Cakes and Purls

Good location, but that’s about it going for it. My latte was weak and barely warm and the chocolate cake tasted like flour. Yarn prices were ridiculous, but you are in Berkeley so would not expect anything else. Overall disappointed.

1. They were open late!
2. They had a nice selection of knitting needles including the ones I wanted
3. They had a small but nice selection. Of yarns.
4. The owner, Audrey, was super nice.
5. They have cupcakes!
Need I say more?

This place has really tasty cupcakes! The chocolate ones are the best and the red velvet is pretty good too. The only reason I’m giving this place 3 stars is because when I came in it was dead quiet, no music or anything. The ambiance was highly lacking. It was honestly kind of creepy. I don’t know if it’s always like this or not but I came in around 8:30 so that maybe have been why. The décor of this place is definitely cute though and if you’re a knitter I’m sure it’s dope.

Great little shop hidden away in downtown Berkeley. The owner is super sweet and is willing to go the extra mile. Oh, and they have yarn, and cupcakes in the same spot. Seriously…
I’ve gone in a couple of times now and I’ve never left without getting anything. Nice selection of needles, patterns, and yarn despite the small store size.

Total hidden gem in downtown Berkeley. Meaning… it’s not overrun by students. I had time to kill before a meeting. I really just wanted to enjoy a cup of tea while reading my Kindle. Starbucks was crazy so was every other coffee place.
While walking down Allston Way, I noticed a sandwich board with «Cakes & Purls» on it. Cakes usually have tea or coffee so I thought I’d check it out. Good for me that the place was empty. It was an oasis offering peaceful solitude. They also had tea! Cupcakes! Free Wi-​Fi!
One side of the shop was set up for knitting. The other side had two cases of desserts. Cupcakes — lots are gluten-​free — are their thing but don’t miss out on the fabulous apple cake hiding in plain sight on the counter. Tasted like it was made by my grandma.
Quiet little yarn shop /​bakery where you can enjoy a cup of tea and slice of homemade apple cake or gluten-​free cupcake. Loverly!

As a dessert fanatic and someone who loves cupcakes. I was pleased to find Cakes and Purls. To my surprise they offer a variety of Vegan Cupcakes. I was undecided from (4) choices, in the end we went with…
VEGAN BANANA SPLIT CUPCAKE ($ 3.25) — Banana cupcake backed with pineapple and chocolate chip chunks, topped with vanilla icing and sprinkles. I was not a huge fan of the cake. Although it was moist the flavor and texture was not something I enjoyed. Having sprinkles on top of a cupcake gave it an unfavorable taste.
VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE — Chocolate Cake with a peanut butter frosting, was spectacular. I wish I ordered two of these… possibly even more. The cake was perfectly cooked and the icing was silky smooth without a gritty taste that most peanut butter frostings would have. A MUST ORDER!!!
They also offer a variation of standard cupcakes, cheesecakes and cakes for consumption. I recommend anyone, who loves sweets to try this place out. Heck they are even open late, which is unbelievable. A dessert place open late, didn’t think it existed.
I think the only strange thing about this place was the aspect of yarn. Not really sure what the two have in common. I would rather have a Unilocal check in offer for dessert, instead of 10% off yarn. Nonetheless, it’s one of my new favorite East Bay cupcake place.

The owner of this establishment is nice enough and the knitting ambiance is a hoot, but the desserts here are absolutely horrible. I’m sorry, they’re just not good at all. Our group had several cupcakes and the cheesecake. They were all very pricey and in the end we wished we had just gone to Starbucks.

BEST vegan peanut butter cupcake in the Bay Area! Have been wanting to try this for the past month. My friend and I came to Berkeley last month and wanted to try it after LOTS of research on finding a good PB cupcake spot. Anyway, we called her in the afternoon, and she said she had cupcakes left. When we got to her shop a few hours later, though, she was sold out :(. Her cupcakes are that good! Finally tried her PB one today and after the all the hype, it lived up to expectations. Will definitely be back as often as possible. I just wish she were closer to Mountain View.

Pastries, coffee, gluten free treats, big tables and yarn.
What more do you need?
Hit this place up for coffee if you’re downtown instead of that crazytown Starbucks!

I came here for the pear tart, which they didn’t have :(
So I got cheesecake. Yummiest, richest, cheesecake, I have ever had.
The guy seemed kind of grumpy though.
The place itself is really cute, what with the sewing stuff and all.

