How Does That Taste?

Holland Cakery 'n Sweets

11539 Lakewood BLVD Suite #30
Holland, MI 49424   616-396-0200 or Email: info@hollandcakery.com

Website:  http://www.hollandcakery.com/#!HOME/mainPage

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I received an email from Carrie (from Holland) and was asked to do a review on Holland Cakery 'n Sweets and so here it is!

The Arrival …

I arrived at Holland Cakery 'n Sweets in Holland, MI at about 10:40 AM.  It is located in a strip mall on the north side of the street.  I noticed their large pink van sitting outside and new I had the right spot! When I entered into the bakery, it was much larger than the previous bakeries and had a  welcoming appearance, as well as, aroma flowing out the door!  There are two display cases that have several cupcakes to choose from.  The front of the bakery looked very tidy and inviting, what I really liked about this bakery is that there are no walls hiding all the baking going on, so I was able to see rows of cupcakes waiting to be decorated and staff working on cakes and other items.  A much older lady asked me how she could help.  She was very friendly and patient (I had my young sons with me for this trip).  I said “could you give me just a second to look at your cupcakes and I will get right back to you”, I love that they had labels on all the cupcakes so I knew what I was looking at and the prices (their prices vary for size, filling, etc)!   I picked out the cupcakes I was going to try for this trip and she brought a pink box out and started to put all the cupcakes in the box, she asked me if she could get me anything else and I said no thank you.  She range me up on the register which came to $22.50 (6 cupcakes).  I paid her and she said thank you, we chatted some about my boys and her granddaughter that was the same age as my youngest.  I told her thank you and have a nice day and she did the same. 

Chocolate Cupcake w/ Chocolate Buttercream - Chocolate cake was dry not much flavor, the chocolate buttercream was sugary & lacking flavor, and again with the sugar crystals (YUCK!).  

Price of cupcake - $3.00

OVERALL RATING  - 2

Red Velvet w/ Cream Cheese Buttercream - Red cake was moist with alright flavor, Cream Cheese Buttercream  (this is what I was told was the frosting) didn't taste like cream cheese at all, it was very airy and "slick", it had an almost Italian cream taste & feel to it (when not biting into one of those gross sugar crystals!) but not the typical cream cheese frosting that is known for red velvet.  The sugar crystals gross, I NEVER like those because they just get in the way of the flavors and these cupcakes were doused in them! It was an alright cupcake but the frosting did not taste like cream cheese and the sugar crystals have to go!

Price of cupcake - $3.00

OVERALL RATING - 2

Almond w/ White Buttercream – Almond cake was moist, tasted almond and was delicious! The White buttercream was blah, it was a bit sugary (not as bad as some others!) but again had those nasty sugar crystals on it, yuck!  I really liked the cake portion of this cupcake but could do without the frosting they put on.

Price of cupcake - $3.00

OVERALL RATING - 3

Cookie Lovers – White cake was some what moist, the small amount of white icing filling I did not like.  the Oreo frosting didn't quite seems like an Oreo frosting and lacked flavor, the cookies pieces it was rolled in was good & the "cookie" decorations on top were good (half a chocolate chip cookie & half a Oreo).  This cupcake was nothing special for me.

Price of cupcake - $4.50

OVERALL RATING -1

S'Mores – Chocolate cake was dry and not much flavor, there was a very little white icing filling which I did not find appealing (would have been better with marshmallow buttercream or something else), the "S'mores" decoration of gram cracker, Hershey bar piece & 2 mini marshmallows was just not right for me, this cupcake needs work. The plus....instead of sugar crystals or sprinkles it was rolled in mini chocolate chips! Price of cupcake - $4.50

OVERALL RATING – 2 

Chocolate Lovers - Chocolate cake was dry not much flavor, there was no Bavarian filling (which is states it has), the chocolate buttercream was sugary & lacking flavor, the chocolate "ganache" was not the type of ganache I was used too honestly I did not like it, as for the chocolate drizzle it was more for decoration along with the chocolate sprinkles they put on (which I don't like).  

Price of cupcake - $4.50

OVERALL RATING – 1

FINAL ACT…

Holland Cakery 'n Sweets is a alright bakery but they are EXPENSIVE especially for the quality of their products!  Their cakes taste and consistency were alright (almond cake was the only one that I purchased that was moist!), frosting's were only alright as well, they need to get rid of the sugar crystals & sprinkles because they are just not needed. The atmosphere, customer service, and heavenly aromas is what helped give this place it's higher score, they get an B .  I will go back next time I am in Holland to try some of the other flavors and see if I can some winners!  Some major down falls for this bakery: prices are too high, a lot of cupcakes are covered in the sugar crystals & sprinkles (which are not needed and make the cupcake less appealing for me), recipes need tweaking (especially the frosting)! The Good:  The frosting to cake ratio was nice, I didn't feel like I was eating a pile of sugar.

Rating Scale:  1 = Bad, don’t waste your money!

                         2 = It's Alright

                         3 = Good

                         4 = Excellent, worth another taste

                         5 = Desert Heaven, Oh So Scrumptious!

PLEASE NOTE:  All items are tasted within an hour of receiving them.  By doing this, it takes out any false claims that the freshness, temperature, texture, etc. where compromised by not tasting them when served.  All precautions are taken when preserving the “freshness” of the products I receive.