Deborah McCabePhilly’s food scene is genuinely tough to top. While you’re probably busy exploring the city’s top restaurants or on the hunt for the best sushi restaurants, don’t forget to save a little room for dessert.
Sampling the absolute best cupcake in Philadelphia means skipping those boring supermarket options and instead discovering passionate local bakers crafting every batch from scratch.
So, if you’re after gorgeous treats for your Insta-feed or just want a late-night snack, the local bakeshop scene has some incredible choices waiting for you. Check out our top picks below!
How much do cupcakes cost in Philadelphia?
Buying a single gourmet cupcake in Philadelphia usually runs between $3.00 and $5.50, while ordering a larger artisan or custom dozen for an event can cost anywhere from $32.00 to over $96.00.
| Bakery | Price |
| Termini Bros Bakery | $3.00 per individual cupcake |
| The Cupcake Doctor | $3.25 per single / $32.00 per pack of 12 |
| Sweet Box Bakery | $5.00 in-store / $5.50 for delivery |
| Tiffany’s Bakery | $53.00 per half-dozen jumbo / $66.00 per standard dozen |
| Whipped Bakeshop | $65.00 to $96.00 per dozen |
1. Sweet Box Bakery
Website: https://www.shopsweetbox.com/
Address: 339 South 13th St
Contact: 267-975-1711
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am-7 pm
Satisfying a sudden dessert craving is incredibly easy at Sweet Box Bakery since they welcome walk-ins seven days a week with no pre-ordering required.
The menu features highly creative flavors like their fan-favorite strawberry shortcake crunch, and they even offer daily vegan and gluten-free items until they sell out.
You can choose from a fully stocked bakery case or grab their safe-to-eat, egg-free cookie dough called Doughlicious right alongside your cakes.
On top of that, the entire shop is Kosher-certified, which makes it an excellent, inclusive option for anyone with specific dietary needs.
Sadly, we’ve heard from regulars that the customer service here can sometimes be perceived as a bit unfriendly or cold. You might also get limited assistance with product recommendations during busy times.
Lots of decadent cupcake choices
Picked up vegan cupcakes for a dinner party. They had only 2 varieties that day: chocolate sprinkle and chocolate hazelnut. They were deliciously moist and filling. Our guests couldn’t believe they were vegan. Lots of decadent cupcake choices, plus a few varieties of cookies and brownies. They did advise that they’re not primarily a vegan bakery.
- Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly) | Google Review
Delicious, moist, and full of flavor
I have tasted many cupcakes from different Cupcake Wars “Winners”, from L.A., to Memphis, and Pensacola. These cupcakes put all of them to shame. Even the ones from Carlo’s bakery. They were delicious, moist, and full of flavor! And they weren’t just flavored frostings slapped onto chocolate or vanilla cupcakes… The cake was flavored as well!
- Austin Hatfield | Google Review
2. Whipped Bakeshop
Website: https://whippedbakeshop.com/
Address: 636 Belgrade St
Contact: (215) 598-5449
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am-2 pm (by appointment only)
Planning a special party requires desserts that look as stunning as they taste, which is where Whipped Bakeshop shines.
They’ve won Best of Philly honors, thanks to their talented decorators who specialize in artistic designs like hand-piped roses and unicorn swirls.
They offer beautiful curated gift boxes that make local gifting a breeze. Plus, you can easily order these straight to your door via local delivery apps.
We actually tried a custom assortment from them during a friend’s birthday gathering last month, and the visual presentation completely blew everyone away.
Just note that because everything is made in batches, the cake texture can occasionally lean on the drier side.
The overall flavor intensity and freshness can also vary a little bit between orders, which might disappoint you if you expect absolute perfection every time.
Loved the cupcake tasting and unique flavor combinations
Our experience with Whipped Bakeshop was phenomenal! Zoë is very kind and creative. She made the design process fun and simple, taking all of my ideas into consideration! We loved the cupcake tasting and unique flavor combinations. I knew our cake was doing to be delicious but I was so blown away by how beautiful it turned out. My expectations were completely exceeded and I ended up with the wedding cake of my dreams.
- Julie Craig | Google Review
Accommodating of my budget and tastes
The first time I had a Whipped Bakeshop cupcake was a happy accident, and since then, I’ve made a point to include them in every major moment of my life. From anniversaries and new home purchases to engagements and bridal showers, there’s no moment that couldn’t be sweeter with Whipped!
Their customer service is unparalleled and they always make every effort to be accommodating of my budget and tastes. Now that they’re appointment only, just make sure to call or order in advance!
