Prantl’s Bakery

After a meeting, 3 emails and a confirmation of what we wanted, the cake we received was not what we ordered. When asked to remake the cake, we where told that they where to busy and that human errors happen. I was given a 25 dollar gift card. I would look elsewhere if you are doing a custom cake.

It is a wait because they are a popular bakery. I went in hoping they would have a cake for my mom and dads anniversary. And was very happy that they could squeeze everything I wanted on the cake! Great people working behind the counter, fast, proficient, kind and courteous!

Very american dessert. Everything is extremely sweet. I got the famed «burnt almond torte» and was not impressed. In fact, I could not finish it because of how sweet it is and dry the cake portion was. I can see how it is beloved by pittsburgers. If you like traditional American dessert, this place is great. If you like more european/​asian style, probably not.

This is a great bakery in Shadyside which gave my daughter a job during high school/​college. They have delicious bakery items, a friendly efficient staff and a convenient Shadyside location. There famous burnt almond torte cake is legendary. It is brilliant that they make it also in a tiered wedding cake. We had the for my daughter’s wedding!

This review is based solely on the burnt almond torte. Good friends on the east coast had this famous cake shipped to us in California.
It was very carefully packed with ice above and below. Bubble wrap around it. The cake itself was on cardboard and sealed in plastic wrap. I was surprised that it was completely intact. A few almonds strayed but that would have happened on a five minute ride home.
We both enjoyed the cake a lot. A simple white cake with a whisper of custard, good frosting a lots of toasted almonds. Nothing fancy, really, but good real taste. No neon fake tasting frosting with weird sprinkles and layers of goop between poofy tasteless cake layers.
If I lived closer I would get this cake again. I’m a former baker so I rate cakes pretty rigorously and this one passes with room to spare.

Made a special trip out of our way to get a burnt almond torte bar. They were sold out at 2:00 pm on a Thursday. What’s up with that? The pecan roll bite I had instead had no flavor – you might as well buy industrially-​produced pastry. The guy did give us two bites for the price of one. Twice the blandness for the same price! No thanks.

Prantl’s has been recommended by several older friends and did not disappoint. I came in to get the burnt almond torte and was greeted pleasantly by the workers there. They answered all of my silly questions like, «what’s your favorite?» And gave great recommendations. I also picked up a spinach and feta roll and admittedly it was a little dry. The dough also lacked any sultry flavor. So I recommend going in and getting what they’re known for: the torte.

I am a simple girl when it comes to bakery goods. One of my favorite things to get is a glazed donut… seems simple, but yet a lot of places don’t make any that are memorable. The first time I came to Prantl’s was during the Shadyside Arts Festival and I ordered a glazed donut. It was amazing and I know go every year (and now that I work in Shadyside, I go a lot more than that). Their other goodies are amazing too– french pastries, cookies, cakes– all delicious! When I have a sweet craving, this is the place I’m going to stop during my lunch break at work!

Prantl’s is an amazing neighborhood bakery. I walk by on walnut often but have only been in a few times. They have an air vent out to the street blowing out fresh smells of the bakery… oh so tempting!
I recently stopped in with family from out of town and tried a variety of their offerings. The cookies were good, as was one of the apricot pastries. The star of the show though was the burnt almond torte. Seriously, one of the best cakes and deserts period that I have ever had. The cake is moist, rich with flavor without being overly sweet, and the almonds add just enough crunch for some variety and delicate layer of complexity in the taste profile. Stop in and try a piece!
Tip: Take a number to the left when you get in the door.

NOT best cake in America by a long shot. Not even best cake in Pittsburgh.
I’m giving Prantl’s 2 stars («meh. I’ve experienced better») because I have. Their burnt almond torte is «America’s best cake» the same way my Mom is the «best Mom in the whole universe». That is, if your experience is limited, if all that exists is your neighborhood, if «America» means Shadyside and «universe» means «my house», then perhaps those are accurate.
For better pastries, try the almond croissants at La Gourmandine bakery in Lawrenceville. For better cakes, try the Opera cake from Jean Marc Chatellier in Millvale.

