Chocolate + Vanilla Bakery

I follow Chocolate + Vanilla Bakery on Instagram and have been wanting to check out this quaint shop for the longest time. When I go to Otto Cake in Kaimuki, I always pass this shop but didn’t get a chance to stop in until recently.
Right before Mother’s Day, I noticed C+V had posted a photo of their chocolate chip bread pudding on Instagram. I called to make sure it was still available on that Saturday, placed an order for one and made my way down to Kaimuki by lunch time.
Note: Parking in the lot for Smiley Nails (close to Koko Head Café, etc.) is a madhouse on Saturdays. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have gone at that crazy late brunch/​early lunch hour.
Anyway — once I finally found a parking, I made my way to Chocolate + Vanilla and was thrilled that I was the only customer at the time. It was tempting to order more sweets to go, as the bakery case was filled with cupcakes, brownies, cookies and more. But, I stuck to my guns … well, almost. Once the lady at the register said that there were only a few more orders of the bread pudding available, I caved and got two instead of one. This was, after all, supposed to be one of the bakery’s most popular flavors.
My trek to Kaimuki specifically for the bread pudding was worth it. Mom loved it and so did my aunt. I can’t wait to try some of their other delicious sweets.
Here’s what I ordered:
«Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding»: C+V makes different bread pudding flavors, but they’re not available all the time. This one, in particular, sounded really good and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The bread pudding was chockfull of chocolate chips and came covered in a vanilla anglaise sauce. I had the option of adding strawberry sauce on top as well; I did so for one of my orders and got the other one with just vanilla. My auntie really enjoyed the strawberry sauce atop the bread pudding, but I actually preferred mine more plain (just the vanilla sauce). But we both agreed that the bread pudding was moist, chewy and spongy, definitely not dry or crumbly. I loved the texture and crunch provided by the chocolate chips, and the vanilla anglaise was creamy and sweet. I would definitely order this flavor again if it’s ever available.
«Red Velvet Brownie»: I really like the red velvet cream cheese brownies from Otto Cake, so it would be difficult not to compare them to the ones from C+V. I was staring at these in the bakery case and vowed to get one next time, since I already unexpectedly doubled my bread pudding order on this trip.
«Caramel Mac Nut Brownies»: If I didn’t order the red velvet flavor, this is the other brownie flavor I would want to try. It features a great medley of textures and flavors, and the layer of caramel looked generously rich. I anticipate trying this sweet treat one day.

Ok shop. I’ve had lots of macarons and these were made well, but the shop is really small and I was disappointed (like others) to have made the trip out there to find a only a few common flavors available, nothing particularly exotic or local like I was hoping for.
I found better macarons at the Hyatt farmers market on Thursdays. they were just as well made, but offered more local flavors, were less expensive, and larger in size.

Jill is amazing! Super nice and inviting! The flavors change and range from chocolate to whatever she comes up with. A great dessert experience!

I quite like this bakery but it’s a little odd. Their posted hours are not accurate. It’s says 9am-​4, but I’ve been there several times during those hours and have found them closed. I think the owner just opens whenever they feel like it, which can’t be great for business. Also, this isn’t your typical bakery. There isn’t s lot of product for sale. I suspect they do a lot of catering and their store front is really just there for show. Each time I’ve been in they’ve only had 3 – 4 items for sale, usually macarons and crème brûlée pots.
I’ve tried their macarons and they are pretty decent, light and chewy with good flavors.
I’ve also had their coffee jelly and panna cotta dessert. That was delicious. Creamy and sweet with a bold coffee flavor. If like to try their coffee jelly drink that they advertise but each time I’ve gone they’ve been out. Which irks me because shouldn’t a bakery be constantly making product? If you’re out, make more.
I’d definitely come by again if I happen to find them open, I just hope they will have more for sale.

