This West Virginia Bakery Has Been Named The Best Cake Shop In The U.S. Two Years In A Row

What does it take to be named the best cake shop in the entire country not once, but twice?

This West Virginia bakery has the answer, and it involves a whole lot of butter, sugar, and pure baking magic.

The recognition is not a fluke. It is earned with every layer, every crumb, and every perfectly swirled frosting.

People travel for miles to taste these award-winning creations.

Some say the cakes are so light and fluffy, they practically float off the plate. Others swear the flavors are so bold, they linger in your memory for weeks.

Whether you crave classic vanilla or something more adventurous, this place delivers perfection every single time.

Two years in a row is not luck. It is talent, passion, and a whole lot of deliciousness.

Your sweet tooth is about to be very happy.

Two-Time National Champion

Winning a national award once is impressive. Winning it back to back is the kind of thing that makes people take a road trip.

Nomada Bakery earned the number one spot for Best Cake Shop in the United States from USA Today’s 10Best Awards for both 2025 and 2026, and that recognition did not come by accident.

Every detail at this bakery reflects a standard that most places simply do not reach. The commitment to quality is visible in the way each cake is built, decorated, and presented.

Nothing here feels rushed or careless.

For a small bakery tucked inside a historic building in Huntington, West Virginia, this kind of national spotlight is extraordinary. The award validates what loyal customers already knew long before any judges got involved.

When a place earns that title two years running, you stop calling it luck and start calling it a standard.

The Story Behind Nomada

There is something poetic about naming a bakery after a way of life. “Nomada” is the Spanish word for nomad, and that single word carries the entire philosophy of this place.

The bakery was founded by Ariel Barcenas, who was born in Panama, studied in Argentina, lived in Brazil, and eventually landed in West Virginia.

That journey is not just a biography. It is a recipe.

Every stop along the way left a flavor behind, and those flavors ended up in the display case at 210 11th Street. Family recipes, especially those passed down from his grandmother’s kitchen, form the emotional core of the menu.

Co-owner Shawn Schulenberg joined in founding the bakery in 2019, and together they built something that feels genuinely personal. The food here is not made to impress a trend.

It is made to honor a story, and that honesty is exactly what makes every bite feel different from anything else you have tried.

Big Flavor in a Small Package

Not everyone wants to commit to a full-sized cake, and Nomada Bakery thought of that too. Baby Cakes are 3-inch individual cakes that deliver the same quality and craftsmanship as their larger counterparts, just scaled down to a perfectly personal size.

They make a great option for solo visits when you want to try something sweet without overdoing it. The gluten-free flourless chocolate baby torts are also part of this lineup, which means guests with dietary restrictions do not have to feel left out of the fun.

There is something almost irresistible about a cake that is entirely yours. No slicing, no sharing, no negotiating over the corner piece.

Baby Cakes are proof that the best things sometimes come in the smallest packages. They also make an excellent way to sample the bakery’s flavor range without committing to one variety, which is genuinely useful when every option on the menu sounds equally tempting.

Cakes Worth Crossing State Lines For

The cake menu at Nomada Bakery reads like a dream list for anyone who takes dessert seriously. All cakes come in 6-inch or 9-inch sizes, made with real buttercream and natural flavors, with zero artificial colors or additives in sight.

Popular options include the Carrot Cake with walnuts, the Alfa Cake layered with Swiss buttercream and dulce de leche, and the Lemon Blueberry Cake with mascarpone buttercream and lemon curd.

The Mixed Berry Cake features Italian buttercream and homemade berry compote, and it earns its reputation for being light, fresh, and genuinely satisfying.

There is also the Cuatro Leches Cake, a nod to Latin American tradition, and the playful Strawberry Lemonade Cake for those who want something bright and cheerful. Every cake is made from scratch using organic, fresh ingredients.

These are not bakery cakes that taste like they were assembled from a box. They taste like someone cared deeply about every single layer.

Alfajores and Artisan Pastries from Another World

Alfajores are a South American treasure, and finding a truly authentic version in the United States is rarer than most people realize.

