One bakery calls its crumb cake “the crumbiest cake in town,” and honestly, that is a bold thing to print on a menu. I like a bakery that picks a fight with its own topping.
You can grab a single slice or commit to a full 8-inch round. I believe anyone ordering the whole round already knows exactly what they are doing. No judgment here.
The story behind it started at a farmers market stall in 1998. The baker behind it later wrote cookbooks about vintage cakes and rustic fruit desserts. That background shows up all over the pastry case.
This little shop sits in a friendly corner of Oregon, far from any flashy food district.
A Farmers Market Stall Grew Into A Neighborhood Favorite
Back in 1998, this whole story fit under a market tent. Baker & Spice began as a stall at the downtown Portland Farmers Market.
That beginning still matters today. Many of the bakery’s partnerships with local farms and makers date back to those market days.
Founder Julie Richardson is a pastry chef who chose Portland as her home in 1997. Just one year later, she was selling baked goods to market shoppers.
Talk about moving fast. Most people need a year just to find a favorite grocery store in a new city.
The market stall eventually led to something bigger. In January 2005, the retail store opened its doors in Portland’s Hillsdale neighborhood.
That’s two decades of baking in the same community. Plenty of trendy shops come and go in that time, so staying power says a lot.
I like how the bakery never lost its farmers market roots. Seasonal, local ingredients remain a big part of how it bakes.
So when you bite into a fruit handpie or a seasonal treat, there’s history baked in. It connects straight back to those early Saturday mornings under the tent.
The Baker Behind It All Literally Wrote The Book On Vintage Cakes
Cookbook authors don’t usually hand you a pastry over the counter. Julie Richardson is the pastry chef and author behind this Oregon bakery.
Her books include “Rustic Fruit Desserts” and “Vintage Cakes.” Those titles alone explain a lot about what fills the case here.
Old-fashioned cakes clearly have a fan in her. Crumb cake, bundt cakes, and layer cakes all fit right into that classic style.
The bakery also lists treats like Honey Bee Bundt and Ricotta Cheesecake. Both sound like recipes a beloved grandma would guard closely.
Bread gets its own expert, too. Her husband, Matt Kappler, handles the bread baking for the shop.
That’s a pretty great team setup. One person rules the sweets while the other masters the loaves.
Cookbook fans might enjoy visiting the place where these ideas come to life. It’s like meeting the recipes in person instead of reading about them.
Home bakers could even pick up some inspiration. Try a slice, then go home and attempt your own version from her book.
Fair warning, though. The bakery version might still win, and that’s perfectly okay.
Croissants Get Fancy With Ham, Gruyère, And Even Dijon
Butter, almond, chocolate, ham and Gruyère, and Dijon Gruyère. That’s the croissant lineup, and choosing just one feels unfair.
Sweet tooth or savory fan, there’s a flaky option waiting for you. The ham and Gruyère version gets lots of love from customers over the years.
Morning buns and sticky buns join the pastry party as well. They’re perfect when a plain croissant feels a little too polite.
Scones come in flavors like cranberry oat with almond, citrus currant, and buckwheat currant. Each one sounds hearty enough to count as a real breakfast.
Then there are the handpies. Flavors include an original fruit version, apple blackberry, and tayberry.
Tayberry might be new to some folks. It’s a berry grown in the Pacific Northwest, which makes it a fitting local pick.
Here’s a handy idea for groups. Grab a mix of sweet and savory pastries and split them so everyone gets a taste.
That plan also prevents arguments over the last almond croissant. Mostly prevents, anyway.
Pair any of these with a coffee or latte from the counter. Breakfast suddenly feels like a small celebration.
The Crumbiest Cake In Town Lives Up To Its Bragging Rights
Baker & Spice Bakery doesn’t play it shy with its signature treat. The menu proudly calls the crumb cake “the crumbiest cake in town,” which is basically a dare.
Crumb cake is all about balance between cake and topping. Here, the topping clearly gets top billing, and that sounds like the right priority.
You get two choices when the craving hits. A single Crumb Cake Slice works for a solo morning treat with coffee.
Bigger plans call for the Crumb round, a full 8-inch cake. That one makes sense for brunch, a family gathering, or a very honest weekend.
Fans of East Coast style crumb cake have a reason to pay attention. One longtime customer even said it was the only spot they found that matched their childhood memory.
That kind of praise sticks around. Nostalgia is a tough critic, and passing that test means something.
Here’s a smart tip for planning ahead. Online pre-orders let you lock in your cake before you leave the house.
Pickup for those orders runs from 8 AM to 5 PM on open days. That beats crossing your fingers at the counter and hoping the last slice is still waiting.
You’ll Want A Second Bag Just For The Bread
Sweets grab the spotlight, but the bread shelf quietly steals the show. Matt Kappler bakes a wide range of artisan loaves for Baker & Spice Bakery.
