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Chatham’s Brown Sugar Bakery is among the best in the city.
Brown Sugar Bakery

Where to Order a Single Perfect Slice of Cake in Chicago

The best destinations when the craving strikes for just one slice of tres leches cake or funfetti cake or red velvet

by Naomi Waxman and aimee.levitt
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Chatham’s Brown Sugar Bakery is among the best in the city.
| Brown Sugar Bakery
by Naomi Waxman and aimee.levitt

Whether it’s a moment of celebration or a pedestrian weekday afternoon, there’s a special joy that comes from sinking ones fork into a perfect slice of cake. Funfetti cake, caramel cake, tres leches, vegan — no matter one’s flavor preference or dietary caveat, Chicago’s bustling bakery scene is bursting with possibilities from Andersonville to Chatham. Here are some of the city’s best by-the-slice cake options to devour at a cafe table or inhale privately at home, no planning necessary; just waltz right in, grab a slice, and let the good times roll.

For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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A Taste of Heaven

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This cozy, kid-friendly bakery in Andersonville offers ten different cakes by the slice, including four separate varieties of chocolate. The menu also includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner in case you need to justify the cake as dessert.

5401 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 989-0151
(773) 989-0151

Also featured in:

Lost Larson (Andersonville)

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The Princess Cake was made famous on the fifth season of The Great British Bake Off when the contestants had to create the traditional Swedish layer cake of vanilla cake, pastry cream, whipped cream, raspberry preserves topped with a layer of green marzipan. Contemporary Scandinavian bakery Lost Larson — helmed by ex-Grace pastry wizard Bobby Schaffer — is one of the few places in Chicago that sells it by the slice— and here, it’s made by experienced professionals. Lost Larson also offers carrot cake by the slice. There’s also a Wicker Park location.

5318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 944-0587
(773) 944-0587

Also featured in:

Lutz Cafe & Pastry Shop

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An old-fashioned European style bakery, Lutz serves continental classics like linzer torte, black forest cake, and chocolate and mocha mousse cakes by the slice. During the holiday season, look out for the extremely rare multilayered chimney cake, cooked on a spit.

2458 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-7785
(773) 478-7785

Dinkel's Bakery

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While Dinkel’s may be most celebrated for its stollen and paczki, don’t overlook its daily selection of super-rich European tortes, filled with mousse and cream and ganache, or its carrot cake, made from a 100-year-old recipe. If that’s too refined, however, check out the Atomic Torte, a mash-up of chocolate and vanilla cake, custard, whipped cream, strawberries, and bananas.

3329 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-7300
(773) 281-7300

Also featured in:

Jennivee's Bakery

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This esteemed Filipino-influenced bakery is hidden away from the commotion of Wrigley Field to offer a charming array of cakes that are available for delivery via Grubhub (that’s especially useful for those who want a slice late at night). The house favorite is the Purple Velvet with ube. Snickers mousse and white chocolate matcha are other highlights.

3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 697-3341
(773) 697-3341

Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe

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Bittersweet is a popular destination for wedding and special occasion cakes, but it also whips up fresh cakes every day that customers can enjoy by the slice. Regular options include cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake, and chocolate peanut butter torte, but there’s always a special cake of the month.

1114 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 929-1100
(773) 929-1100

Also featured in:

Sweet Mandy B's Bakery

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Sweet Mandy B’s is justly celebrated for its cupcakes, but for those who simply must have their cake in layered and wedge form, slices of chocolate and yellow cake are available with chocolate and vanilla frosting. There are also special seasonal offerings, like rainbow-colored Pride Cake in June.

1208 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 244-1174
(773) 244-1174

Pie, Pie My Darling

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Despite the name, virtual baker Pie, Pie My Darling also makes cake — because cake and pie are both good and should not be at war, especially in the very limited vegan market. Options include chocolate, funfetti, lemon, and chocolate-covered strawberry. For those who prefer a sit-down experience, Pie, Pie My Darling’s slices are available at Handlebar and Paulie Gee’s in Wicker Park, Upton’s Breakroom in West Town, and Madame Zuzu’s in suburban Highland Park.

