Whether you’re celebrating – or just celebrating life – there’s never a wrong time for cake. With that in mind, we've hunted down the best cake shops in every state, from spots selling candy-inspired cakes and tropical fruit wonders to old-school bakeries offering multi-tiered constructions and treats by the slice.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most amazing cake shops across the United States, counting down to the greatest of all.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

For truly fabulous cakes, head to Peggy Ann Bakery – a Huntsville institution that's been baking show-stopping creations since 1953. It's not just the bespoke orders that get customers talking, though; they also love the amazing selection of smaller sweet treats on offer, in particular the petits fours.

German cake shop Konditor Meister, open since 1985, serves what customers say are the best cakes and pastries in the Boston area. You'll find an impressive array of treats in its display case, but the strawberry Grand Marnier cake (gold cake with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, buttercream frosting, chocolate drizzle, chocolate-covered strawberries, and chocolate shavings) is the all-time favorite. The Christmas chocolate yule log is also a hit.

In beautiful Mountain View, Eva’s Cupcakery is run by Eva Perry, a former teacher and United States Air Force veteran from Alabama. Here you can get outrageously good cupcakes, baked fresh daily in flavors like sweet potato, sour cream pound cake, red velvet, and pink lemonade, as well as customized cakes for special occasions. Customers say the prices are excellent and comment on how accommodating and friendly Eva is.

City Cakes & Cafe is a dream of a shop for those seeking vegan and gluten-free baked goods. Its selection of whole cakes changes daily, but might include chocolate, vanilla, carrot, lemon, red velvet, marble, spice, lemon coconut, and orange poppy cakes, all of which are iced with vegan buttercream. Customers say they’re fantastic and add that the service is great, too. The spot also makes custom bakes.

At Aggie’s Bakery & Cake Shop, around since 1977, there are so many options. It has cakes in store ready to be picked up, 'quick cakes' (simple custom cakes that can be ready in six hours), and more complicated, showstopping designs that require a few days' notice. In terms of flavors, the choice is equally vast, with fillings like strawberry French cream and peanut butter cream cheese.

In the mood for a slice of cake in Houston? Red Dessert Dive has the most bright and beautiful offerings. Past flavors include a passion fruit cake with guava buttercream, blackberry pie (cinnamon vanilla cake with blackberry buttercream), and lime cake. The flavors change daily, but you can be sure that whatever's on offer will be incredible.

Peruvian cake shop Azucar Bakery is the place to go in Denver for all sorts of sweet treats. Here you'll find a whole host of round and sheet cakes, including almond cake with cream cheese filling, banana cake with Bavarian cream, guava cake with guava whipped cream, and zucchini cake with whipped cream and fruit filling. The mini chocolate cake with Bavarian cream and chocolate ganache is a favorite among customers.

The number one destination for cake in Sioux Falls is Queen City Bakery. Venture into the store and you'll find a few cakes available by the slice; while they might be a little expensive, customers say they're worth it (flavors have included sour cream coffee and passion fruit). If you want a whole bake, there are options available to order online such as carrot cake and red velvet cake.

Heaven for cake lovers, The Butterwood Bake Consortium has cake slices, vegan cake slices, olive oil cake, tea cake, whole cakes, and tiered cakes. The dessert shop prides itself on using organic flour and cocoa powder, local butter, local organic eggs, and no artificial ingredients. Customers are big fans of the shop's creative flavor combinations, such as sweet potato cake with chocolate buttercream.

The 'by the slice' options at Mia’s Brooklyn Bakery are vast. From Nutella cake (a chocolate cake with biscotti, chocolate mousse, and Nutella) to lemon blueberry cake (a lemon sponge with fresh whipped cream and blueberries), they're all delicious. The wedges are big, the sponge is fluffy and moist, and the flavors are amazing. It’s no wonder this place is always busy!

