Although Amelia Simmons receives credit for publishing the first cupcake recipe, Eliza Leslie was the first to use the word cupcake when publishing her “Receipts” cookbook in 1828.
Hostess was the first company to sell a commercial cupcake, which they introduced in 1919.
Today, it is common in Toronto to see hostesses serve cupcakes at bridal showers, baby showers, national and traditional holidays.
Best Cupcakes in Toronto
The first cupcakes did not have fancy names. Instead, they were identified by the measurements used to create them, making it easy for customers to order them quickly and for bakers to determine what the customer wanted precisely.
However, that trend changed, and you will be glad that it did when you eat the best cupcakes in Toronto.
If you’re more than just a cupcake lover – perhaps someone with a sweet tooth – then we recommend discovering the best dessert places in Toronto.
We also did some thorough hunting to help you get your hands on Toronto’s top and best bakeries.
From sweet flakey croissants, cheesecakes, and danishes to creamy filling puffs and heavenly donuts, we’ve got you covered for your late night cravings for any dessert including the best cupcakes.
1. Dlish Cupcakes
Image by @dlishcupcakes
Dlish Cupcakes bills itself as the first gourmet bakery. This bakery that opened in December 2010 is still in its original location in Toronto’s trendy Queen Street West neighbourhood.
This bakery imports the best ingredients worldwide, like vanilla from Madagascar and chocolate sprinkles from France, to make its small-batch cupcakes.
Owner Verge Manuel says their top seller is their red velvet cupcake. Bakers make each cupcake with a specific recipe instead of adding flavours to a white or chocolate cupcake recipe.
All of the cupcakes are made without gelatine, preservatives or hydrogenated oils. You need to try cupcakes from this bakery that BBC Travel has named one of the sweetest spots in Toronto.
2. Bobbette & Belle
Image by @bobbetteandbelle
Allyson Bobbitt and Sarah Belle, co-owners of Bobbette & Belle, are on a mission to create beautiful experiences centering around their fabulous cupcakes at their French-inspired bakery shop.
This bakery in the Lewisville neighbourhood opened in 2010. Both owners have college degrees, but they say they developed a passion for baking from their grandmothers. This shop is about the size of two regular Toronto small businesses, so there is plenty of room to enjoy your cupcake.
This bakery earned its excellent reputation for its French macarons. Still, you will want to try their amazing cupcakes, like their chocolate with a hazelnut flavoured chocolate frosting or their classic vanilla cupcake with a chunk of shortbread in the frosting.
3. The Cupcake Shoppe
Image by @thecupcakeshoppe
Head to the Yonge and Eglinton to get a cupcake at The Cupcake Shoppe.
This is especially a great place for those with nut allergies as there are at least 11 cupcakes made without nuts every day.
They also offer gluten-free and dairy-free cupcakes and mini cupcakes. Owner Suzanne Cooper and her staff give each flavour of their cupcakes a unique name.
For instance, their Coco Chanel cupcakes, which is chocolate frosting on a white cupcake or their Yonge ‘n’ Eligible featuring vanilla frosting on a white or chocolate cupcake, may tempt you.
If you are planning a special event, you will want to talk to them about their 90 available flavours, or you can create one of your own. They also do hand-drawn illustrations on their products.
4. Almond Butterfly
Image by @almondbutterflycafe
Almond Butterfly opened their flagship location in 2019, but owners Melody Saari and David Piesina started exercising together at a gym in Montreal.
Melody would bring gluten-free cupcakes for the athletes to enjoy after their workouts, and the idea of opening their bakery took off.
The pair partially named their bakery after the graceful butterfly move in gymnastics. The tradition of proving that cupcakes can be healthy continues today as they offer cupcakes without gluten, dairy or soy daily.
Speaking of gluten-free options, we also recommend these best gluten-free bakeries in Toronto to try, which include Almond Butterly in the top list.