2636 W Chicago Ave Suite 1, Chicago, IL 60622

Also featured in:

Aya Pastry

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Aya Bakery’s treats are available at many cafes around town as well as the flagship in West Town. The store rotates a pair of cake slices daily. Call ahead to find out the day’s selection.

1332 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 846-6186
(312) 846-6186

Also featured in:

Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery

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There are plenty of tempting options at Kristoffer’s, the popular Pilsen landmark that’s served coffee and Mexican desserts for years. But the bakery’s crowning glory is undoubtedly its rich, habit-forming tres leches cake, available by the slice. It’s offered in vanilla, chocolate, and coconut varieties.

1733 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 829-4150
(312) 829-4150

Also featured in:

Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum

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Chinatown’s oldest bakery is a destination for Chicagoans on the South Side and in Uptown with visitors on the hunt for traditional Hong Kong-style pastries, bao, and dim sum, but it also offers cake by the slice in flavors like green tea, mixed fruit, strawberry mousse, and more.

2253 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6608
(312) 225-6608

Also featured in:

Eméché Cakery & Cafe

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Bronzeville’s adorable Eméché Cakery, where owner Janell Richmond has drawn fans with spirit-infused baked goods and intricate custom cakes, brings serious slice game with hits like its Hummingbird cake, bourbon pecan pound cake, and layer cake in various flavors slathered with Oreo buttercream frosting.

3453 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 265-1249
(312) 265-1249

Also featured in:

Weber's Bakery

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Founded in 1930, Weber’s Bakery is a South Side institution known for drawing long, long lines for its brandy-infused paczki and other sugary treats. Sweet-toothed patrons can count on its team for three types of cake slices: colorful funfetti, strawberry buttercream, and Rebecca torte (chocolate cake and buttercream, ganache, raspberry).

7055 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 586-1234
(773) 586-1234
A long row of funfetti cake slices
After 92 years, Weber’s knows a thing or two about cake.
Weber’s Bakery

Also featured in:

Brown Sugar Bakery

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Widely hailed as one of Chicagos best — and best-loved — sweets shops, Brown Sugar Bakery has tons of slices from owner Stephanie Hart’s famous cakes for patrons to grab on-the-go. The spot’s caramel cake has a following unto itself, though patrons would do well to explore flavors like pineapple coconut, lemon, and red velvet. Vice President Kamala Harris recommends the German chocolate, which she tried in April 2021 on a visit to Chicago. Brown Sugar has a second outpost in Navy Pier that also sells slices.

328 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 224-6262
(773) 224-6262

Also featured in:

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A Taste of Heaven

5401 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

This cozy, kid-friendly bakery in Andersonville offers ten different cakes by the slice, including four separate varieties of chocolate. The menu also includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner in case you need to justify the cake as dessert.

5401 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 989-0151
(773) 989-0151

Lost Larson (Andersonville)

5318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

The Princess Cake was made famous on the fifth season of The Great British Bake Off when the contestants had to create the traditional Swedish layer cake of vanilla cake, pastry cream, whipped cream, raspberry preserves topped with a layer of green marzipan. Contemporary Scandinavian bakery Lost Larson — helmed by ex-Grace pastry wizard Bobby Schaffer — is one of the few places in Chicago that sells it by the slice— and here, it’s made by experienced professionals. Lost Larson also offers carrot cake by the slice. There’s also a Wicker Park location.

5318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 944-0587
(773) 944-0587

Lutz Cafe & Pastry Shop

2458 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

An old-fashioned European style bakery, Lutz serves continental classics like linzer torte, black forest cake, and chocolate and mocha mousse cakes by the slice. During the holiday season, look out for the extremely rare multilayered chimney cake, cooked on a spit.

2458 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-7785
(773) 478-7785

Dinkel's Bakery

3329 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

While Dinkel’s may be most celebrated for its stollen and paczki, don’t overlook its daily selection of super-rich European tortes, filled with mousse and cream and ganache, or its carrot cake, made from a 100-year-old recipe. If that’s too refined, however, check out the Atomic Torte, a mash-up of chocolate and vanilla cake, custard, whipped cream, strawberries, and bananas.