Unfortunately for my waistline, I live walking distance to this bakery. This bakery also houses great memories of an awesome chocolate cake we always got for birthdays during college, but that’s about it.
The biggest thing that bothers me is that the quality is not consistent day-​to-​day. Sometimes, clearly, the pastries are stale. Though the Burnt Almond Torte is Prantl’s claim to fame, I found it overly sweet. The best part is the cake inside, which I found to be super soft and moist.
The cupcake bites are overpriced and too sweet. The regular cupcakes are satisfactory. If you do come here, sure, try the Burnt Almond Torte, but sometimes this item is sold out on the weekends.

What I like about Prantl’s is that it has a little bit of everything, but most of all homemade goodness.
Looking through past reviews, many talk about the Almond Torte and various other items, but I’ve happened to visit around holidays or busy mornings when my goal is to get in and out… leading me to try other seemingly less-​hyped items. And boy have they been a great choice!
On my first visit it was Easter and I wanted to bring a treat for the family. The staff member who helped me suggested the cinnamon bread. It was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only was the bread fresh, but the cinnamon sugar was throughout the entire bread. There wasn’t one piece, or complaint, from anyone about it lacking flavor (as cinnamon breads can sometimes be as you get to the middle of the loaf). As the holiday went on, many family members were grabbing it instead of a cookie or other treats around. I did also grab a few «Almond Torte Bites» instead of the full torte to give it a try as well. Even though they are good, they are VERY sweet and not what my tastebuds are looking for. I was very glad to have gotten the bites instead of the larger cake itself.
Most importantly, the staff was super helpful, patient, and attentive even though the store was in full swing, with a line basically out the door.
My most recent visit was today for #nationaldonutday! There are a lot of options, but there is something about the traditional glazed donut that takes the cake. I don’t remember the last time I had a truly good homemade donut like this — it literally melted in my mouth. There’s also something nostalgic about it that makes you feel like you’re reliving a moment in your grandma’s kitchen. It’s something that’s going to keep me coming back for a Saturday morning treat with my coffee!

I wanted to hate Prantl’s. I am routinely disappointed in people’s favorite bakeries in this city. So when people raved about Prantl’s, I’m all, «All you Pittsburghers are the same.» Nope, y’all. Prantl’s is something special, and it is my new obsession.
Apple Strudel ($ 2.49): The best thing they make. PACKED full of apples and cinnamon. The pastry crust is flaky and perfect. This is one of the best apple strudels I have ever eaten, and the slices are huge for the price.
Burnt Almond Torte Bar ($ 3.99): I know this is the home-​run hitter for most people so I had to try it. The cups are kind of over priced a $ 1.50 for a bite or two so definitely get the bar. I hate nuts in my desserts, but I LOVE this. This dessert is so unique and delicious. A must try.
Pepperoni Roll ($ 2.29): Super cheap for the quality. And the good help (More on this later) will offer to heat it up for you!
Large Lady Lock ($ 2.49): I don’t like Lady Locks. They are too sweet for my taste. My mom said she really liked the one I got her, though!
I will say, the desserts are very sweet. I usually cut them into small pieces and eat them over a few days, but that is the way I like dessert.
Also, some of the help is fantastic and some REALLY suck. Don’t let the crap help turn you off; these baked goods are worth it! I’ve had help stand and stare at me, and when I try to order, walk away. #NoTipForYou
Go early in the day! Credit cards accepted.