I’ve only been here once, but it seems like a cute little place that I might return to every now and then if I want some classic, no-​nonsense baked goods.
They sell cupcakes and other goodies, and even offer gluten free and vegan options, if memory serves. I got a peanut butter chocolate cupcake that was smothered in sweet peanut butter frosting and devoured the entire thing. Yum! It tasted a lot like peanut butter chocolate cupcakes I make at home… but I’m gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and just say that means more about how good my own baking is rather than how simple theirs is ;)
An entire half of the store sells yarn and knitting supplies. I love the combo! I only do a small amount of knitting myself, but I’m a sucker for folks who combine their interests into one business.
The location seems to have LOTS of room to sit and stand and wander, which felt a little out of place since it was nearly empty when I went, but I bet that’s a good thing if it ever gets a little busier.
The employee working on the night that I went was very quiet but sweet and helpful.
In terms of price, it is about the same cost as other cupcake locales I’ve been to, but the cupcakes are noticeably bigger than those other places, so that’s a plus.
Overall, pretty impressed. Not a place I’ll visit more often than I need to, but would consider stopping by again when I’m in the mood.

Okay, so I exaggerate a lot, but HANDS DOWN the chocolate stout cupcake is the best darn cupcake I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of cupcakes. The cake was super moist and chocolately (but the semisweet chocolate flavor that I love) and the frosting !!! I don’t know what magic they used to make it. Even upon taking the cupcake out of its little holder spot in the box, I could feel how fluffy and light the frosting was. The whole thing is subtly sweet, which earns high praise from me because I can’t deal with desserts that are overwhelming sweet. Even my dad really enjoyed it (and he doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth). He enjoyed the beery stout flavor. SO GOOD.
I also shared a piece of carrot cake with my dad, and well, that one was overwhelmingly sweet. I had to scrape some of the icing off to eat the cake part. I’m not really a fan of carrot cake in general, but my dad liked it (after removing some excess icing).
I’m so happy Vivian D. told me about this little shop. I like that it’s partially a yarn store too, but I’m definitely coming back just for more chocolate stout cupcakes.

Cakes and Purls. What a cute name for a cupcakery and knitting shop. I know of a couple of mates of mine who would really appreciate this place (and they know who they are). I stopped and perused by here many times. I adore the knitted cupcake that somebody made for them (see photo). I was waiting for the bus to go home in front of this shop and decided to get a cupcake from Cakes and Purls (finally).
The gentleman was the one in the shop the day I stopped by. There was one customer who was still making her decisions as to what to purchase. She told me to go on ahead and procure my choice. I went with one of my favorite litmus test, the classic chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting.
There are a variety of cupcakes and other baked treats to chose from. From standard, gluten-​free, and vegan baked goods. Such as cheesecakes, cookies, brownies, etc., etc., etc. along with cupcakes. Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Red Velvet, Salted Caramel, etc.
From my perusal of reading the reviews, I must have caught C&P on a good day as the chocolate cupcake I procured was fresh, moist, and tasty. And so cute too that I did not want to eat it!
A tip from moi as I saw this noted at the till: Get a takeaway box. Bring the box back to reuse and get five percent off your next cupcake purchase. Sounds like a capital idea to me!
I hope to be part of the Bitch and Stitch Group when time allows. Great way to form and build community by combining baked goods and knitting. One cannot go wrong with cupcakes, knitting needles and yarn!

In the mood for a late night vegan cupcake? How about gluten-​free, tiramisu, piña colada, or even an old-​fashioned black bottom cupcake? Cakes and Purls is THE place to be when you’ve got a hankering for some hexose sugars in your blood when it’s past 5pm.
Maggie W. and I were on the prowl for sweetness around 8:30pm when we stumbled upon Cakes and Purls, the only late night cupcakery in Berkeley that I am aware of. She got a cute little red velvet cupcake, while I opted for a flat-​top black bottom cupcake. We aren’t vegan or gluten-​allergic, so we opted to save a couple quarters by going with the regular ol’ cupcake option. At $ 3.27 per cupcake, though, it isn’t really a steal. Our cupcakes looked and tasted like they had been sitting out for a while. I guess there’s a reason why almost every cupcake place I know closes at 5 or 6 pm! Nonetheless, the two-​star cupcakes hit the sweet tooth on the head, so we were satisfied. Service was friendly, so I can add another star.
Of note, Cakes and Purls hosts a curiously clever and intriguing weekly event called «Stitch and Bitch» every Thursday between 6pm and 9pm. It melds the two parts of Cakes and Purls’ store – the skeins of vibrant yarn and knitting supplies on the right, with the bakery, cakes, and brownies to the left. «Stitch and Bitch» includes free tea and coffee to enjoy as people of all levels of knitting skills come together to bitch about life! It sounds like a nice way to relax over knitting, baked goods, and lively conversation. I think I’ll have to join in on one of these bitch sessions when finals season approaches and I’m totally stressed out, lol!

