Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-6644
Following a successful dessert catering business, Amy Berman and her husband decided to culminate their culinary dream and opened Vanilla Bake Shop a few blocks from the Santa Monica shoreline. The name came from their culinary school days, when their instructor told them vanilla was the world's most universally loved flavor. Peculiarly, the word I would most associate with vanilla is plain. But, this bake shop is far from plain vanilla.
$1.25 Chocolate Macaroon (6)
There was about five flavors present on my visit. All made in-house, with the chocolate being the only one with a homemade center, so I chose that one. I'm not much of a macaroon fan, not solely because it's French, but they have this 'day-old' taste when you first bite into them. The creaminess of filling took it above average.
There was about five flavors present on my visit. All made in-house, with the chocolate being the only one with a homemade center, so I chose that one. I'm not much of a macaroon fan, not solely because it's French, but they have this 'day-old' taste when you first bite into them. The creaminess of filling took it above average.
$1.65 Tart (top to bottom) Chocolate Peanut Butter (8) S'mores (9),
Passion Fruit Cheesecake (6)
It wasn't the best peanut butter dish I've tried, but it's very difficult to screw up chocolate and PB together. I've never met a s'mores I liked....until now. The marshmallow, the component I find most unappealing, appeared to be lightened with some cream and caramelized to perfection. The cheesecake was just ordinary with no memorable or additive flavors.
Passion Fruit Cheesecake (6)
It wasn't the best peanut butter dish I've tried, but it's very difficult to screw up chocolate and PB together. I've never met a s'mores I liked....until now. The marshmallow, the component I find most unappealing, appeared to be lightened with some cream and caramelized to perfection. The cheesecake was just ordinary with no memorable or additive flavors.
Dirt Cake (7), Southern Banana Pudding (9)
Of all the desserts we tried, I'd have to give a slight edge to the dessert shots as the best. I loved how these tiny little cups packed so much flavor between each layer. At $2 a pop, they would be perfect as a side treat when you're hosting a cocktail party. The Banana Pudding was my favorite of the visit highlighted by the pastry crumb finish.
Of all the desserts we tried, I'd have to give a slight edge to the dessert shots as the best. I loved how these tiny little cups packed so much flavor between each layer. At $2 a pop, they would be perfect as a side treat when you're hosting a cocktail party. The Banana Pudding was my favorite of the visit highlighted by the pastry crumb finish.
$20 - 12 Cupcake Babies (left to right)
(top row) Dark Chocolate Cake, Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting, Chocolate Sprinkles
Yellow Butter Cake, Key Lime filling, Creamy Vanilla Frosting, Graham Cracker Crust Crumbles (9)
Creamy Vanilla Bean Cake, Madagascar Bourbon, Vanilla Bean Frosting (6)
Doing a sampling of the babies is a great way to go on your first visit. The cupcakes that I liked the best typically had to do with the moistness, affinity towards certain flavors, and a center filling. My favorites were the Key Lime, Lemon Raspberry, and Banana Chocolate. The only one I didn't care for was the Mom's Birthday Cake.
(top row) Dark Chocolate Cake, Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting, Chocolate Sprinkles
Yellow Butter Cake, Key Lime filling, Creamy Vanilla Frosting, Graham Cracker Crust Crumbles (9)
Creamy Vanilla Bean Cake, Madagascar Bourbon, Vanilla Bean Frosting (6)
Doing a sampling of the babies is a great way to go on your first visit. The cupcakes that I liked the best typically had to do with the moistness, affinity towards certain flavors, and a center filling. My favorites were the Key Lime, Lemon Raspberry, and Banana Chocolate. The only one I didn't care for was the Mom's Birthday Cake.
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