For Review #100, what better place to write about than a BAKERY?!
Being the baked goods lover that I am, I’m almost ashamed to say that I hadn’t tried this well-​known Pittsburgh bakery until recently. And I wish that I hadn’t, because now their goodies are going to haunt my dreams.
I came here to pick up cupcakes for a friend’s birthday. They had well-​stocked cases considering it was a little later in the day. I bought a few of their regular-​sized cupcakes with sprinkles and an assortment of their cake cups (which are smaller cupcakes in different flavors). Then I saw «it»…the cake which I’d only heard about in legends… the burnt almond torte. They had a «travel» individual-​sized torte available, so I figured I needed to see what all of the fuss was about (I mean, hey, if it’s good enough for the Huffington Post, it’s good enough for me!)
Seeing as I have no self control, I couldn’t resist digging into the almond torte as soon as I got home. This confection is everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s such an interesting contrast of textures — the buttery vanilla cake itself was light and airy and almost melted in my mouth. It perfectly complemented the crunchy almonds and large flakes of sugar on the outside. The buttercream icing enveloping it all gave it a nice burst of creamy sweetness. It managed to be simultaneously buttery, sweet, and decadent without feeling too rich. The only part of the torte that I didn’t get a lot from was the custard layer in the middle. There wasn’t much of it present, and it didn’t really add anything to the cake. However, this was the «travel» version, which I think uses a shelf-​stable custard. I read that they have a version that uses another type of filling that requires refrigeration, and I’d be curious to try that to see if it make a difference. Either way, it was freaking delicious. I would say that I agree with HuffPo that this is the best cake in America, but since I haven’t tried every cake in America, I’m not yet qualified to make that statement… so…new life goal! ;)
The other goodies that I picked up were winners as well. The chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles were moist, flavorful and piled high with fluffy frosting. I would classify the frosting here as on the sweeter side (which I prefer), but not sweet to the point that it makes your teeth hurt. The assorted cake cups were equally mouthwatering, each one packed with its own unique flavors. Everyone agreed that I was the hero of the night for having brought such deliciousness to the birthday party ;)
See you in my dreams, burnt almond torte…

I can eat their famous burnt almond torte for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Absolutely LOVE it!
My only complaint is that I wish they close later than 6pm on a weekday and 4pm on Sundays!

Prantl’s is my new crack. What’s worse is I live five minutes away from this place. I can’t feel «too lazy» to take a bus here because it is so conveniently close; I can literally just walk over and get what I want. It is so dangerous for me, but I always convince myself it is worth it.
I’ve tried to make an effort to get something different when I am at Prantl’s. So far I’ve had the burnt almond torte, apple strudel, white chocolate raspberry cup, burnt almond cup, red velvet cup, and coconut cream doughnut. All of these pastries are fantastic, so allow me to get a little more detailed about each of them.
Burnt almond torte: of course, you have to get this. It’s what they are famous for, blah blah blah. But, be warned! If you are eating for one, get the travel bar, and do NOT eat it all at once! I am a person that loves sweets. I have always had a really high tolerance for them. But in this case, the almond torte was very sweet even for me. If you do not have much of a sweet tooth, I suggest you eat a little at a time, because you can easily go over the deep end and feel sick, and end up hating this pastry, or something.
Why is this pastry amazing? Well, first off, the cream is a thick topping that, in my opinion, takes the… cake. The cake is moist, succulent, and isn’t too much. You know how there are some cakes that are super dense, like when you take a bite out of it there is just too much cake? This isn’t like that at all. There is a little butter cream frosting –I think– in the middle of the torte that has a great consistency with the cake and cream. On top of that are the almonds which provide the perfect crunch. It is a fantastic combination in your mouth, and it makes you want all of it. But like I said, enjoy it, and stop before you go overboard.
Apple Strudel: My grandma would always make apple strudel when I was at her place, so my expectations were high. Nevertheless, Prantl’s exceeded it. I was shocked. The apple strudel definitely is a lot less sweeter than the burnt almond torte. The dough and the apple filling work very well together, and taking a bite out of this is like taking a trip down memory lane. I highly recommend this pastry if you are a fan of apples.
The three cups: These cups are so cute! The best part of it is you get a deal when you get a dozen of them. The white chocolate raspberry cups are a great treat that has a rich raspberry filling in the middle. It takes away from the super sweet cup, and gives it a more decadent, tart-​y flavor. The almond cup is a miniature version of the travel torte, except the butter cream frosting is in the middle of the cup. I actually liked this better, because I feel like the butter cream really brings out the flavor. The red velvet cups were sweet, and my least favorite of all of them. Don’t get me wrong, they were great, but seemed boring and not as unique compared to the other cups.
The coconut cream doughnut was nice! I am not a fan of coconut on pastries, but the flakes provided a nice touch instead of an overpowering flavor. There was a vanilla cream in the doughnut, which is my favorite, but to me tasted like a good doughnut, and, like the red velvet cups, was not that unique.
For those that are not the most sweets-​inclined, I would recommend the apple strudel, or the white-​chocolate raspberry cups. The pastries that are baked here are delicious and rich. Go here, you will not regret it!

