Prantl’s Bakery

Not sure how I can add on to the raves and reviews about Prantl’s, but this is one of the food places that Pittsburgh is famous for.
The burnt almond torte is their best offering. It has the crunchy salty almond and the sweet moist layers. It was very good! My friend’s wedding cake was from here. She said the cake didn’t freeze well but that maybe it’s the way they stored the cakes?
I love the giant cookies. It’s definitely meant for sharing. Strangely enough, I don’t like the almond torte cookie as much as the cake version. I think it’s because the «icing» is hard/​iced compared to the creamy icing on a cake. My fave cookie are the chocolate chip, peanut butter (both are very buttery good) and the oreo iced cookie.

I bought the small burnt almond torte. I am so disappointed that I didn’t buy the larger one or more of them. It was delicious! Highly recommend, especially if you just want something small and sweet. I also bought the chocolate chip cookie and blueberry muffin.

Get the burnt almond torte! There’s a reason why everyone on here keeps mentioning it, because it’s amazing. Salty and sweet. If you don’t want the full size, you can order a mini almond cup which is two bites worth. So good! The cookies and cream cup was so overly sweet, though, that if you don’t like sweets that much, this isn’t the choice for you. It was toothache level sweet. They have so many options for whatever sweet flavor you like, so you’re bound to fall in love with something.

kinda-​sorta obsessed with Prantl’s. well tecnically im obsesssed with the Burnt Almond Torte. My office gets it catered for our annual christmas party. I’ve stopped in a few times when having a sweet tooth. The offer a ton of cute treats– cookies, cupcakes, brownies. They also have the almond torte in many forms– cookie, slice of cake, cupcake and small loaf. If you haven’t tried it, you are missing out.

When I think of Prantl’s three words come to mind-​Almond Torte Cake. It has been voted the BEST CAKE in the U.S. It is a fluffy cake covered in a white icing and then covered with thinly sliced almonds. It is sweet, salty, and crunchy all at the same time! In the downtown location you can get the cake in small squares called «bites» and in small loaf shaped cakes called «bars».
The great news is that ALL of their items are amazing. They have cookies, cakes, fresh baked breads along with other items. The employees are nice and keep the line moving. Yes, there is almost always a line. That’s a sign of a good bakery.

Great staff and great customer service! From what I understand they don’t make any of the pastries at this location but, that’s okay, everything is still as fresh and tasty as the Walnut St. location

Not great customer service they kinda just look at you like why are you here when you walk in and then seemed bothered that they actually have to help you. I got a bunch of different things only thing that was really good was the burnt almond torte.

Went there because some said they have the bestest cakes anywhere in the world.
I got the single serving of their signature cake.
it was ok. Not something i would go outta my way to obtain.
Almonds were crispy and sweet, buttercream was a tad too much like a wilton buttercream to me, not the real deal, so for that i give them a low score. otherwise, i have no clue, that was all i tried.

I love Prantl’s. Whether I’m at their downtown or Shadyside location, I always leave their shop with some of the tastiest snacks in the city. I most recently had a chance to visit the downtown location after picking up my own birthday cake. For this particular event I ended up getting their chocolate burnt almond torte cake — I had no problems ordering it online and it was immediately ready for pick-​up at the time I’d selected, so I’m comfortable saying it’s ok to order online with Prantl’s. As for the cake itself, later my friends and I determined that the original is a little better, but it was still tasty, fluffy, and crunchy — exactly what I’ve come to expect from their almond torte cake. Still, even as a chocolate lover I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to try the chocolate version of this classic unless you’re extremely interested in trying it. Again, it’s not bad at all, it’s just not THE classic almond torte cake.
But wait — was my cake the only thing I left Prantl’s with? Absolutely not! It’s a rule that I can’t leave Prantl’s with just one item. In addition to my main cake, I purchased several cake bars to indulge in during the 24 hours that were between me and the time when I’d actually be enjoying my chocolate cake. One bar was my favorite (white chocolate raspberry cake), the other was a red velvet bar. And I’ll be honest, I’m starting to think these goodies may be my favorite sweet treat in the city. They’re so moist, so flavorful, and they’re covered in plenty of smooth and complementary icing. I don’t know about you, but for me that beats a cookie and many other treats any day!
It definitely doesn’t hurt that the staff here are pretty sweet (haha, get it?) — I especially remember that in addition to being helpful as I picked out what to take home with me, one of them was pretty complimentary of my nerdy t-​shirt the day I walked in last time. Add in the cleanliness of the location and the fact that they had a decent selection of goodies right up until closing time, and I can’t find a single thing to complain or nitpick about. All in all this location is great and well maintained, and absolutely nothing Prantl’s-related has disappointed me yet — that sounds like a winning recipe for a business to me!