3329 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-7300
(773) 281-7300

Jennivee's Bakery

3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

This esteemed Filipino-influenced bakery is hidden away from the commotion of Wrigley Field to offer a charming array of cakes that are available for delivery via Grubhub (that’s especially useful for those who want a slice late at night). The house favorite is the Purple Velvet with ube. Snickers mousse and white chocolate matcha are other highlights.

3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 697-3341
(773) 697-3341

Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe

1114 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Bittersweet is a popular destination for wedding and special occasion cakes, but it also whips up fresh cakes every day that customers can enjoy by the slice. Regular options include cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake, and chocolate peanut butter torte, but there’s always a special cake of the month.

1114 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 929-1100
(773) 929-1100

Sweet Mandy B's Bakery

1208 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Sweet Mandy B’s is justly celebrated for its cupcakes, but for those who simply must have their cake in layered and wedge form, slices of chocolate and yellow cake are available with chocolate and vanilla frosting. There are also special seasonal offerings, like rainbow-colored Pride Cake in June.

1208 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 244-1174
(773) 244-1174

Pie, Pie My Darling

2636 W Chicago Ave Suite 1, Chicago, IL 60622

Despite the name, virtual baker Pie, Pie My Darling also makes cake — because cake and pie are both good and should not be at war, especially in the very limited vegan market. Options include chocolate, funfetti, lemon, and chocolate-covered strawberry. For those who prefer a sit-down experience, Pie, Pie My Darling’s slices are available at Handlebar and Paulie Gee’s in Wicker Park, Upton’s Breakroom in West Town, and Madame Zuzu’s in suburban Highland Park.

2636 W Chicago Ave Suite 1, Chicago, IL 60622

Aya Pastry

1332 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Aya Bakery’s treats are available at many cafes around town as well as the flagship in West Town. The store rotates a pair of cake slices daily. Call ahead to find out the day’s selection.

1332 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 846-6186
(312) 846-6186

Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery

1733 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608

There are plenty of tempting options at Kristoffer’s, the popular Pilsen landmark that’s served coffee and Mexican desserts for years. But the bakery’s crowning glory is undoubtedly its rich, habit-forming tres leches cake, available by the slice. It’s offered in vanilla, chocolate, and coconut varieties.

1733 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 829-4150
(312) 829-4150

Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum

2253 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Chinatown’s oldest bakery is a destination for Chicagoans on the South Side and in Uptown with visitors on the hunt for traditional Hong Kong-style pastries, bao, and dim sum, but it also offers cake by the slice in flavors like green tea, mixed fruit, strawberry mousse, and more.

2253 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6608
(312) 225-6608

Eméché Cakery & Cafe

3453 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Bronzeville’s adorable Eméché Cakery, where owner Janell Richmond has drawn fans with spirit-infused baked goods and intricate custom cakes, brings serious slice game with hits like its Hummingbird cake, bourbon pecan pound cake, and layer cake in various flavors slathered with Oreo buttercream frosting.

3453 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 265-1249
(312) 265-1249

Weber's Bakery

7055 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

Founded in 1930, Weber’s Bakery is a South Side institution known for drawing long, long lines for its brandy-infused paczki and other sugary treats. Sweet-toothed patrons can count on its team for three types of cake slices: colorful funfetti, strawberry buttercream, and Rebecca torte (chocolate cake and buttercream, ganache, raspberry).

7055 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 586-1234
(773) 586-1234
A long row of funfetti cake slices
After 92 years, Weber’s knows a thing or two about cake.
Weber’s Bakery

Brown Sugar Bakery

328 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619

Widely hailed as one of Chicagos best — and best-loved — sweets shops, Brown Sugar Bakery has tons of slices from owner Stephanie Hart’s famous cakes for patrons to grab on-the-go. The spot’s caramel cake has a following unto itself, though patrons would do well to explore flavors like pineapple coconut, lemon, and red velvet. Vice President Kamala Harris recommends the German chocolate, which she tried in April 2021 on a visit to Chicago. Brown Sugar has a second outpost in Navy Pier that also sells slices.

328 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 224-6262
(773) 224-6262

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