Haven’t tried their macarons and they do have a nice selection of flavors but their coffee jelly has got to be one of the best I’ve ever had, anytime I’m in the area I have to stop by and pick one up!

checked out chocolate + vanilla bakery today and tried each one of their of main offerings (with exception of panna cotta): a macaron, a cupcake and a brownie.
macaron was mango– so soft and chewy. not too sweet with subtle mango flavor. love how you could tell it was natural mango and not some flavoring.
cupcake was chocolate with vanilla icing– so moist and chocolatey!!! also not too sweet which I love. the icing was light and whipped, nice vanilla flavor. I usually have to wipe icing off when I’ve had cupcakes at other places but this was perfect.
brownie was caramel mac nut– wow! super decadent and chewy. like that the caramel Mac nut topping wasn’t too hard or brittle like and the brownie was so yummy and chocolatey.
definitely want to come here again!!! I heard they even have sriracha macarons sometimes!!!

My review is mostly on the macarons. They were exquisite – not too sweet, moist, and had the right amount of crunch to it when you take a bite from it. I tried their chocolate truffle, salted caramel, and cookies and crème. Each one tasted exactly as one would expect with their flavors – definitely rich in flavor but light in taste! The macarons were 6 for $ 10. I purchased these for the first time to try at the Dîner en Blanc event I attended, and I was happy to discover they were delightfully delicious. My friends agreed these macarons were delicious and superior to the macarons we are accustomed to eating on this island, which are from. La Tour. I’m definitely coming back to Chocolate + Vanilla for macarons!
I also tried their vanilla panna cotta with coffee jelly and the Crème brûlée. Both were delicious and rich in flavor but smooth in texture. I loved that both were not too sweet. The vanilla panna cotta with coffee jelly had a smooth taste and the combination was wonderful. I was worried the coffee jelly would be made to taste bold, but it was not. Hence, the combination reminded me of a rich creamy latte taste.
In regards to their service, it was good and friendly. I walked in to the place to find no one behind the counter, but someone did come out from the back shortly after I approached the register. The transaction was smooth and quick.

I wanted macarons, and compared ratings and reviews between several places before deciding on this one. I have to say I was disappointed with only four flavors of macarons available that day, however, they were extremely well made. Flavors were very prominent, sizes were slightly bigger than ideal and texture was spot on. Macarons are something that is quite difficult to master and I appreciate it when a place knows what they’re doing!
And hey peeps, it’s macarons, not macaroons. Seriously. Two totally different things.

It’s a cute little bakery with one person working. It probably doesn’t normally take this long, but I was in back of someone with a big order. I had 12 minutes on my meter and had to refill it. No biggie.
The lady in front of me had a big order: a few crème brûlées, panna cotta, some cupcakes, and the soymilk with coffee jelly. It took so long because the owner had to torch the crème brûlée tops. The lady was raving about their panna cotta with coffee jelly, which wasn’t being served today, and her companion was ecstatic about her soymilk with coffee jelly.
Anyhoo, I ordered the vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting and the red velvet brownie ends. They were ok. The cupcake and frosting were definitely not of the over-​sweetened variety, which is nice, but the cake wasn’t noteworthy in flavor or texture and the frosting was the texture of butter with not much vanilla flavor. Like I said, it was ok. The red velvet brownie ends were on the dry side, almost chalky. The flavor wasn’t rich at all. If I had been fed it blindfolded, I’m not sure I could’ve told you what flavor it was.
I’ll go back and try the macarons. I’ve heard good things about them. They look smaller than the La Tour ones that I’m used to, so I didn’t try them today.

So I’m not really a huge fan of cupcakes from bakeries. It all comes down to the frosting for me and, what I’m about to say is heresy, but I’m not a fan of really thick, super sweet frosting. I decided to drop by because I was super early for an appointment at Winam. I kinda love that they only had three flavors — Chocolate/​vanilla frosting, vanilla bean, and red velvet/​cream cheese. All simple staples that will tell you the quality of the baker and products used.
I selected a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting. The chocolate was very rich in flavor without being over rich. The frosting was just the right blend of the texture of light whip cream but with the flavor and subtle sweetness of a buttercream. I straight hoovered that puppy.