This place is kind of funny. you walk up to the outside & there’s TWO entrances w/​two DIFFERENT names. lil confusing. Walk n & two DIFFERENT cashiers. then I realized it’s two businesses sharing the same space & business. (I bet this drives the accountants crazy!) Anyway got a quick sweet fix. they were just ok. nothing special & prices were high considering Two businesses were splitting the cost of retail space! I wouldn’t go out of my way to go. but if u r looking for something sweet & you happen to walk right by them & they’re still open. maybe go in.

I do like this company but the one downtown does NOT have good customer service. I ordered a cake online for pickup. If anyone didn’t know, all their custom cakes are made at their shadyside location. I arrived Saturday afternoon, about an hour and a half hour to pick up my cake and the one guy just looked at me and said «You’re early.» First off, they close at 3pm on Saturday & I was there at 1:30pm. Second, I knew the cake would have been ready by noon because they close at freaking 3pm! So, I said to the guy, «Ok, well I’ll come back.» He then said, «No it’s here.» WTF you say I am early for then fool! I will not be going to market sq location ever again. They serious need to retrain people. I worked in customer service and no need to be a weirdo about it, just get my cake and call it a day.

Make the right picks and your sweet tooth will be more than satisfied.
I was charged with picking up some baked delectables for the wife. Since Prantl’s is a stones throw from where I work I figured I’d give it a shot. I was greeted with the smells of baked breads and cakes since Mancini’s shares a small space with Prantl’s. I selected a chocolate chip cookie, cinnamon bun, and 3 different mini cupcakes. I’ll quickly review each one since the wife let me sample all. First the cinnamon bun as others have mentioned is excellent. Soft, balanced flavor, coated in sticky moist icing that tastes homemade. The cupcakes were all good, but the almond crusted chocolate one stood out and pronounced itself king. Amazing. The cookie was the loser of the draft though. Dry, almost to the point of tasting prepackaged. Disappointing. The only low points of Prantl’s would be the cookie and staff that isn’t exactly welcoming.
I will go back.

I was very surprised that there were only 11 reviews when I posted! Prantl’s has the best burnt almond torte known to man! There are cakes, cupcakes, little cakes, and WEDDING cakes made out of this wonderful recipe. Hell, even Burgatory made a milkshake out of this wonderful flavor. If you have not tried it, take a day and change your life.
Or, for those who do not want drama, take an afternoon and eat a fabulous dessert.

Let’s put it this way.
I liked the chocolate chip cookie and Oreo sugar cookie.
I LOVED the cinnamon bun. Loads of icing, almost as good as Oram’s (my benchmark).
Very good, but not great.

I had just finished shopping at the new Sinful Sweets location and was headed towards Diamond Market Bar & Grill for some dinner when I spotted a small Prantl’s satellite on a side street that apparently shares a space with Mancini’s Bakery.
A motley crew of tattooed riot grrls and aging men in classic rock t-​shirts with missing teeth greeted me with smiles behind a gleaming glass display case populated by an army of martially positioned pastries and cookies. All them in perfect alignment, not a single one was out of place. They stood at attention, waiting their call to action.
I only took home a modest bagful of treats to take home to Kay, and the cinnamon buns we shared the following morning were the ascendant feature presentation of the the previous evening’s haul. Each enormous pillow of dough nibbled at our tongue with its coy spices, but what made these coils of squashy and sacchariferous pleasures shine was the pale, buttery, luscious icing that liberally coated them. I almost nuked them, but they were so delicate, I feared disaster and used discretion.
Lesser successes included an average sugar cookie coated with Oreo crumbs and a capable, capacious chocolate chip cookie that was subtly sweet and adequately chewy.
Prantl’s seems to do its best work with the elaborate and decadent as evidenced by my other experience with them. Order a torte, and you’ll get one of the greatest you’ll ever eat or lay eyes on. Order a dozen cookies and find yourself only moderately tempted. Nonetheless, Prantl’s remains a crack creator of confections even if they seem to gain the most satisfaction constructing elegant cathedrals of frosted, decorated cake, yet consider manufacturing apple pies to be a dull and plebeian pursuit, even if they do it well enough.

Prantl’s is a quick step to the side of Market Square, and more importantly, my workplace. A few of my co-​workers have a little ritual. If we have a bad day, one of us goes on a Prantl’s run for sweets. Pastry therapy. Effective, though not so much for the diabetics.
Their most famous (and best) offering is the burnt almond torte, which consists of moist layers of cake soaked in yummy almond custard. The whole torte is covered with slivers of toasted almonds and sugar. Really delicious! The torts come in several sizes, and I understand that they ship these things worldwide. So give em’ a whirl.
My second favorite Prantl’s delight is more savory than sweet; the breakfast roll. They are bigger than your fist and have either sausage or ham with egg and cheese baked inside. Perhaps the breakfast rolls are more Mancini’s than Prantl’s, but the same lovely people prepare and sell them at one spot in Market Square. The staff at Prantl’s/Mancini’s are always kind and accommodating to my requests.
I docked them a star because I think their fondant cakes and cupcakes are rather bland, which is surprising given how flavorful their other pastries are.
Overall, a solid bakery staffed with friendly people!

