A crumb cake with “world-famous” printed right on the bakery’s own menu is a bold move. Backing it up with a Best in New Jersey nod from NJ.com is even bolder.
The topping is the star here. It’s a thick, buttery, cinnamon-sugar crumb sitting on a soft, yeasted cake base.
Many fans talk about the crumb-to-cake ratio like it’s a sacred number.
I like how this family-run shop has been baking since the middle of the last century. I also like that it bakes from scratch with no preservatives.
That kind of staying power usually means somebody is doing something right.
The crumb cake is only the opening act, though. There are strudels, crullers, Danish, rye bread, and hamantaschen waiting behind the glass.
I wonder how many boxes can one person carry out the door?
The Crumb Cake That Earned Bragging Rights
Few bakeries put the words world-famous on their own menu without blushing. Styertowne Bakery does it with a straight face, and its Crumb Cake has a Best in New Jersey nod from NJ.com to back it up.
The appeal comes down to the crumb. The topping is thick, buttery, and loaded with cinnamon sugar.
Underneath sits a soft, yeasted cake base that feels closer to sweet bread than fluffy sponge.
That balance matters more than you might expect. Crumb cake fans tend to judge a slice by its crumb-to-cake ratio.
Styertowne leans hard toward the crumb side, and that is the whole point.
Picking the crumbs off the top is practically a tradition with this style of cake. Here, you get enough topping that nobody has to fight over the corner pieces.
That alone could keep the peace at a family brunch.
A quick tip helps here. Popular items can sell out, so earlier visits give you better odds of grabbing a slice.
Calling ahead for a full cake is a smart move if you’re feeding a crowd.
Either way, start here first. Everything else in the case can wait a few minutes while you deal with the main event.
Cheese, Blueberry, And Other Crumb Cake Twists
Sweet cheese tucked inside a crumb cake sounds like a dare. At this bakery, it’s an actual menu item called the Cheese Crumb Cake.
The menu describes it as an award-winning crumb cake filled with fresh, sweet cheese throughout. So you get the same famous topping with a creamy surprise in the middle.
It’s a smart pick for anyone who loves cheese Danish but wants more crumb in their life.
Blueberry fans have an option too. The Blueberry Crumb Cake brings fruit into the mix, which adds a little color and tang.
It also makes a nice case for calling crumb cake a breakfast food.
These versions are great for groups with mixed tastes. One person wants classic, another wants fruit, and someone always asks about cheese.
Buying a few kinds can settle the debate before it starts.
Think of the original as the headliner and these twists as the encore. Trying the classic first gives you a baseline.
After that, the variations are easier to appreciate on their own terms.
There’s no rule against ordering two kinds at once, either. Nobody at the counter is grading your choices, and leftovers rarely last long anyway.
A Family Bakery That Has Outlasted Plenty Of Trends
Plenty of food fads have come and gone since Styertowne Bakery first opened its doors in 1949. Cupcake towers, rainbow bagels, and cronuts all had their moment.
Meanwhile, this Clifton shop kept baking.
That kind of run is rare. Many small bakeries struggle to last one generation.
Styertowne is family-run, and the business carried on after the founder’s son took over.
Keeping a beloved recipe steady through a handoff isn’t easy. A crumb cake with this much fame has a lot of expectations riding on it.
Still, the bakery has kept its signature cake front and center for decades.
I believe this history is part of the flavor, in a way. Old family bakeries often feel like time capsules for a neighborhood.
They hold onto recipes that bigger chains gave up long ago.
Styertowne also bakes from scratch with no preservatives. That approach fits a shop with deep roots.
It’s the kind of old-school promise that never really goes out of style.
So when you bite into a slice, you’re tasting more than butter and sugar. You’re getting a small piece of New Jersey bakery history that’s still very much open for business.
Strudels That Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Poppyseed. Walnut.
Apple. Cherry cheese.
The strudel lineup here reads like a grandmother’s recipe box come to life.
Styertowne Bakery offers a full spread of strudels and coffee cakes. There’s a Pecan Ring, a Poppyseed Strudel, and a Walnut Strudel for the nut lovers.
Then come the cut versions of Apple, Cherry Cheese, and Blueberry Cheese Strudel.
One name stands out with confidence. The Big and Beautiful Apple Strudel doesn’t seem worried about modesty.
It sits beside a Deep Dish Apple Cake, so apple fans have serious choices to make.
These are perfect for weekend coffee or a holiday table. A strudel looks impressive when you set it out.
Guests will assume you went to a lot of trouble, and you don’t have to correct them.
Here’s a practical idea for hosting. Pair a nutty strudel with a fruity one to cover different tastes.
Add a crumb cake, and your dessert spread basically plans itself.
Poppyseed and walnut strudels have become harder to find at many modern bakeries. That makes this selection feel extra special.
It’s a nice reminder of the classic European style that shaped so many old American bakeries.
Crullers And Jelly Donuts Worth An Early Alarm
Donut shops that actually make their own donuts are getting harder to find. Styertowne Bakery still keeps a tray-worthy lineup, and it goes well beyond plain glazed.