The star at small, family-owned Japanese pastry shop Suzuya Patisserie is the strawberry shortcake. It features the lightest, airiest sponge brushed with Kirschwasser syrup and decorated with fresh strawberries and vanilla Chantilly cream. The showstopper comes in a number of sizes, from individual portions to a full sheet cake. Customers say the presentation is beautiful, the ratio of cake to cream is perfect, and it's not overly sweet. The coffee and customer service get good reviews, too.

Missoula gem Bernice's Bakery, which opened in 1978, has unusual in-store cakes like Lemon Wine (lemon-infused white wine sponge, lemon curd, and yellow buttercream) and Camel Spit (dark chocolate sponge, Ding Dong candy, caramel, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel buttercream). The spot also accepts custom orders and regularly thrills patrons with its birthday and gender reveal cakes.

The Matilda Cake from For the Love of Sugar is legendary. It’s a rich chocolate cake filled with dark chocolate buttercream, and customers can't get enough of it. Stop by the bakery for other mouthwatering flavors by the slice, or order in advance for whole cakes and custom bakes. There's an abundance of gluten-free and vegan options, too.

This big red bakery is a community hub. It hosts live music, showcases artwork, and offers some of the best cakes in New Orleans. Bywater Bakery’s signature bakes include a chocolate Doberge (yellow butter cake, chocolate custard, buttercream, and chocolate ganache) and a berry Chantilly (white almond cake, mascarpone Chantilly icing, and seasonal berries). Watch out for the sweet and savory king cakes during Mardi Gras – there's even a crawfish one.

The dessert case at La Galette French Bakery is impressive. It’s always fully stocked with cakes by the slice, with options including Chantilly (white cake with whipped cream and fresh fruit), carrot cake, chocolate cake, strawberry cake, and red velvet. Customers rave about how polite and attentive the staff are, saying the place is a true gem.

This friendly bakery on the prairie isn't like big city bakeries; its daily offering is a lot smaller. But that’s not to say it’s not just as exciting. Customers are big fans of the coffee cake, carrot cake, and flourless chocolate cake. The bakery is also known to put inspired additions on its menu, including a Kiev cake (a very light chiffon cake featuring layers of meringue, cashew nuts, apricot preserve, caramel, and chocolate buttercream).

One of the more unusual cake shops out there, Rock City Cake Company’s storefront has a loft and stage for live music. You can expect to find cakes decorated to the nines with thick frosting, chocolate drizzles, whipped cream, sprinkles, and fruit. It also sells cupcakes, cake balls, and other baked goods. The spot gets great reviews for its custom creations and recently made a birthday cake for actor Halle Berry.

Satisfy your cake cravings with a whole cake or slice from hip dessert shop Shyndigz. The salted chocolate caramel cake and fresh fruit cake (a vanilla sponge with cream cheese icing, fresh pineapple, and berries), are available every day, as well as a gluten-free Cake du Jour (check the cake calendar to see what’s coming up). Customers also love the Lemon Lava Cake (lemon-soaked sponge, white chocolate mousse, strawberry coulis, and vanilla buttercream). Whatever you get, it's bound to be tasty – and the slices are huge.

Charlotte’s Villani’s Bakery is a New York Italian–style bakery serving pastries, muffins, cookies, cheesecakes, macarons, and cake by the slice. The cakes come in many flavors, but the red velvet version is said to really hit the spot. Looking for a whole bake? Call ahead to reserve one.

At Sweet Somethings, which specializes in cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and wedding cakes, you can see right into the kitchen where the desserts are made. It has amazing-looking creations including chocolate espresso mousse cakes, caramel apple cakes, pumpkin walnut cakes, and Limoncello tortes. Custom cakes must be ordered at least a week in advance. Don’t need a whole cake? The marble cupcake with chocolate mousse filling and buttercream icing is a hit.