You know I gots to get my sweets in. So, after eating some lunch, I made Prantl’s my next stop in Market Square. However I didn’t overdo it this time, only getting a miniature Cookies & Crème cupcake and a small Peanut Butter Square. Both were excellent desserts at only $ 1.50 apiece.

I just had to write about having another one of those ‘Only In Pittsburgh’ moments at this Prantl’s in Market Square.
My best friend and I had just had amazing burgers across the square at Winghart’s, and were making our way toward the cab stand at the Fairmont, when we passed the Prantl’s. Several weeks earlier, we had gone to Paddy Cake in Bloomfield, and picked up a couple of amazing Eclairs, and since my friend’s mom had been quite wowed by the Paddy Cake eclairs, we thought we’d pop into Prantl’s and grab a few here for later. I mean, really, what’s to an éclair? Flaky crust, stuffed with custard, and topped with chocolate. Bakeries have been making them since long before Marie Antoinette supposedly said ‘Let them eat cake’.
We entered the shop, and there was a small gathering of buyers, in the usual inconsiderate stance of standing with their crotches pressed firmly up against the glass display cases — I mean come on people — you know what you want, now back the hell up and let others look! So we had to wait for the muffin tops and zanzibelts to clear the viewing area.
Once the butts cleared and we could see into the cases, I looked up and down and left to right, but didn’t see anything that looked like an éclair, or even a crème puff.
Eventually a rather short blonde gal’s head popped up from behind the counter, and asked if she could help us. I asked if they maybe had any eclairs.
The girl looked at me puzzled, tilted her head like a confused cocker spaniel and said:
«mmmmm, I dunno… what’s an éclair?»
I stood there dumbfounded for about 20 seconds… and then said flatly «um…it’s…well…never mind»
I could not BELIEVE that anyone in any bakery anywhere would actually have to ask ‘what an éclair’ is, with the possible exception of in Latin America, where if it ain’t made with guava, it ain’t a baked good.
We picked up a couple of crème horns, which according to someone in another shop somewhere else in da burgh told me, Pittsburghers like to call cannoli, when clearly, they are not. I can understand confusion between lady locks and crème horns — but CANNOLI???
So we paid for our crème horns, went out to the Fairmont and hailed our cab home. All along the way saying «I can’t believe that someone in a bakery had to ask ‘what’s an éclair?’ Only in Pittsburgh!»
Bottom line — the crème horns were ok. Nothing exciting. Just an average crème horn. Not too cheap, not too expensive.
From now on we’ll definitely not only be going to a place that knows what an éclair is — but that actually has them.
*sigh*
UPDATE: Since banking nearby, have tried a few more items. Cinnamon rolls — to die for. Moist, and tons of cream cheese frosting. Anything else has been ‘just ok’, but it’s all WAY too pricey.

Let’s talk about the worst service I have ever had in my life. I have heard great things about this bakery and was excited to get the Almond tort which I hear they are famous for. When trying to figure out the appropriate size of cake I should get for the birthday I asked some general questions.
Question 1. What do you think of the cake? Response: ehh it’s ok.
2. Aren’t you guys famous for your Almond Tort? Response: I guess we are but I never heard of it until I worked here.
3. Well is it really good do you sell a lot? Response: I am just really critical I went to the Art Institute and it takes a lot to impress me and this cake didn’t impress me.
4. Ok well what about the Chocolate Raspberry Cake? Response: that’s ok if you like a lot of Chocolate.
5. Ok well I guess I will go with the Chocolate Raspberry but the icing is messed up around the side can you fix it or maybe mark it down a little? Response: We can’t mark it down and we can’t fix it we don’t have buttermilk icing here.
Honestly this may have been the worst service I have ever received and I hope this person never owns his own business because he doesn’t have a clue how to work with customers. I am sure this bakery has great food unfortunately I’ll probably never try it.

Nothing wrong with $ 1 for a small torte! We stumbled upon this place today and it was bumping for a Friday morning so I knew something good would come out of our visit. They have a great selection of cookies, cupcakes, tortes and more and even though we had seven people in front of us, I still had a hard time selecting something since everything looked like it could put me into major sugar shock! I settled on the German chocolate cake torte and it was gone in two bites (it could’ve been one bite but I was trying to be a lady and savor it)
I almost wanted to go back into line to get some more…