Time: 12:22pm
Purpose: With friends on tow I needed to find out how to save some money quick since I’m the host here. So Chinook mobile has a deal and it’s also located in Berkeley.
Ambiance: It’s basically a shop that is half crafts/​knitting on one side and desserts/​coffee on other. Feels cozy and like an village kind of shop would be nice if there are cobblestones to it’s path. Some might view it as living room and kitchen feel to it I feel like at a relatives place.
Staff: Business is own and operated by a local couple who hails from NY. Both happens to be Italian also so that’s another plus here and Russell was quick to point out that his wife Marie loves to cook and bake. I was told that their shop location use to be just across from them and recently traded places with each other. Shop is 50% more in space than the past location I agree with the concept as the other business is not food and drink related just a small insurance like office.
Cleanliness: No complaints here well kept as day progresses.
Eats: Slice of carrott cake and pumpkin cheesecake didn’t want any coffee (Peerless) brand. No cold drinks here!
Products: Cupcakes, cheesecakes, mini loafs, cake slices, buy by whole or slices, cookies, muffins, coffee, knitting&yarn supplies plus specialty custom orders must order in advance though. 8 kinds of cupcakes, 2 kinds of brownies, 2 kinds of cookies.
Punch Line: Quiet place, easy parking, nice friendly couple, assorted home made sweets.
Final Thoughts: I can say it’s not as busy as other places maybe it’s located on a side street off busy Shattuck ave. My friends was the only ones that gotten coffee so I cut half of my slices I bought for them to try I can get it anytime I want they were visiting one time shot at it. We agree it’s good for the time being but probably there’s other that may match or exceed. At least it’s not commercial bought products here it’s really made by Marie the difference is there if you’re a experience sweet tooth person.

You know how you sometimes try to eat healthier when you first meet someone you like? (I don’t know… maybe it’s just me!)
Long story short, I made a new vegan friend last night, and I think he’s the BEE’S KNEES. As a result, I’m pushing myself to get more fit. That means it’s time to cut back on all the junk food and get my butt to the gym!
Unfortunately, juices and smoothies don’t satisfy my increasingly raging sweet tooth. I figured I could cheat and have a treat, especially after walking several miles throughout Berkeley to run some errands.
I’ve passed by Cakes and Purls several times now, mostly on my way home from Saturn or Cinnaholic. C-​holic was closed when I walked by, so I decided to give Cakes and Purls a whirl.
I ordered the Vegan Banana Split Cupcake and the Vegan Peanut Butter and Chocolate. The Banana Split was delicious! The cake was moist, the frosting wasn’t overbearing, and who doesn’t like sprinkles on top? I pretty much inhaled this one, so it was more like a cupcake shot. Nom nom nom!
The PB&Chocolate was less impressive. I probably wouldn’t order this one again. The cake part was too dense, and I didn’t really dig the frosting.
$ 3 each is a little pricey, although I guess it’s pretty much the norm for cuppycakes these days. Perhaps it’s for the best. I need to be better about adhering to my new-​found quest for health. Even if this new boycrush doesn’t pan out, at least I’ll have a rockin’ bod to show for it. ;)

Appreciate having a few vegan options. not just one… lone… pastry.
Not my fave, but tasty enough that I’ll be back :) we tried the chocolate peanut butter & the banana split. the cake part is a little dry & the frosting is a bit light/​fluffy… but I would not kick these treats out of bed!
not much seating, have no idea how they host knit night here!
wish they had espresso drinks.

I was super excited to come and try this place after eating at Jupiter’s the other day. I sat right next to the store in the back alleyway and could see all the delicious cupcakes and cheesecakes on display.
So I came here today and bought a Himalayan Salted Caramel cupcake to devour immediately. I really liked how the frosting is very fluffy and had little sprinkles of sea salt that tasted really good, but I wasn’t a fan of the actual cupcake at all. It tasted too dense and dry, not moist at all. After eating it I felt extremely full. I might come back to try some of their other desserts to see if I might like them better, but I definitely won’t be back for their cupcakes.

I was delighted to find this nearly-​hidden bakery on my way to lunch. They had a good assortment of interesting cupcakes even though it’s not a cupcake place per se. I purchased 4 cupcakes:
* Himalayan Salted Caramel: My favorite! The cake portion was denser than many cupcakes; I hate when they start to crumble. The taste was good but I did wish it was a tad saltier.
* Chocolate & Peanut Butter: I bought the regular and vegan versions. The regular had a little piece of Reese’s (or a reasonable facsimile) on top of the icing which was more delicious than the vegan version. I must say I couldn’t tell the difference of the cake portions though.
* Banana Split: I have to give this another try since it was in my refrigerator for a few days and I ended up not eating the cake portion. I borrowed the icing for another bakery’s dry cupcake cake portion. Is this heresy or what?
I shall return!

I was waiting for this place to open, since it’s on my daily route to the BART station.
It’s a small shop that mostly sells tarts, cupcakes, and cheesecakes. The owner is from NY and specialized in NY style desserts… so I probably should’ve gotten a cheesecake, now that I come to think of it.
But, I got a pear and asian pear frangipane tart instead. It was good… probably would’ve been way better fresh out of the oven.
Next time I’ll try the cheesecake.