Even those who are lactose intolerant can have their cake and eat it too, no matter the dairy content.
Crumbs Bake Shop, nestled between the shops and cafés at The Americana at Brand, is any sugar lover’s dream and a dairy-deprived guilty pleasure.
Carrying your traditional sugary confections like pastries and cookies, Crumbs also has a wide array of pies, cakes, cupcakes, Danishes, muffins, doughnuts and even refreshing Italian sodas.
Mia and Jason Bauer first established Crumbs Bake Shop in March of 2003 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. However, the location at The Americana opened its doors in 2008.
When walking into the bakeshop, the smell of sweet cream cheese frosting fills the air. The lights are brightly lit as the glass pastry cases radiantly beamed, displaying the bountiful assortment of desserts.
The carnivalesque bakeshop has cream-colored walls with accents of red and black. The shop’s logo of a masquerade-like jester juggling cupcakes, rests on the front glass window.
Behind the counter, employees put the finishing touches on their tasty creations. One uses pink frosting to finish a rose on a birthday cake as another douses a cupcake with M&M’s.
Customers line up at the end of the counter to order their Crumbs delights. Other patrons gathered within the room sitting at black tables and chairs as they indulge in tarts, brownies, scones and other delectable delicacies.
The service is exceptional. The employees cater to the customers’ needs as they accommodate each and every sweet tooth. The staff members are very familiar with the menu so don’t feel hesitant to ask, “What do you recommend?” One might receive their “just desserts.”
With a mouth-watering mix of comfort-oriented classics like gooey chocolate chip cookies, butter croissants and gourmet baked goods, the menu is a like a never-ending trip to Candy Land.
The pride and joy of the shop is the Crumbs Signature size cupcakes. There are more than 50 varieties baked and popping out of the oven fresh daily, with a new cupcake every Monday.
The cupcake of the month is Cherry Blossom. With a vanilla cake filled with sweet cherry preserves, topped with the shop’s signature vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with plump red cherries and a candied cherry, this dessert is the perfect awakening for the taste buds.
It is quite the challenge to make up one’s mind when ordering from the menu, especially when there is the option of ordering a red velvet cupcake or a mint chocolate chip brownie. However, something out of the box never hurts. One can enjoy a Cosmopolitan inspired cupcake without the precaution of being carded.
Prices for such delicious baked goods are variable. Cupcakes range from $2.50 to 3.75 depending on the classic or signature size, cakes $21 to 40, donuts $1.75, brownies $3.25, pies $21 to 30, danish $2.75, bars and tarts $2.75 to 4.50, big cookies $2.50 to 3.25, mini cookies $22 per pound, muffins $2.50, pastries $2.50 to 3.00, and scones $2.50.
Crumbs Bake Shop is the perfect treat for any special occasion or even just because.
Crumbs Bake Shop is located on Caruso Ave, around the corner from Barnes and Noble. The shop is open Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 11p.m. For more information visit www.crumbs.com or call (818) 502-0050.