SusieCakes - Pasadena

The Sweetest Corner of Pasadena: SusieCakes

For those of us in the Southern California area, especially in the heart of Pasadena, the craving for a truly authentic, homemade dessert often leads to one place: SusieCakes. This charming, women-owned bakery on South Lake Avenue has carved out a special spot in the local community, serving up a delightful taste of nostalgia with every slice, cup, and cookie. SusieCakes isn't just a cake shop; it’s an all-American, scratch-baked concept inspired by the founder Susan Sarich’s two grandmothers, Mildred and Madeline. Their timeless recipes, hand-recorded on 3x5 cards, are the foundation of every treat baked fresh daily on-site. The commitment is to simplicity and quality, using pure, basic ingredients you'd find in an old-fashioned pantry, with absolutely no artificial preservatives or stabilizers. This dedication to authentic homestyle baking is what makes SusieCakes a staple for California celebrations, turning everyday moments and major milestones into something truly memorable.

The bakery itself exudes a bright, clean, and modern-retro atmosphere, complete with the brand’s signature “Susie Blue” color—inspired by the founder’s grandmother’s Pyrex mixing bowls. A unique feature of the bakery is the transparent design, where you can often see the bakers and decorators at work, creating custom cakes and preparing fresh batches of cookies right in the on-site kitchen. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick afternoon treat or picking up a spectacular cake for a party, the friendly staff and the smell of European butter and Madagascan vanilla will welcome you.

Location and Accessibility

The Pasadena location of SusieCakes is perfectly situated to serve residents and visitors of the San Gabriel Valley, making it a convenient stop for all your dessert needs. You can find this sweet destination at:

264 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA

This prime address on South Lake Avenue places it directly across the street from the Shops on Lake Avenue, a popular retail and dining hub. Its centralized location makes it an easy find whether you’re coming from local neighborhoods like Bungalow Heaven or just passing through the city.

Accessibility is a priority for the bakery, ensuring a welcoming experience for all patrons:

• The location features a wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking lot.
• For drivers, there are both free parking lot options and readily available paid street parking nearby.
• The business accepts major forms of payment, including Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments, allowing for a quick and seamless transaction.

Services Offered

SusieCakes offers a comprehensive range of services to cover everything from a casual coffee break to grand wedding celebrations. As a full-service cake, cupcake, cookie, pie, and dessert shop, they specialize in making your sweet dreams come true.

• Custom Cake Creation: The bakery is renowned for its beautiful, great-tasting custom cakes suitable for all types of events, including birthdays, weddings, baby showers, gender reveals, and even custom graduation cakes with school logos and colors (a perfect fit for USC or UCLA celebrations). They offer signature layer cakes in sizes ranging from 6-inch to 9-inch, as well as 1/4 sheet cakes for larger gatherings.
• In-Store Pickup: For local users, picking up your pre-ordered cakes, pies, and dessert boxes is a breeze, or you can simply walk in for a fresh slice or cupcake.
• Local Delivery: The bakery offers delivery throughout the city and local area, ensuring your treats arrive fresh for your event.
• Onsite Services: The in-store experience is designed for a quick and pleasant visit.
• Takeout: Grab a box of cookies, a four-pack of cupcakes, or an entire cake to go.
• Coffee Service: You can pair your favorite dessert with a fresh cup of coffee right at the counter.
• Seasonal Specials: The menu is constantly refreshed with seasonal items like Apple Crumble Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, and special themed cupcakes and cookies to match the holidays and seasons.
• Take & Bake Products: For those who enjoy the smell of fresh baking at home, they offer items like Take & Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

Features / Highlights

What sets SusieCakes apart in the competitive California bakery landscape is a unique combination of time-honored recipes, high-quality ingredients, and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

• Signature Celebration Cake: Their most famous cake, a 6-layer vanilla cake baked with colorful sugar confetti, filled and frosted with their iconic, retro-blue vanilla buttercream frosting. It has become a celebrity favorite and an essential for Southern California birthdays and celebrations.
• Scratch-Baked, Preservative-Free: All goods are baked from scratch daily on-site, using premium, natural ingredients like European butter and Tahitian-Bean Vanilla, and are guaranteed to be preservative-free.
• Core Cake Favorites: Beyond the Celebration Cake, customer favorites include the Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake (a towering, moist chocolate cake with rich dark chocolate buttercream), the Southern Red Velvet Cake (deep red, moist cocoa cake with traditional cream cheese frosting), and the Luscious Lemon Cake (four layers of vanilla cake with fresh lemon curd).
• Diverse Dessert Selection: While cakes are the namesake, they also offer a wide variety of other treats, including assorted cupcakes (Red Velvet, Vanilla, Chocolate, etc.), classic Snickerdoodle Cookies, chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, and seasonal pies and cheesecakes (like Key Lime Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake).
• Exceptional Customer Service: Customers consistently rave about the A+ customer service. Staff members are known for being friendly, helpful, and going the extra mile, offering tips on serving, handling last-minute order changes, and even providing complimentary samples.
• Women-Owned Business Model: The bakery is proudly women-owned and dedicated to providing progressive, family-friendly career opportunities for women in the food and hospitality industry, a core part of founder Susan Sarich's mission.
• Custom Decorated Cakes: They can create visually stunning custom-decorated cakes, ranging from delicate vintage styles (like the SusiePink Vintage Heart) to themed designs for any occasion.

What is Worth Choosing at SusieCakes?

If you’re visiting SusieCakes for the first time or looking for a guaranteed hit for your next event, there are a few items that consistently earn top marks from local Californians.

For a truly authentic SusieCakes experience, the Celebration Cake is a non-negotiable must-try. Its nostalgic funfetti layers and signature SusieBlue frosting embody the spirit of the bakery—pure, classic American joy. For chocolate purists, the Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake is described by customers as "perfect for chocolate lovers," moist, and exactly "just like you remember." The Southern Red Velvet Cake is another beloved favorite, celebrated for its rich, traditional flavor and perfectly paired cream cheese frosting.

Beyond the iconic cakes, don't overlook the smaller treats for an everyday indulgence. A slice of any of their cakes, especially the Chocolate Cake, is highly recommended by frequent visitors for its moist texture and perfect flavor balance. The cupcakes offer the same classic cake flavors in a convenient, portable form, and are a popular choice for assorted boxes. And finally, if you need a cookie fix, the Chocolate Chip Cookies are described as some of the "best" and are a simple, delightful treat baked to perfection.

SusieCakes is more than a dessert shop; it is a community hub built on the legacy of family recipes and a passion for celebration. Whether you need an ornate, custom-designed cake or just a perfect slice to brighten an ordinary day, this Pasadena gem delivers genuine, scratch-baked goodness with a smile.

Contact Information

To place an order, inquire about custom cakes, or simply check on seasonal availability, you can reach the SusieCakes Pasadena team directly.

• Address: 264 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
• Phone: (626) 657-2253

SusieCakes - Pasadena

264 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA