Erin McKenna’s Bakery
“Babycakes, a bakery that is famous for its wide offerings of sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan sweets, is DA BOMB!”
“the cookie sandwiches are the best vegan treat i've ever had & the cornbread is killer.”
“Their agave-sweetened brownie bites are also perfectly delicious, and the portions are just right.”
Erin McKenna’s Bakery
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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$4.75 for a tiny cupcake is insane! The brownie mocha was fudgey and tasty, but it was a little too sweet and too "just ok" to be that expensive. Extra star for being a tasty gluten free bakery with options, though.
Best place for vegan baked goods. I also have two of her cookbooks which are unbeatable but to have it in person made by her shop — just divine.
The chocolate covered donut was my favorite but I also liked the Samoa, caramel covered and the apple churro.
They're expensive but worth every penny. She knows how to bake vegan that every person alive would like. Rivals any non-vegan baked goods.
Just as a warning: I only got the donuts and a churro. I cannot speak to the cookies or cupcakes bc I have places back in Richmond that do both of those things. Nowhere that does donuts.
Keep up the great work, Erin. We will always visit you when we come through town.
This place is heavenly if you love gluten free and began products. Half of the products are just as tasty! I know a lot of people hear vegan and simply turn and walk the other way, but this is definitely something everyone should try! It'll definitely change your perspective on gluten free and vegan.
Try the vanilla glazed donuts! They are DELISH.
Yesterday was my nephew's 12th birthday. Since he was a baby he's been allergic to everything–eggs, milk, peanuts, seafood, you name it. He's been a trooper his whole life, but it's always been hard to watch whenever we'd have parties for him and he can't even eat his own cake. We looked all around for any kind of recipe or bakery that could accommodate his needs, but finding a bakery that doesn't deal with milk, eggs, and cream is like trying to find a flower shop that doesn't deal with roses, carnations, and lilies.
After a bit of Googling trying to figure out "allergy safe food", it struck me that there's been a solution in our face the whole time: vegan food.
Veganism has gotten kind of a mixed rap over the years because, well let's face it, there's a vocal minority of adherents can get to the point of literal religious fanaticism, chastising meat eaters as veritable heretics. But something else I've found over the years is that, the vast majority of vegans are just regular folks who happen to care for animals and the natural world and who want to eat cleaner and healthier. Certainly not a bad thing for us carnivores to do. I'm not Jewish either, but I do enjoy eating Kosher from time to time for similar reasons.
And so I rode my Citi Bike down to Erin McKenna's bakery. It's a little tough to find, you need to walk on Broome Street and then you'll see a sign that says "Babycakes Bakery".
It's a small space and even when I went an hour before closing it was pretty busy. I admit, not being a vegan I wasn't sure what to order, but the young lady behind the counter was super helpful and just picked out some assorted doughnuts and cupcakes when I asked. There were Madeleines on the counter too, so I decided to treat myself and get a couple.
While the Yelp review gives it one dollar sign, my order was a bit pricier than that–the total came out to about $60 for 6 donuts and 6 cupcakes. But for me it was worth it just to see my nephew be able to eat real cake with the rest of the family for the first time.
As for the taste, the best thing I can say to someone who's not used to vegan cooking is to set your expectations. Obviously without eggs or milk it's going to be a bit denser and drier than your typical cupcake from Magnolia or Crumbs. But the flavor is definitely fantastic. I enjoyed my Madeleines immensely, and the first comment people had when they saw the cupcakes was, "they made these without milk or eggs?!"
This is one where I'll definitely be back, at least once a year on my nephew's birthday, and maybe more than that.
A little pricey, but I guess a lot of work goes into making vegan baked goods. I saw this place featured on TV and decided to check it out, despite not being vegan.
It's a small store, so most people buy things to-go. There is a range of baked goods for sale, from cupcakes to muffins to donuts to pastries. The interior was cozy.
I ordered a salted caramel donut. It was different (had a crumbly texture), but pretty good in my opinion. Service was friendly too.
Not sure that I would call it a must-try place, but definitely a useful option for people with dietary restrictions/allergies.
Babycakes!
Friendly staff. Flavors do run out by the end of the day.
Cupcake Tops – $2 – I tried chocolate, vanilla, and carrot. Tasted like they should. Carrot was my favorite. The top is favorite part of the cupcake! More bakeries need to do this!
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie – $1.75 – Big cookie.
Cupcakes – $4.95 – I tried banana and vanilla. Banana was really good, like banana bread. Vanilla was pretty basic.
I loved their pastries and I did not even know they were vegan. I don't know how they do it but everything tasted the same and the textures were spot on.
$5 something for 2 small chocolate chip cookies with a little frosting in between…no thanks. My gf and I were not impressed. We took a few bites and then mutually decided it was not worth the calories. Maybe I'm just ruined as I compare all cookies to the ones at Levain Bakery, but this was our honest experience. Sorry baby cakes.
For someone looking for gluten-free / vegan baked goods in NYC, Erin McKenna's Bakery is a great place to start.
Tucked away on the lower east side I was surprised by its out of the way location assuming it'd be on more of a thoroughfare.
Walking into the cute and tiny shop I asked for recommendations. Inquiring of my likes and dislikes the staff ended up pointing me toward their coconut and coffee crunch donuts. I selected both without hesitation.
There's seating for one or two at the front window or at a small bench outside. I made use of both on the two trips I took here during my stay in the city. The donuts were light and flavorful. The toppings crunchy, fresh and not overly sweet. The cake dough was lighter than other GF donuts I've had in the past, which I liked. Not airy as in traditional flour donuts, but not dense like birthday cake either.
The only drawback for me is that on both occasions what I ate sat in my stomach like a rock for hours after.
Overall, for gluten-free baking, Erin McKenna provides something sweet without asking those with sensitivities to compromise.