My boyfriend and I been to almost every french macaron place on the island and Chocolate + Vanilla Bakery is our all time favorite. Her flavors are vibrant and colors are super bright and cute. Owner Jill always changes up her flavors so everyday isn’t the exact same macarons.
We follow her on instagram and every morning I look at instagram before rolling out of bed I see her delicious macarons. She’s very consistent with updating her social media (instagram) page which I really like a lot. Awesome way to get more people into your business.
So far, my boyfriend and I have tried many flavors. Chocolate, Vanilla, Red Velvet, Trix, Tiramisu, Chocolate Truffle, Strawberry, Lemon, Birthday Cake, Vanilla Bean, Raspberry Cheesecake, Creamsicle, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Haupia Chocolate. I’m not a huge sweets person (but my boyfriend is) and I didn’t like macarons until trying this place.
So far out of all of those macarons my personal favorite it Birthday Cake. Its not too sweet and always comes with sprinkes on it.
The macarons here always taste fresh and made with love. The other bakeries are good but you can tell its just mass made then put in the freezer. Not these macarons. They’re light, not too sweet, and made to the perfect consistency.
If you haven’t tried this place YOU SHOULD. 12^th ave in Kaimuki next to sconees.

Cute lil shop on 12^th Ave in Kaimuki. They have macarons, cupcakes, brownies and other baked goods. Their baked goods vary from time to time. The lady who I believe is the owner is very friendly and upbeat. I love seeing store owners who are upbeat! Great place to stop by after dinner or lunch in the area to satisfy your sweet tooth!

This is one of my favorite bakeries. Wether you call or do a walk-​in visit. Your always greeted and asked if there was anything the person could help you with…
You smiled… Because, you know how much damage you want to cause… But know you shouldn’t because TOO MUCH SWEETS, is known to be bad for you :(… I’m not happy about it… ALL WELL! :)
Absolute fave? Red velvet brownie with a cup of milk to wash it down with. Your in LALA heaven… Macaroons are so sweet and light, always a perfect snack. Don’t ask me about what my favorite flavor is… All… Is that a flavor???
Cupcakes??? I can’t pick one… Every single time I ordered. It was a special order… And I use to order everything. fave? Oreo and red velvet. I always say just try EVERYTHING! And the owners and workers are really nice and accommodating… I had like a order of 2 dozen, all different flavors. And she worked with me and helped me pick all the different flavors. And I had a lot

I was drawn by their Instagram account (chocolateandvanilla808) to take advantage of a 10% off special. Am I glad I did, because I believe I have found the best macarons in Hawaii! Maybe in all the states west of the Rockies! Seriously, they are that good! The macarons are crisp but chewy and it’s because they make them fresh each day! Follow their Instagram account to see what flavors they have available because it varies daily.
Because there was 10% I had to try a little bit of everything. I got macarons, cupcake, and a brownie. I wasn’t thrilled with the brownie, it was dry despite looking more fudgy. I’ll skip the brownie next time. But the cupcake was good. The cake wasn’t dry and the frosting, while heavy, wasn’t overly sweet. So it was a good balance for the cupcake. And like I said earlier, the macarons are one of the best I’ve had. I should have gotten the panna cotta, but there will be a next time!
Like the rest of Kaimukī, parking is on the street or the various lots. Might as well make it a eating crawl. Get lunch around the corner then grab some dessert at Chocolate + Vanilla! Follow their Instagram account to see what they’re baking up!

