The Best Birthday Cakes & Cake Alternatives in Ottawa

Planning a birthday party is meant to be a celebration but sometimes all the details can be stressful. You have the balloons and the streamers, and the invitations are sent for the big event—but what about the cake? Or the celebratory treat? Every great birthday party needs a delicious cake or sweet as a tasty finale and there are many great places to get birthday cakes and cake alternatives in Ottawa. You’re sure to find a favourite flavour, design, or dessert that meets most dietary restrictions.

We’ve gathered some delicious birthday cake and cake alternatives in Ottawa to help you narrow down your search. All you have to do is order or walk in to buy, and show up like the birthday party hero you are.

The Cake Shoppe

We know you’ll love the custom and ready-made cakes at The Cake Shoppe. They are decorative and stylish, and include cake designs with sprinkles, bright colours or trends like emoji cakes. Want something a little different? Order an ice cream cake! The Cake Shoppe, located on Wellington Street, is nut free and while custom cakes can be ordered in advance, you can also find ready-made cakes to pick up for the last minute party at the shop.

Batter Up Bakery

At Batter Up Bakery, there is no shortage of cake options to enjoy, however, you can also order cake pops or custom designed birthday cookies for a twist on your annual birthday dessert. For a hands-on birthday activity, order their Decorate Your Own Cake or Cupcakes! Can’t decide? Create a custom designed treat box with squares, cookies and more sweet bites for a truly unique celebration.

Simply Biscotti

In Nepean, you’ll find a decadent selection of cakes that can be the star of your birthday party at Simply Biscotti. Try something drizzled in caramel or anything made with chocolate. The shop is open seven days a week but you may want to pre-order for your favourite selection.

Thimble Cakes

If there are dietary concerns to take into account before ordering your birthday cake, look no further than Thimble Cakes. While these cakes may skip certain ingredients like nuts, honey, eggs, sesame, gelatin, and more, they don’t skip out on taste. Gluten-free, vegan, soy free and other options are available.

The Merry Dairy

We love The Merry Dairy, but did you know they have cakes available? No matter the season, kids love an ice cream cake (and adults do too, right?) Treat every guest at the party to a The Merry Dairy ice cream cake. Their vanilla funfetti or Oreo ice cream cakes are available to order for pick up, and custom writing can be added to any cake. The cakes are nut and peanut free.

SuzyQ

Say happy birthday with doughnut letters that spell ‘happy birthday’! We all love SuzyQ and we can see why their birthday doughnuts are a huge hit. Preorder them online and flavours are based on what’s currently available. The doughnuts can be vegan or non-vegan!

Strawberry Blonde Bakery

For a delicious vegan, gluten-free and nut free cake, turn to Strawberry Blonde Bakery for your celebration. Choose a classic like vanilla or chocolate, or try something a little different (and just as delicious) like the lime coconut or red velvet cake.

You may also want to browse their cookie options and create a birthday cookie platter!

Artistic Cake Design

Since 1977, Artistic Cake Design (on Clyde Avenue) has been making deliciously beautiful cakes for special occasions like birthdays. Choose from a variety of tasty flavours like chocolate, cherry or spice cake, and fillings like caramel or cherry. Whether you are ordering for your child’s first birthday or their 18th, these will definitely be popular. Order online 7-10 days in advance.

Morning Owl

Do you remember how sad many of us were when Holland’s Cake and Shake announced it was closing? The good news is, you can still order their cakes from the Morning Owl Rochester! We already love the coffee and food at Morning Owl, so this seems even better than imagined. However, these mini cakes change weekly and are always only for a limited time (pre-orders only) so you’ll want to be quick!

Fruit Couture

Fruit Couture creates birthday boxes of chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies, pretzels, and more yummy treats. You can order your strawberries to spell out ‘happy b-day’ or create a chocolate dipped strawberry tower that will wow any table. Birthday chocolate heart breakers (the ones you may have seen on social media where you use a small wooden mallet to hammer open the chocolate shell!) are also available.

The Joy of Gluten Free

If you are in need of a gluten-free cake that you’ll be proud to put birthday candles on, check out The Joy of Gluten Free. Their cakes are gluten-free, peanut-free and wheat-free and certain ones are also dairy-free and vegan. There are two locations (Greenbank Road, and Bank Street), and we are already drooling over the cake options like caramel, s’mores and mint chocolate.

The Cupcake Lounge

Don’t let the name fool you, The Cupcake Lounge is also in the business of creating beautiful, delicious full-sized cakes for your next birthday party. Choose from a classic flavour or deluxe flavour in a selection of sizes (depending on how many people you are feeding, or how much you want to have leftover!) You can also select their simple happy birthday cake with a happy birthday topper and sprinkles on the side for an understated, but incredibly yummy, cake.

Quelque Chose

Create your own macaron tower thanks to the delicious macarons at Quelque Chose. This birthday party centrepiece can be made in a variety of heights, depending on how many macarons you may need. The hardest decision you’ll make will be what flavours to choose.