Jelly fans can pick between Cinnamon Sugar Jelly and Powdered Sugar Jelly. Filled options include Cream and Custard.
Each one is a classic for a reason.
Then come the crullers. There’s a Chocolate Cruller and a Triple Chocolate Cruller for anyone who believes one layer of chocolate is never enough.
An Apple Cider Cruller rounds things out with a cozy, orchard-style twist.
Crullers have a twisty, ridged shape that catches glaze in every groove. That makes them fun to eat and a little messy.
Napkins are strongly recommended, especially in the car.
Since the bakery opens at 7 in the morning, donuts make sense as an early grab. Showing up sooner gives you a better shot at your favorites.
A box of mixed donuts is also an easy way to become the office hero.
Pair a cruller with a slice of crumb cake, and you’ve covered two of the great bakery food groups. Nobody needs to know it was all for you.
The Danish Case Could Cause A Traffic Jam At The Counter
Ten kinds of Danish is a lot of decisions before coffee. Cheese, Pecan, Almond, Apricot, and Prune lead the list.
Raspberry Cheese, Blueberry, Apple, and Cherry fill out the rest.
Cheese Danish is the safe classic. Pecan brings crunch, and almond adds that rich, nutty sweetness.
Fruit options keep things bright for anyone who wants something lighter.
Prune might surprise younger visitors. It’s an old-fashioned flavor that still shows up at traditional bakeries.
Trying it is a fun way to taste how people snacked decades ago.
There are also Mini Danish Cookies on the menu. They’re smaller bites that work well for parties or sharing.
A mixed tray could keep everyone happy at a family gathering.
Here’s a friendly strategy. Pick one creamy Danish, one nutty, and one fruity.
That way you get a full tour without needing a nap afterward.
The wide range also makes this place handy for gift boxes. Bringing pastries to a host is always a good look.
With this many choices, you can match the box to whoever you’re visiting, from picky kids to a fussy uncle.
Rye Bread And Kaiser Rolls Keep Lunch Honest
Sweets grab the spotlight, but the bread shelf quietly does serious work. Styertowne Bakery bakes a German 6 Grain loaf plus Seeded and Unseeded Rye.
Rolls get plenty of love too. Choose from seeded or unseeded Hard Rolls, Kaiser Rolls, and Hoagie Rolls.
Brioche and Small Italian Footballs complete the lineup.
Good rolls can turn a basic sandwich into a real meal. A Kaiser roll makes a sturdy home for deli fillings.
Hoagie rolls are built for the big, overstuffed sandwiches New Jersey takes very seriously.
Rye bread is another old-school bakery staple. It’s great for toast, sandwiches, or just eating with butter.
The seeded version has extra flavor for anyone who likes caraway.
Here’s an easy plan for a weekend. Grab rolls for lunch, rye for the week, and a crumb cake for dessert.
One stop covers three meals, which feels like winning.
Bread also helps balance out a sugar-heavy order. Your bag looks a little more responsible when a loaf sits on top.
Whether anyone believes you bought it for sandwiches is another story.
Cookies, Horns, And Hamantaschen For The Whole Gang
Rugelach sitting next to rainbow sprinkle cookies is a very New Jersey kind of harmony. The cookie list at this bakery covers a lot of ground.
You’ll find Butter Cookies, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar Cookies. There are Russian Tea Cakes and Rainbow or Chocolate Sprinkle Cookies too.
Hamantaschen come in Apricot, Raspberry, and Prune.
The French pastry section adds even more variety. Apricot and Prune Pinwheels sit beside Cheese Horns and Chocolate Horns.
A Cinnamon Raisin Nut Horn sounds like breakfast and dessert at once.
Large Apple Turnovers are on the menu as well. There’s even a Large Sugar Free Apple Turnover.
That’s a thoughtful option for anyone watching their sugar but still wanting a treat.
Cookies make this place easy for kids. Little hands tend to reach for sprinkles first.
Grown-ups can go for rugelach or a horn and pretend they’re being sophisticated.
A mixed cookie box is also a smart party move. It travels well and serves a crowd.
With so many shapes and flavors, nobody gets stuck with something they don’t like.
Plan Your Trip Or Let The Crumb Cake Come To You
Living far from Clifton doesn’t end your crumb cake dreams. Styertowne Bakery offers online ordering and shipping, so the cake can travel to you.
That’s handy for New Jersey transplants who miss their hometown treats. It also makes a fun gift for friends who have never tasted East Coast crumb cake.
Just plan ahead around holidays, since shipping can take time.
If you’d rather visit, head to 1039 Bloomfield Avenue in Clifton, NJ 07012. Hours run 7 AM to 7 PM Tuesday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are 7 AM to 5 PM, and the shop is closed Mondays.
Bring cash to be safe. Payment at the counter is often mentioned as cash only.
Arriving earlier also helps, since popular items like crumb cake can sell out.
There’s a feel-good bonus too. The bakery donates a portion of its proceeds each year to causes like cancer research and autism awareness.
It also supports the homeless, local churches, schools, and fire and police departments.
So your crumb cake habit helps the community a little. I can’t imagine a better excuse for buying a second one.