- Jordan Price | Google Review
3. Cake Life Bake Shop
Website: https://www.cakelifebakeshop.com/
Address: 1306 Frankford Ave.
Contact: (215) 268-7343
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 8 am-7 pm, Friday – Saturday 8 am-9 pm, Sunday 8 am-7 pm
Cake Life Bake Shop focuses on creating an inclusive bakery experience while serving up a massive variety of handcrafted cupcakes with rotating seasonal flavors.
They explicitly label their vegan and gluten-free items on the menu, making it easy to accommodate friends with different dietary preferences.
You can easily jump online to pre-order your favorites for quick pickup or local delivery, which helps you prepare for weekend celebrations.
On the flip side, a few customers have mentioned that the portion sizes can feel a bit small for the price. Others added that the cake base can be a little dry or crumbly occasionally.
Moist with creative flavors and presentation
Cake life is such a staple in the city! All of their pastries and cakes are moist with creative flavors and presentation. The phanatic cupcake was super cute! My favorites would be the campfire cocoa cake and the lemon bar!
- Michelle | Google Review
Perfect amount of moisture and sweetness
Nice cupcake/coffee shop with unique flavors and indoor seating. I loved the wild berry shortcake vegan cupcake. Perfect amount of moisture and sweetness. I’d like to see more vegan pastries as I only saw 3 options when I went.
- Jacintha | Google Review
4. Lily of the Valley Cupcakery & Cafe
Website: https://www.lilyofthevalleycupcakery.com/
Address: 26 W Maplewood Mall
Contact: 267-437-4176
Hours: Wednesday – Friday 11 am-5 pm, Saturday 9 am-3 pm
Lily of the Valley Cupcakery & Cafe is a spot that first earned accolades in Montgomery County before making their move to Philly.
Wild dessert mashups steal the show here, especially the deep-fried cupcakes. They literally deep-fry any flavor of your choice and serve it warm with ice cream.
The cafe itself is a great hangout, offering free WiFi and premium coffee. They’re definitely the perfect place if you want to get some work done while indulging.
But keep in mind that the customer service can be a bit inconsistent depending on when you visit. A few customers mentioned that communication regarding order updates or refunds can sometimes be unclear.
Resolving payment or delivery issues through third-party apps can also be tricky.
Super fresh and the taste was amazing!
this cupcake place is great! we got the Strawberry shortcake cupcake, red velvet and double chocolate. They were super fresh and the taste was amazing! the service was great and a really charming atmosphere 🙂
- Tessa Maria | Google Review
Our favorite cupcake shop
We booked Lily of the Valley for our wedding and it was a HUGE hit! Everyone was raving, so much better than a traditional wedding cake and we got enough for people to take home. Texts came in mass asking where we got our cupcakes from and we proudly told them it was our favorite cupcake shop, which happens to be black owned. The owner opened the shop early to ensure we could get the cupcakes on the day of they were so sweet, just like their cakes. For sure the best cupcakes in the city!
- Terence Jones | Google Review
5. Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe
Website: https://www.nightkitchenbakery.com/
Address: 7725 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill
Contact: 215-248-9235
Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30 am-6 pm, Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday 8 am-4 pm
Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe has a well-earned reputation as a high-end bakery, best known for their intricate custom wedding cakes.
With that, it’s no surprise that their everyday cupcakes also reflect that same level of professional expertise and craftsmanship.
Their traditional flavors like mocha and carrot cake are not only delicious but also surprisingly budget-friendly, making them a great option for frequent visits.
For anyone seeking gluten-free options, you’ll be glad that they always have a decadent flourless chocolate cupcake available.
Best of all, they keep a pastry chef on duty at all times, which means you can get custom text added to a dessert in just a minute.
On the downside, staff communication can sometimes break down, especially during busier times when lines get long, and the queue management inside the bakery can feel a bit confusing.
How amazing every single thing in this bakery tastes
Words can not explain just how amazing every single thing in this bakery tastes. The lemon curd cake/cupcake & The Hazelnut Praline cake are both out of this world. I find myself randomly craving them often so I always run out to buy some and savor every bite
- Marissa Cooney | Google Review
So fun and colorful
Night Kitchen baked cakes and cupcakes for our wedding, and we couldn’t have been happier!! Amy was so kind and easy to work with. We opted for a small cake to cut in photos (pictured) and had sheet cakes that were cut and plated in the kitchen before being served. This allowed us to get multiple flavors to accommodate everyone’s tastes! They also made the kid’s cupcakes so fun and colorful. Don’t sleep on their carrot cake — it’s exquisite!!
- Alisha DiGiandomenico | Google Review