You can find Almond Butterfly at two different locations. The option on Harbord Street is a bistro where you can get wonderful pastries and great coffee while their other site offers a full-service restaurant serving hamburgers and other handhelds along with brunch.
Be sure when you order to leave room for a cupcake or permit yourself to eat dessert before the main entree.
5. The Rolling Pin
Image by @therollingpinto
Co-owner Isabelle Loiacono took a corporate buyout and used the money to attend Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa before becoming an instructor at Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts. She teamed up with co-owner Vanessa Baudanza.
While the first location of The Rolling Pin was a quaint building, you will love their two-story location.
Grab a cupcake in the lower part and head upstairs to enjoy it while looking at the fun bakery-inspired graphics on the walls.
If you would like to learn some of their secrets to making perfect cupcakes, take one of their classes offered in the back of the upstairs dining room. This bakery in Toronto also offers the best birthday cakes, pies and other goodies.
6. Bunner’s Bakeshop
Image by @bunner
If you choose to live a vegan lifestyle, check out Bunner’s Bakeshop because they’re considered one of the best vegan bakeries in Toronto.
Bring along your non-vegan friends because owners Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister’s mission is to prove that you do not need animal products to make decadent cupcakes and other baked goods.
The pair started out selling their goods at local farmers’ markets, but they found a huge demand, so they opened a storefront.
You will want to try their French toast cupcake and other choices at their bakery in Junction.
In order to make her cupcakes as fluffy as possible, Ashley, who began living a vegan lifestyle in 2008, often uses a blend of seven distinctive flours.
7. Sweet Flour
Image by @sweetflourbakeshop
Owner Kim Gans started selling her mom’s cookies and lemonade on her front lawn to neighbours as a small child, and she knew it was what she wanted to do when she grew up.
After graduating, she made a two-year journey to find the perfect cookie before coming home and making her recipes.
While she originally opened Sweet Flour in the Bloor West Village, where it quickly became known as one of the best cupcake shops in Toronto, she now focuses on working from the Stockyards district.
She employees a team of 30 in-house bakers, decorators and sales managers to bring the perfect cupcake to your next event, or you can opt to have them delivered to your home or office.
This bakery works with many businesses, and they ship their cupcakes.
8. Bake Sale
Image by @bakesaletoronto
Stacey Holden opened Bake Sale on the Kingsway in 2004. Since then, the company has grown to three different locations. This bakery’s decor gives you the feeling of attending a neighbourhood bake sale.
Multiple generations of Stacy’s family have given her some of the recipes, and you will love old-time favourites like a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting or their salted caramel cupcake.
Stacey came up with the idea for her bakeries when her children were young and involved in many different activities, so she was constantly baking to raise funds for them.
While this bakery has a few staples that are always available, most of their offerings are seasonal, so it is a great spot to get unique holiday cupcakes.
9. Hype Food Co.
Image by @hype.food.co
The staff keeps the kitchen at Hype Food Co free of wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, sesame and seafood.
Many different cupcake choices are available, including regular, mini cupcakes, photo cupcakes and tearaway cupcake cakes.
This bakery also offers do-it-yourself kits for those who want the fun of decorating cupcakes. This may be one of the best cupcake shops in Toronto for families with young children because they can play at the Lego table and draw on the wall in the back while you enjoy your cupcake.
Owner Pauline Osena draws inspiration for her bakery from her children who have food allergies.
10. Staij & Co.
Image by @staijandco
Since this bakery opened in 2017, Staij & Co has focused on creating a luxury experience.
You are sure to love their bakery in Cabbageville. This bakery also offers delivery, which may be the perfect option for an office party.
Their designs are beautiful, and they can be customized for any occasion. You do not want to miss out on their seasonal cupcakes, like their carrot cake cupcakes during the winter holidays.
This bakery focuses mainly on corporate events, and they give a discount for ordering more cupcakes at one time.
Leave a Reply