Make My Cake: Harlem’s Legendary Bakery for Cakes, Cheesecakes, and Southern Soulful Sweets in NYC

Make My Cake Introduce

Introduction / Overview

For decades, New York residents and visitors alike have flocked to Harlem to experience the decadent, soulful baking traditions of

Make My Cake

. This establishment is far more than just a local bakery; it is a legendary, third-generation family business built on the cherished recipes of matriarch Josephine “Ma” Smith. Merging the rich Southern baking traditions of Mississippi and Alabama with a distinct Harlem soul,

Make My Cake

has cultivated a reputation for creating some of the most celebrated desserts in the entire city, drawing thousands of worldwide visitors each year, yet remaining firmly rooted as a neighborhood institution.

The bakery, co-owned by Ma Smith’s daughter, JoAnn Baylor, and granddaughter, Aliyyah Baylor—a Food Network favorite—specializes in a magnificent array of classic American baked goods. Their core expertise lies in custom cakes, making them a premier choice for birthdays, anniversaries, and as a distinguished

Wedding bakery

. From the New York Times-picked Red Velvet Cake to the beloved Caramel Cake with its two types of caramel frosting, every item is crafted to "excite your sweet senses" and put a smile on your face.

Make My Cake

operates as a full-service bakery, offering everything from single-slice indulgences and a diverse range of cupcakes to whole cakes for large gatherings and event catering. Their success is a testament to the family's commitment to quality, heritage, and genuinely amazing customer service, as evidenced by generations of loyal customers who swear by their products for every special occasion—or just for a quick, essential sweet treat.

Location and Accessibility

Make My Cake

is conveniently situated in the heart of Central Harlem, serving as an accessible destination for those living and working across Upper Manhattan and beyond. Its location on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard places it right in a key area of the community, easily reachable by public transit.

Address:

2380 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030, USA

The central Harlem location is typically a short walk from major subway lines, connecting it seamlessly to the rest of the borough and the greater NYC region. For physical accessibility, the bakery is equipped with a

Wheelchair accessible entrance

, demonstrating its commitment to serving all members of the community. Whether you're making a

Quick visit

for a cupcake or picking up a full

Wholesale bakery

order, the location is both prominent and easy to access.

Services Offered

Make My Cake

provides a flexible and comprehensive set of services designed to meet the needs of all New York customers, whether they are planning a large event or simply satisfying a sudden craving for a high-quality dessert. Their service model is efficient and customer-focused, including:

Retail sales of cake slices, cupcakes, cookies, and other individual pastries for a quick treat.
Custom whole cake orders for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other special events.
Dedicated
Wedding bakery
consultation and services for bespoke tiered cakes.
Wholesale bakery options for businesses seeking to offer their legendary desserts.
In-store pickup
for pre-ordered items, ensuring speed and convenience.
Delivery
services for those unable to visit the store in person.
Takeout
for walk-in purchases to be enjoyed elsewhere.
Serving
Coffee
to perfectly pair with their wide selection of sweets.
Accepts major payment methods including
Credit cards
,
Debit cards
, and
NFC mobile payments
.

Features / Highlights

The reputation of

Make My Cake

as a Harlem staple is built on several standout features, most notably the unparalleled quality and variety of its menu, which combines heritage recipes with modern presentation:

Signature Cake Flavors:
Known nationally for its
Red Velvet Cake
—once featured on Food Network's 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay'—and their
Caramel Cake
, which is adored by long-time customers for its double layer of rich caramel frosting. The
German Chocolate Throwdown
is another famously popular cake.
Extensive Cake Variety:
Beyond the classics, the bakery offers a wide selection of mouth-watering layer cakes, including
Lemon Butter Cake
,
Double Chocolate Cake
,
Strawberry Layer
, and
Coconut Pineapple
, all available in various round and square serving sizes to fit any party size (from 6 to over 100 servings).
Diverse Dessert Menu:
The offerings extend far beyond cakes to include specialty
Cheese Cakes
(like
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
and
Red Velvet Cheese Cake
), a large assortment of creative
Cupcakes
(
BSC - Butter! Strawberry! Coconut!
is a favorite), classic
Cookies
(
Macadamia White Chocolate Chip
and
Coconut Pecan
), and various
Pies & Pastries
(
Sweet Potato Pie
,
Key Lime Pie
, and
Cinnamon Roll
).
Family Legacy and Soulful Baking:
The foundation of their success is the Southern heritage baking methods passed down through three generations, ensuring an authentic, homemade flavor in every bite that resonates with customers looking for quality and tradition.
Customization Expertise:
Despite the occasional challenge of intricate designs, the bakery has a proven track record of working with customers to deliver on complex custom cake designs, ensuring the client's vision is ultimately realized to their satisfaction.