Chocolate + Vanilla Bakery is in good company with the other sweet treats on 12^th Avenue. They feature specialty Brownies, a weekly rotation for Bread Pudding, Panna Cotta, and Custard, and daily selections of Cupcakes and Macaroons. This tiny bakery is bright and cheerful, and baked goods are reasonably priced.
I tried the Chocolate Haupia Macaroon. It had that perfect macaroon texture of lightly crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The cookie is sweet, but the dark chocolate and haupia fillings aren’t very sweet so they helped balance the cookie while adding great flavor. At $ 1.83 a macaroon, you could easily pick up a few to share. Check them out the next time you’re in Kaimuki looking for a sweet treat.

This is such a cute little bakery. They have such great customer service! Tried the vanilla bean and Cookies n crème macs. LOVE IT! My bf loved the red velvet brownies (: We will be back again!
Parking: Street parking and parking lot with meters.

Location/​Parking:
The bakery is located on 12^th Street in Kaimuki near another bakery that is known for scones. There are metered parking and a paid parking lot in the area.
Desserts:
They have an assortment of cupcakes, macarons, brownies and etc. The display case was simple and had minimal desserts. The menu advertised other desserts but I didn’t see it in the display case.
The cookies and cream macaron was delicious! The size was a good size however not all the macarons we ordered were the same size. We also ordered the fudge brownie and red velvet brownie. Both brownies were heavenly.
Price:
The price for the desserts are average compared to other bakeries. Macarons were $ 1.75. The brownies were less than $ 3.
Overall, I’m glad we stopped by here to try their macarons and brownies. I would gladly pay the price for delicious desserts.

I stopped into this cute little bakery after hearing that they had just opened for a little over a month to pick up some treats for a friend who I know would really appreciate some goodies to brighten up their day.
Upon entering there was a small display case with some nicely decorated cupcakes and above those yummy looking cupcakes were some macaroons that were calling out my name! Shhhhh!
I purchased three cupcakes and a few macarons, but you know I really had to buy a few extra to eat like right now! Even before I reached the door walking out one was gone! How can one resist? Not Me!
Check them out… I thought their macarons were really good, better than a few I had from other well known places.
*Welcome Chocolate & Vanilla! You’re making Kaimuki even Sweeter with your addition to the dessert scene.
*Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery is located next to Scones and across the street from 12^th Avenue Grill.

Located right next to another bakery sits Chocolate & Vanilla Bakery I see my Unilocal buddy Brian check in to this place– now he has my attention!
C&V is a cute little bake shop who in addition to cupcakes sells macarons, brownies and BREAD PUDDING. I would suggest you get there in the morning as they have a limited inventory.
Today’s flavors for macarons were pistachio, coffee and quava. I could not wait for my dinner dessert to try these little discs of sweetness. And it was delicious. Pricing= $ 1.75 each, 6/​$ 10 or 12/​$ 20
I nibbled on the breadpudding and it too was delicious. Yup! New kid on the block makes a glowing entrance.
Street parking available or the municipal across the street.

This new bakery has the cutest storefront and is located next to Sconee’s on 12^th Ave. With Kokohead Café, Via Gelato, and Otto Cake as neighbors, this is seriously the place to be. Today, they offered blueberry macarons and French toast macarons. Also on the menu were vanilla cupcakes with vanilla bean buttercream, red velvet cupcakes, and a cream cheese filled red velvet cupcake. They also had bread pudding, panna cotta, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and brownie ends for sale.
Since I’ve never had a French toast macaron, I picked one of those up along with cupcakes and bread pudding to share. So I think there are two main types of frosting lovers. There are those that prefer the light and whipped butter cream frostings and there are those that like dense, cream cheese frostings. I fall into the latter category. Although, I liked the fluffy texture of the cupcakes, I will always prefer dense cream cheese frosting over buttercream.
For the macaron lovers out there, you are in a for a treat. The French toast macaron was perfection. I could have easily polished off half a dozen while writing this review. The shell was just delicious and the cookie’s texture beneath the shell was the best combination of soft and chewy.
They are open Tuesday through Saturday 10am-​6pm and on Sundays 10am-​2pm. Check them out!