I stopped by to pick up a few baked goods to go! I thought the best thing here was their donuts which I’m not even sure they make in house. The chocolate covered and glazed were both fresh, fluffy and really good.
I got two little bite-​size portions of their red velvet cake and their burnt almond torte. I thought the fillings on both were overly sweet and nothing struck me as really good about either.

SHAME ON YOU. PRANTL’S
Pastries I purchased today chocolate heart with shamrock on top is a recycled pink heart from Valentine’s Day and tasted like it. UGHHHHH

Does Prantl’s need any introduction? In the last few years I’ve definitely seen them getting more and more attention, not just locally but nationally as well. Their burnt almond torte desserts in particular receive a lot of well deserved attention.
This particular Prantl’s Bakery is one that I admittedly can’t get to easily, due to the number of people who visit Shadyside (a neighborhood with very limited parking). So when I was in the area this weekend I absolutely had to stop in and take advantage of the fact that I was nearby. After walking in I thought I was in heaven — the smell of the baked goods was just soooo good! The place was pretty hopping so I was able to browse and see what was available while waiting for my number to be called; during the wait I watched fresh muffins, cookies and more being set out for people to buy. So I can definitely testify to just how fresh the goods here are — even one hour before closing they were putting out trays that had just come out of the oven.
Fair warning, the hardest part about visiting Prantl’s is leaving with a reasonable number of goodies. I dare you to try to stop in for «just one treat.» They have cupcakes, cakes, «cups» (which are basically mini cupcakes with lots of amazing icing and toppings), pastries, muffins, and more, all made in a range of flavors — all fresh, all baked to perfection in my experience.
I ended up leaving with 8 cups (2 cookies & crème, 2 almond torte, 2 peanut butter and chocolate, and 2 white chocolate and raspberry) that I’ve left in my car so I’m not tempted to snack on them all at once. So far I’ve eaten two of them and they’ve just melted in my mouth… exactly like a really good, fresh and moist dessert should, as far as I’m concerned.
So seriously — Prantl’s is amazing. Go there, buy something, it’s totally worth it!

My new lab manager brought in a burnt almond torte cake from Prantl’s today for another labmate who’s leaving. None of us labbies had tried this famed Pittsburgh treat before, but we knew that the one who’s leaving is a fan, since she’s ordering a burnt almond torte wedding cake (genius!). Given all of the hype, we were eager to sample this unique dessert, and as usual with much-​hyped things, I was skeptical.
I knew the cake was a winner as soon as I put a bite of it in my mouth. It was light and fluffy, consisting of a layer of creamy, custardy goodness between two layers of cake, and light, sweet icing topped with flakes of almond with sugar sprinkled over them. The combination of textures was the most unique I’ve ever tasted in a cake, and between the fluffiness, creaminess, and crunchiness, it was oh-​so-​satisfying. The flavors were a surprisingly rich blend of vanilla, almond, and buttery goodness. The cake literally melted in my mouth – no chewing was necessary, except for the topping.
As the icing on the cake (no pun intended!), the cake was beautifully decorated with colorful icing flowers and piped script, which brightened up the cake and made it a pleasure to behold. While it was a bit on the pricey side ($ 45 for a half-​sheet cake), it was worth every penny. For those just wanting to try a single portion of this legendary concoction, Prantl’s serves burnt almond torte bars (not sure how much they cost). Try some, and you just might be as obsessed as me and the folks at HuffPo!