Options include Currant Harvest, Whole Wheat, Grain and Seeded Bread, and Harvest. There’s also an Old-fashioned Sandwich loaf and a Seeded Sandwich loaf.
Challah comes plain, with poppy seeds, or with sesame seeds. That braided beauty makes amazing French toast the next morning.
One loaf even carries the neighborhood’s name. The Seeded Hillsdale feels like a delicious hometown tribute.
Sourdough and the epi du sel also show up on the list. An epi is shaped like a wheat stalk, so you can tear off pieces easily.
Packing school lunches gets a lot better with fresh sandwich bread. Kids might actually stop trading their sandwiches away.
A good habit is grabbing a loaf whenever you stop in for pastries. Your future toast will thank you.
Bread freezes well, too. Slice it first, freeze the extras, and enjoy bakery bread all week long.
Suddenly, a quick crumb cake run turns into a full grocery mission. Nobody’s complaining.
Lunch Here Is A Sneaky Good Move
Plenty of people stop by for pastries and walk out with lunch too. Sandwiches, soups, and savory croissants round out the menu here.
Sandwiches get mentioned more than almost anything else by customers. That’s impressive for a bakery known for its cake.
Fresh bread makes a huge difference in a sandwich. When the bakers make the loaves themselves, you’re starting with a serious advantage.
Grab-and-go options help on busy days. You can snag lunch quickly and keep your schedule moving.
Soup adds a cozy touch, especially on rainy Portland afternoons. And Portland does love a rainy afternoon.
Savory croissants fill the gap when you want something lighter. They’re easy to eat on the go without making a big mess.
The space is on the small side. Taking your order to go is often the easiest plan.
A nearby park bench or your car makes a fine lunch spot. Honestly, a good sandwich tastes great almost anywhere.
Toss a cookie into the bag for dessert. Chocolate Crackle or Gingersnaps would wrap up lunch nicely without any extra effort.
Birthday Plans Get Easier Thanks To The Pink Cake
Pink frosting has a funny way of making any day feel like a party. The Pink Cake is a popular pick among the Deluxe Layer Cakes here.
Classic Layer Cakes are also on offer. Those work well when you want something timeless for a celebration.
Custom cakes get special attention at The Cakery. It’s an offshoot that focuses on layer cakes made to order.
Flavors include latte, almond raspberry, and classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting. That last one is basically the birthday cake of everyone’s dreams.
Not into layer cakes? The dessert list also features Bittersweet Chocolate Torte, Lemon Tart, and Cream Tart.
Each of those makes a lovely dinner party dessert. Bring one along, and you’ll probably get invited back.
Planning ahead is the key with special-occasion cakes. Ordering early gives you peace of mind before the big day.
Remember that the Crumb round also works as a celebration cake. Not every party needs frosting, after all.
Some families might even start a new tradition with it. A crumb cake birthday sounds pretty wonderful, and much less messy for the little ones.
Cookie Names Here Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Duncan’s Delight. Hazelnut Cloud. With names like these, the cookie case practically introduces itself.
The lineup also includes Chocolate Crackle, Oatmeal Raisin, Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip, and Gingersnaps. There’s a cookie for picky eaters and adventurous snackers alike.
Hazelnut Cloud makes a lot of sense in Oregon. The state grows most of the hazelnuts in the entire country.
That’s a fun fact to share while you munch. It also makes the cookie feel extra local.
Fall brings some spooky surprises. Seasonal treats like Spooky Shortbread and Bat Sandwich Cookies have appeared around Halloween.
Kids would go wild for a bat-shaped cookie. Grown-ups probably would too, though they might pretend otherwise.
Cookies make great little thank-you gifts. Drop a few off for a teacher, neighbor, or coworker who helped you out.
Gift cards are available as well. They’re a smart choice for the friend who has everything except more cookies.
Try a different cookie each visit to find your favorite. It’s a delicious research project with zero homework.
Plan Your Hillsdale Visit Around These Hours
Mondays and Tuesdays are off-limits, so mark your calendar carefully. The bakery is closed both days.
Wednesday through Saturday, doors open from 7 AM to 5 PM. Sunday hours run shorter, from 7 AM to 3 PM.
You’ll find Baker & Spice Bakery at 6330 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97239. It sits in the Hillsdale neighborhood on Portland’s southwest side.
Hillsdale has a friendly, close-knit neighborhood feel. A bakery like this fits right in as a weekend stop.
Early arrival is a smart idea. Popular items can sell out, especially that famous crumb cake.
Online pre-ordering is another great option. You can skip the guessing and pick up your goodies during the bakery’s regular opening hours.
The shop has a number system for ordering in person. Just grab a number and browse the case while you wait.
Seating is limited in the small space. Many folks take their treats to go and enjoy them elsewhere.
Visiting Portland from outside Oregon? Add this stop to your list, because a slice of crumb cake makes any trip sweeter.