You'll be spoiled for choice at Forever Sweet Bakery. Customers can pick from classic cakes such as strawberry shortcake and Black Forest cake, as well as custom cakes, cupcakes, 'pull-apart cakes' (cupcakes arranged together and decorated as one), cake pops, push pops, cupcakes in a jar, and cake bouquets. The bakery is great at accommodating last-minute orders, and people often comment on the excellent service.

A retro cake shop in a 1940s building, Dempsey Bakery is entirely gluten, wheat, soy, and nut-free – which patrons often find hard to believe, as everything tastes so good. It nearly always has chocolate drizzle cake and hot milk cake (an old-fashioned vanilla sponge) available, while carrot and strawberry Champagne cakes come and go. If you have something particular in mind, you can request a custom cake.

At this cute Phoenix spot, you can get your hands on stunning occasion cakes like Funfetti birthday cakes, Italian cassata cakes (featuring white sponge, ricotta cream filling, cinnamon, chocolate chips, and whipped cream), and rice crispy treat cakes. Its storefront has a plush seating area, with a fantastic assortment of tempting cupcakes, macarons, cannoli, and cookies on display.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine opened its doors in 2003, bringing cozy vintage vibes – and an incredible array of sweet bakes – to Lower Manhattan. The spot is particularly famed for its perfect cupcakes, which are available in a range of taste bud–tingling flavors, from red velvet to pumpkin. However, the crowd favorite has to be the Ooey Gooey: a dark chocolate cupcake with chocolate-almond buttercream and sprinkles. The shop also sells layer cakes, brownies, pies, bundt cakes, and a seriously good selection of vegan treats.

For a tiny cake shop, Baked on 8th produces a huge number of cakes. In store, you can buy both whole cakes (in case you need one last minute) and cakes by the slice. The fan favorite is the vanilla almond cake, a simple but beautiful vanilla almond bake with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles.

Going strong since 1986, Mrs. Goodman’s Baking Co. is known for making the best cakes in town. Its signatures are Boston cream pie cake (white sponge, Bavarian cream, and chocolate ganache), daffodil cake (angel food cake with orange buttercream), and pineapple upside-down cake. While you’re here, be sure to pick up a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting for the road.

Fargo’s best spot for coffee and cake, Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café has been around since 2003. In store, there's a small – but delicious – array of cakes on offer, which you can order by the slice. If you’d like a whole cake for an event, pre-order from the selection online. We love the sound of the raspberry lemon mousse cake and the apricot almond cake with vanilla bean buttercream and apricot preserve.

Argentine bakery and café Dulce De Leche Bakery has three New Jersey stores: one in West New York, one in Jersey City, and one in Englewood. In the display cases you can find whole cakes such as strawberry shortcake (vanilla sponge, fresh whipped cream, and strawberries) and a much-loved tres leches cake (vanilla sponge, Bavarian cream, dulce de leche, and peach). More complicated custom designs require a few weeks' notice.

This small, family-run bakery is known for creating excellent custom cakes, and it regularly exceeds customer expectations with its beautiful, moist, and flavorful bakes. The bakery is beloved by locals and prides itself on being part of the community, winning rave reviews for its friendly service and its delightful range of colorful cupcakes.

This little bakery in Saco is known for having lovely owners and for selling cake that’s consistently incredible. Classic flavors include Italian rum cake (chiffon cake with rum syrup, vanilla and chocolate cream, frosting, and sliced almonds) and lemon raspberry cake (chiffon cake, raspberry jam, lemon filling, and whipped cream frosting). The customer favorite is the Boston cream pie.

At Main Street Cafe & Bakery, there’s savory food, cookies, cupcakes, cake balls, and cake pops, but customers say the cake is the best thing here. The almond cake and lavender lemonade cake are highly recommended – and if you're in the mood for something seasonal, the bakery also rotates limited-edition varieties like salted caramel pumpkin cakes and chocolate peppermint cakes.

