Baked Lab (by appt only)

Introduction / Overview

For Wisconsin residents seeking a truly personalized and artistically refined dessert experience, Baked Lab in Madison stands out as a premier destination. Operating primarily by appointment, this establishment is less a traditional walk-in bakery and more a dedicated dessert studio and "learning laboratory" that specializes in crafting memorable treats for special occasions. Founded by Shawn Bolduc, a former arts administrator turned pastry chef, Baked Lab brings a unique blend of creativity, precision, and passion to every creation.

Baked Lab is renowned for its exceptional wedding cakes and customized dessert buffets, providing an entire spread of treats tailored to an event's theme and guest needs. Customers consistently rave about the seamless experience, from the easy process of ordering a tasting box—which includes popular flavors like Banana Chocolate Hazelnut and Espresso Bourbon—to the final product that is both stunningly beautiful and universally delicious. With a motto of "Classic treats. Modern vibes," the bakery reimagines nostalgic items with a contemporary, clean aesthetic, utilizing Swiss Meringue Buttercream and focusing on bold, unique flavor combinations. While currently an appointment-only location, excitement is building as Baked Lab is actively planning to open its first dedicated storefront on Atwood Avenue in the near future, promising to become an even more accessible community hub for all dessert lovers in the Madison area and beyond.

Location and Accessibility

Baked Lab is strategically located in the vibrant East Side of Madison, currently operating out of a studio space at 931 E Main St Suite 18, Madison, WI 53703, USA. Patrons should note that the physical location is situated within the Main Street Industries building, with the entrance typically found on S. Brearly St. This current mode of operation is strictly "by appointment only," meaning it is not a traditional storefront that customers can spontaneously browse.

Accessibility to the service is primarily driven by pre-arranged consultation and order pick-up, rather than casual browsing. However, the business offers convenient methods for order fulfillment:

• Pick-Up Times: Scheduled pick-ups for cakes and pre-ordered goods are typically available on a limited weekend schedule, specifically Fridays from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
• Payment Options: For ease of transaction during order placement and final payment, the bakery accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
• Future Expansion: Wisconsin customers can anticipate significantly improved accessibility soon, as Baked Lab is actively renovating a historic building at 2044 Atwood Ave to open its first retail storefront, planned for a future winter. This new location is expected to offer an expanded, traditional retail experience.

Services Offered

As a specialty dessert studio, Baked Lab's services are focused on custom, high-end creations for events, with options for retail purchase of smaller goods through scheduled pickup or at partnering locations.

• Custom Event Cakes: Specializes in custom-designed wedding cakes and celebration cakes, ranging from single-tiered to multi-tiered options. They offer semi-customizable designs as well as fully bespoke creations, all made with Swiss Meringue Buttercream and no fondant.
• Dessert Buffet Planning: Provides complete dessert buffet services for parties, corporate events, and large gatherings, including a wide variety of items such as bars, cookies, cupcakes, mini cream puffs, and macarons.
• Take-Home Tasting Boxes: Offers a 'Wedding Cake Tasting Box' featuring seven of their most popular cake flavor combinations (e.g., Champagne Raspberry, Red Velvet Cookies n' Cream) for couples to sample at home.
• Individual Treat Sales: Sells smaller, individual treats like unique bars (e.g., The Salty One, Birthday Babe Blondie), cupcakes, and cookie sandies, available for in-store pickup on specified days or through various local vendor partners.
• Consultation and Design: Offers personalized consultations for weddings and large events to discuss design inspiration, flavor customization, and logistical planning, including coordinating with florists for fresh flower decoration.
• Delivery and Setup: Provides delivery and setup services for event orders, ensuring the desserts are flawlessly presented at the venue.

Features / Highlights

Baked Lab’s distinction lies in its artistic methodology, high-quality ingredients, and commitment to the customer experience, making it a unique asset to the Wisconsin dessert scene.

• Artistic and Modern Aesthetic: The bakery has a recognized clean and modern aesthetic, specializing in artistic finishes like 'Concrete' or 'Mod Textured' cakes, and avoiding traditional methods like using fondant, focusing instead on beautiful Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
• Unique Flavor Combinations: Highlights include bold and inventive cake flavor combinations such as Espresso Bourbon, Banana Chocolate Hazelnut, and Salty Chocolate, providing a sophisticated twist on classic desserts.
• Specialization in Weddings: Baked Lab is consistently praised by couples for its wedding cake experience, from the ease of ordering to the stunning presentation and delicious taste, often being referred to as the best they've tried.
• Personalized Customer Service: Led by owner Shawn Bolduc, the bakery is noted for its exceptional customer relations, being "very easy to work with," responsive, and highly attentive to personalized requests and design details.
• Local Community Presence: Though appointment-only, Baked Lab actively makes its smaller goods available throughout the Madison community via partnerships with local businesses like Crescendo Coffee, DELTA Beer Lab, and Working Draft Brewery.
• LGBTQ-Owned Business: The business is publicly recognized as LGBTQ-owned and is passionate about fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment in all its operations.

Contact Information

For Wisconsin residents planning an event or wishing to inquire about a custom order, the following contact information should be used, remembering that physical visits require an appointment.

Address: 931 E Main St Suite 18, Madison, WI 53703, USA (Entrance on S. Brearly St.)

Phone: (608) 492-0951

What is Worth Choosing

Baked Lab is undeniably worth choosing for any Wisconsin consumer who views dessert as an integral part of their celebration, demanding both a flawless aesthetic and exquisite taste. It is worth choosing because it operates at the intersection of a professional kitchen and an art studio, resulting in custom cakes and dessert buffets that are truly exceptional. For significant events like weddings and milestone birthdays, the peace of mind that comes from working with a dedicated, highly praised baker like Shawn Bolduc and his team is invaluable. Customers consistently note the desserts are not just beautiful, but "absolutely delicious" and "exactly what we asked for."

The unique, modern aesthetic—free from the common use of fondant—and the inventive flavor pairings offer a fresh, upscale choice that elevates any event beyond the ordinary. Furthermore, by choosing Baked Lab, you are supporting a small, local, and inclusive business that prioritizes the craft of baking and customer happiness. For those in the Madison area, the anticipation of their upcoming permanent retail storefront on Atwood Avenue makes supporting them now even more exciting. Whether you require a stunning centerpiece cake or a diverse, high-quality dessert buffet that will garner endless compliments, Baked Lab is the specialized Madison bakery that transforms a simple order into a memorable, artistic, and delicious experience.

Baked Lab (by appt only)

931 E Main St Suite 18, Madison, WI 53703, USA