Contact Information

To plan a visit, place an order for a special occasion, or inquire about their wholesale options, New York locals can reach

Make My Cake

at the following address and phone number:

Address:

2380 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030, USA

Phone:

(212) 234-2344 or +1 212-234-2344

While hours can vary, the bakery is typically open throughout the week to accommodate early morning and evening cravings. It is always wise to call ahead for current hours, especially on weekends when demand for their famous desserts is highest. Wedding consultations are often handled by appointment to ensure dedicated service for custom-tier orders.

What is Worth Choosing

For New York residents looking for a dessert experience rooted in history, quality, and soul,

Make My Cake

is an undisputed champion. What is truly worth choosing here is the taste of a genuine, time-tested family recipe executed to perfection. The

Caramel Cake

comes highly recommended by long-time patrons as a truly unforgettable flavor, celebrated for its richness and perfect balance of sweetness. Likewise, the

Red Velvet Cake

lives up to its legendary status, and is essential for first-time visitors.

Beyond the main cakes, consider one of the popular pastries like the

Sweet Potato Pie

, which offers a taste of classic Southern comfort, or one of the unique

Mini Cheese Cakes

for a personal indulgence. The extensive menu ensures that whether you're celebrating a major life event with a full

Butter Cake

or just grabbing a

Chocolate Chip Cookie

and a cup of

Coffee

on your way, the quality and care put into every baked good remain consistently high. Choosing

Make My Cake

is choosing to indulge in a celebrated piece of Harlem's culinary legacy.

Make My Cake Cake

Cakes
All of our cakes are made to excite your sweet senses. Each mouth-watering flavor is created to put a smile on your face. Choose from any of our delicious cakes. There's a sweet treat for everyone! Round Serving Sizes: 7" 6-8; 8" 8-10; 10" 15-20; 12" 35-40; 14" 55-60. Square Serving Sizes: 10" 25-30; 12" 45-50; 14" 70-75; 16" 90-105
Lemon Butter Cake
Butter Cake
Double Chocolate Cake
Black & White Cake
Caramel Cake
Red Velvet Cake
This cake has become a celebrity to all those who have tried it. Even the NYTimes voted our southern classic #1. Our delicious secret family recipe covered with yummy butter cream frosting is ready to satisfy your taste buds
Strawberry Layer
Moist butter layer cake filled with strawberry filling and a fresh strawberry frosting, fruity cakes have never been so good!
Carrot Cake
Some people like carrot cake but everyone loves the Make My Cake carrot cake! It's got the great balance of an amazing sweet carrot cake recipe and an incredible sweet cream frosting finished off with crunchy almonds
Coconut Pineapple
Butter cake! Homemade pineapple filling! Butter cream frosting! Sweetened coconut flakes! It's a party in your mouth!
German Chocolate Throwdown
German chocolate cake done the right way. Coconut, Brown Sugar, Sweet Chocolate, and Toasted Pecans. Yes, we did!

Cheese Cakes
Chocolate Covered Cheese Cake
Mini Cheese Cakes
Double Chocolate Cheese Cake
New York Style Cheese Cake
Red Velvet Cheese Cake

Cupcakes
An assortment of your favorite Make My Cake recipes in a cupcake form! But wait, we've got a variety of combinations all for you!
Butter Cream Cupcake
Delicious butter cupcake with white buttercream frosting topped of with yummy coconut!
Butter Strawberry Cupcake
Delicious butter cupcake with fresh strawberry frosting!
Red Velvet Cupcake
Our signature red velvet recipe comes in a cupcake form topped with sweet buttercream! You'll love it!
BSC (Butter! Strawberry! Coconut!)
Delicious butter cupcake with fresh strawberry frosting topped off with yummy coconut! It's BSC time!
Spinklicious Cupcake
Big Kids and Little kids love our Butter cupcake because it's also topped with white buttercream and fun colorful sprinkles!
Chocolate Cupcake
Delicious chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting!
Double Chocolate Delight
Moist Chocolate cupcake top with moist chocolate frosting. How delightful!
Butter Lemon
Butter cupcake with a delicious lemon frosting! Great combination!
Butter Chocolate Fun
Moist butter cupcake topped with yummy chocolate frosting. Now that's fun!

