations in Chelsea and Greenwich Village."

Positive
Nov 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where To Find Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Glaze

"This user suggested Empire Cake as a place that might have the specific type of vanilla cake with chocolate glaze the original poster was looking for."

Neutral
Nov 7, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where To Find A White Cake With Lemon And

"Responding to a query about frosting, this user suggests that Empire Cakes could potentially customize their vanilla cake with lemon filling to have regular buttercream instead of raspberry, and could offer this as cupcakes or a 6" cake."

Positive
Nov 5, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where To Find A White Cake With Lemon And

"This user expresses a positive sentiment towards Empire Cakes, stating they 'love Empire'."

Positive
Nov 5, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where To Find A White Cake With Lemon And

"Empire Cakes is suggested as a bakery that makes excellent cakes, offering two versions with vanilla cake and lemon filling but different buttercream flavors."

Positive
Nov 4, 2025View Comment →

From post: Birthday Cake Nyc

"This is a confirmation of the recommendation for Empire Cakes."

Positive
Oct 17, 2025View Comment →

From post: Birthday Cake Nyc

"Empire Cakes is loved for its classic American-style sweet buttercream cakes."

Positive
Oct 16, 2025View Comment →