Walking into the award-winning Cake Bake Shop is quite something. It has French doors, chandeliers, and French-inspired furniture and mirrors, and it changes its decorations every season. The cakes here are equally impressive and have featured on the Rachael Ray Show and Oprah Winfrey’s The O List. The raspberry Champagne cake is the all-time favorite. There's a location in Broad Ripple Village, one in Carmel City Center, and another in Disney's BoardWalk at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Bake is a cute and colorful cake shop serving up freshly baked cookies, moist cupcakes, scones, and greeting cards, which is super helpful if you’re a last-minute kind of person. You'll need to pre-order if you want to try one of its much-loved whole cakes, though. Customer favorites include s’more cake (chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, Graham crackers, and a toasted marshmallow meringue top) and Nutella cake (malt cake with Nutella buttercream).

Old-fashioned German cake shop Schubert’s Bakery never disappoints. Its bestsellers include Swedish Princess cake (a fluffy white sponge with layers of raspberry and Kirsch custard, whipped cream, and a marzipan coating) and Opera Cake (a rich hazelnut sponge with chocolate truffle and mocha-praline filling, chocolate ganache icing, and toasted almonds). You can even get personalized cakes for special occasions.

A favorite in Montpelier for last-minute cakes and custom creations, Birchgrove Baking offers an almond cake with caramel buttercream and salted caramel that's so popular it regularly sells out. Other daily bakes include lemon meringue cake and German chocolate cake – they’re great if you’ve forgotten an event or birthday.

Farina Bakery is a big hit for colorful macarons, delicious custom cakes, and cake by the slice. It has choices like vegan chocolate raspberry cake (featuring a marbled vanilla raspberry sponge, chocolate fudge buttercream, and sprinkles) and a lemon poppyseed chiffon cake: a bright, fresh cake filled with raspberry jam and lemon buttercream.

Bright blue café Pastiche opened on historic Federal Hill in 1983. It offers cake by the slice to walk-in customers, and whole cakes online – it can add an inscription for free, but it doesn’t do custom designs or wedding cakes. Popular choices include tiramisù and gluten-free coconut cake (made with coconut and almond flour, cream cheese frosting, and shredded coconut). Customers say it’s Rhode Island's best place for cake, hands down.

Calling itself a European-style café, Ganache Patisserie offers decadent cakes, tarts, and croissants. If you’re dining in, you can expect delights like chocolate hazelnut mousse cake and Champagne apricot Cointreau cake. You can also pre-order breathtaking custom cakes covered in buttercream, ganache, and macarons. Plenty of customers say the cakes here are the best they've ever had.

Deja Vu Cupcakes describes its colorful selection of cute-as-can-be sweet treats as 'baked fantasy for your palate,' so you just know there are going to be some magical flavors on offer here. Besides regular favorites like Crazy Carrot, Chocolaty Chocolate, and Nutty Coconut (all of which are fairly self-explanatory), customers can occasionally find extra-special seasonal cupcakes on offer here – think Guinness Baileys Irish Cream and Custard Heaven (pictured).

One of the most beloved cake shops in New Mexico, Q’s Cakes and Sweets Boutique was opened by Air Force veteran Queneesha Meyers in 2009. Here, you can get cakes by the slice (in flavors like red velvet, chocolate, Key lime, and Neapolitan), plus cupcakes, brownies, bars, and pies. Meanwhile, whole cakes are made to order, and customers love the attention to detail.

The charming, independent Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop is the place to go for a slice of cake in Omaha. Past creative flavors include a 'La Vie En Rose' cake (a vanilla sponge made with rose petal–infused milk and frosted with a light cardamom rose buttercream) and a praline-pecan carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. In the display case, you'll find delights like cinnamon rolls, baked cake donuts, and slices of coffee cake.

For ready-to-go individual cakes, custom cakes, and impeccable customer service, Fleur De Lis Gourmet Bakery is the place to visit. Its four-layer chocolate raspberry cake (with raspberry liqueur, raspberry marmalade, dark chocolate ganache, whole raspberries, and white chocolate shavings) and strawberry cream cheese Bavarian (light, yellow cake with cream cheese mousse and whole sweet strawberries) are magnificent choices.