Cookies
Cookies and milk! We've got cookies! Uh, we even have milk!
Oatmeal Raisin
Macadamia White Chocolate Chip
Coconut Pecan
Butterscotch
Sugar Cookie
White Chocolate Chip
Chocolate Chip Cookie

Pies & Pastries
Sometime you're just in the mood for a great tasting Pie. Come on in, we've got you covered!
Cinnamon Roll
Sweet Potato Pie
Apple Turnover
Lemon Meringue Pie
Cherry Turnover
Croissants
Key Lime Pie
Blueberry Cobbler

Sweet Brand
Sweet Brands T-Shirts
Sweet Brand Pink Tees
Sweet Brand pink and red Tees
Sweet Brand Tan Tees
Sweet Brand Lunch Boxes
Sweet Brand Gift Set
Sweet Brand Mugs
Sweet Brand Thermos
Sweet Brand Hats

Make My Cake Details

Service options
Delivery
In-store pickup
Takeout

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Coffee

Planning
Quick visit

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Make My Cake Photos

Make My Cake Location

Make My Cake

New York New York County New York Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard

2380 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030, USA

Make My Cake Reviews

An average rating of ★3.8 from 212 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I order a special cake for my birthday it was a special pattern designed like my outfit. At first all seemed well a bit pricey but I went along because Sunday I was having a birthday Brunch. The night before my event I received a call assuming it was the manager or baker telling me the pattern I paid for wasn’t going to be enough to cover the entire cake that was quoted to me at $150. A bit stunned we already gave a deposit towards. I was a bit upset because I wasn’t going to pay additional it already was a bit over priced ($240.00), and to call at this hour was not good to me. When we thought this was settled before a deposit was given. I just said do whatever I didn’t care anymore. When I went to pick up my cake it was complete and it was actually nice and the full pattern went the circumference of the cake. Some portions could have been done a little more smoother and aligned better but the cake did look nice and the taste was good. I was glad they were able to work it out without hitting my pockets again…my only drawback the strategy should be in place if something like this does happen and the customer should be made aware prior to…
March 04 · Min. Monique White (LadyMo)
Amazing customer service and the cakes the best cakes I’ve ever had. My mother has been going to this cake shop in 2013 and she’s been ordering here ever since she had me try it in 2023 and I am hooked on their cake slices. Our favorite cake flavor is the caramel which has two types of caramel frosting on it. It is so good I ordered the 9 inch cake for my mother’s birthday. If you are going to try anything from this location I would suggest the caramel cake slice
July 18 · Jayson W
I ordered a cheesecake and a cup of cappuccino. The first cheesecake I ordered was a red velvet cheesecake and it was partially frozen. I returned it and I ordered a sweet potato cheesecake instead. The texture was perfect. The flavor and texture was intense...it did not taste like sweet potato but it was rich and sweet. The cappuccino was absolutely horrendous as it tasted like regular coffee with milk. In fact, it did not contain froth.The venue was hot. I recall going there during the summer, once, and it was not air conditioned either, so I guess the warm temperature is standard for the venue. There are a few tables and chairs for one to eat inside. I would return and try other types of cake but I would not waste my money on their coffee. Its a bakery not a cafe.
May 29 · B. Aidara
I purchased a small German chocolate cake for my birthday. It wasn’t what I expected. The cake was moist, but there was a smear of German chocolate icing on top and one layer in the middle of two layers of cake. Only chocolate icing outside of the cake. The middle photo is what I expected.I also bought red velvet cupcakes which were delicious. A sweet potato pie which was also yummy. I bought peach cobbler which was an absolute fail. It had a few chunky peach slices but these off putting very thin slices of peaches are what the thick pastry was filled with and there was not enough syrup. I wouldn’t buy again.
July 24 · Yolanda Stevenson
I’d like to start this by saying these shops that are around Harlem really add to the renaissance of it all. With that said, I don’t know how many times I come here and try not to buy something. I had the velvet cheese cupcake is delectable. Today’s selection was the strawberry cake…. Oh my Jesus. It’s pound cake with strawberry cream filling. I thought I’d hurt myself. I only had a few bites, my girl is saving the rest for later. Great recommendations , wonderful atmosphere.
September 03 · Mookie