You may recognize Jason Hisley from Food Network’s Cake Wars. Cake By Jason Hisley is the chef’s cool cake shop in Lutherville-Timonium, and it's home to masterpieces such as the 24 Carrot (a gold-coated carrot cake with cream cheese filling and vanilla buttercream frosting) and the strawberry swirl (vanilla cake, strawberry preserve, and strawberry buttercream). Whatever cake you order is sure to be moist, delicious, and superbly executed.

Lovely independent bakery Martine’s Pastries has been serving the Lexington community since 1999. It’s known for its pistachio cake, but you can't go wrong with other varieties like yellow butter and raspberry cake, Champagne and strawberry cake, and triple chocolate cake. Got an occasion coming up? You can buy whole cakes in the bakery's signature flavors or put in an order for a custom creation.

This cute and cozy family-run bakery creates custom cakes as well as freshly made sweet treats including pastries, cream pies, cheesecakes, muffins, cake pops, cake bars, and scones. Customers rate the super-friendly service and say Granny C's is the perfect spot to catch up with a friend over a delicious coffee and a sweet bite to eat.

A beautiful store reminiscent of a Japanese cake shop, cakeM is known for its chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake (fluffy vanilla sponge, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream), and fruit roll cake (a roulade made with vanilla sponge, seasonal fruit, and fresh cream) – which you can buy whole or as an individual portion. Customers say it’s on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for: fresh, delicious, great-quality cake.

If you stop by Sweet Theory Baking Co., you can be sure everything on display will have been made that morning and that the coffee cake and lemon loaf will be sensational. You can also pre-order incredible occasion cakes, including a cinnamon roll cake and a 'So Fudging Good' cake featuring a brownie layer, frosting, chocolate chips, and a caramel drizzle. There are some great gluten-free options, too. 

A bakery that specializes in cakes flavored with tropical fruits from Hawaii, Cakes of Paradise Bakery has a cult following. Its bestsellers include guava cake (strawberry sponge, guava filling, and whipped topping) and rainbow cake (a layered strawberry, lime, and orange cake with a guava, lime, and passion fruit filling). Both cakes are fresh, light, fluffy, flavorful, perfectly sweet, and reasonably priced.

The quaint, family-owned Main Street Bakery stocks vanilla and chocolate buttercream cakes, lemon cakes, coconut pineapple cakes, sweet potato pound cakes, and more, by the slice or whole. Customers say all the flavors are delicious and that the cakes are moist, the icing sweet, and the portions generous. The shop also makes dreamy custom occasion cakes with rosettes, ganache drips, and sugar flowers.

If you're in the mood for something sweet and are in the Concord area, local favorite The Crust and Crumb has miniature versions of its tortes, carrot cakes, mousse cakes, and layer cakes in its display case every day. Top choices include a flourless chocolate torte (a dense, dark chocolate cake) and a lemon-raspberry layer cake (lemon sponge, lemon curd, raspberry preserve, and lemon buttercream). Full-size versions of these treats can be pre-ordered.

Everyone raves about how moist and fluffy The Cakery’s buttercream cakes are. Like most shops, you can order delicious custom-made cakes for special occasions here, but its ready-to-go cakes really stand out (and are perfect for when you need something sweet at the last minute). Flavors include French vanilla, strawberry, and banana, and they staff will even pipe a personal message on top.

The Sweet Spot Bakery in Duluth has a legion of loyal customers who swear by how light, fluffy, and moist its cakes are. The bakery is famous for its hard-to-find flavors, including milk tea, pandan, lychee, and taro. Struggling to choose? The tres leches mini cake slices and cupcakes are sensational.

Now discover the best independent bakery in every state

Last updated by Jessica Morris.