Nomada Bakery makes both Classic Alfajores, which are delicate cornstarch shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche, and Chocolate Alfajores, covered in semi-sweet chocolate.

The texture of a well-made alfajor is unlike anything in the standard American cookie playbook. It crumbles softly, melts gently, and the filling hits just the right level of sweet without becoming overwhelming.

These are the kind of cookies that make you pause mid-bite just to appreciate what is happening.

Beyond alfajores, the pastry selection includes Berry Tarts with pastry cream and fresh berries, Triple Chocolate Cookies, Gingersnaps, Crème Brûlée, and Chocolate Raspberry Cookies. Each item is made from scratch with real ingredients.

The variety here is thoughtful, not just wide. Every pastry has a reason to exist on that counter, and every one of them delivers on its promise.

Croissants Made the Right Way, from Scratch

Croissants are one of those baked goods that immediately reveal whether a bakery is serious or not. At Nomada Bakery, every croissant is made entirely from scratch, and the results speak loudly.

The laminated dough is handled with patience, and the finished product has that satisfying crunch on the outside with a soft, airy interior that proper croissants require.

Available varieties include classic, chocolate, almond, and pistachio versions, along with more elaborate creations like Brioche Feuilletee, Chocolate Hazelnut Rolls, Rose Pistachio Rolls, and Raspberry and Cream Brioche Croissant Knots.

The range shows real skill and creativity without trying too hard to be flashy.

Customers consistently mention the croissants as a highlight of any visit. The avocado and egg croissant has become a breakfast favorite.

The chocolate and dulce de leche croissant has earned its own dedicated fans. Getting there early is genuinely good advice, because these sell out for a very good reason.

Empanadas That Steal the Show

Empanadas might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “best cake shop,” but at Nomada Bakery, they have become one of the most talked-about items on the menu.

Chicken curry, guava cream cheese, Mexican street corn, spinach ricotta, and pineapple are just a few of the flavors available on any given day.

The crust is the real achievement here. It holds together without being tough, has a gentle golden color, and carries just enough flavor on its own to complement whatever is inside.

The fillings are well-seasoned and generous, with real thought put into how each variety tastes as a complete bite.

Empanadas at Nomada feel like they belong in a completely different category from anything labeled “empanada” at most other spots. They are a reason to visit even if cake is not on your agenda.

Many customers leave with extras tucked away to take home, which is honestly the smartest decision you can make before walking out the door.

Panamanian Coffee That Changes Your Morning Standard

Coffee at Nomada Bakery is not an afterthought. The beans are exclusively imported from Panama, then locally roasted at Hill Tree Roastery right in Huntington.

That partnership results in a cup that feels intentional from start to finish.

The Panamanian Boquete/Volcan variety offers notes of almond, raisins, and chocolate. The Brazilian Dark Dom Jesus Single Estate brings lemongrass, caramel, nuts, chamomile tea, and honey into the mix.

Papua New Guinea coffee rounds out the selection with rich notes of baker’s chocolate, almond, honey graham cracker, and raisin.

Tasting notes like these are not just marketing language. Each variety genuinely carries a distinct personality, and sipping one alongside a fresh pastry makes the whole experience feel elevated without being pretentious.

The coffee program here adds real depth to a visit that is already full of great reasons to stay a little longer. It is the kind of coffee that makes you reconsider everything you thought you knew about your morning cup.

The Atmosphere Inside Heritage Station

Location shapes experience, and Nomada Bakery has one of the most interesting addresses of any bakery in the country.

Situated inside Heritage Station, a historic building in downtown Huntington that once served as a train station, the space carries a warmth that modern construction rarely achieves.

Tiled floors, pastry counters, and a hand-painted mural give the interior a character that feels curated without feeling staged. Menu items are often served on vintage fine china with delicate floral patterns, which turns even a casual snack into something that feels a little special.

The atmosphere is consistently described as cozy and low-key, which is exactly the kind of environment where good food tastes even better. There is a patio outside when the weather cooperates, offering a pleasant spot to enjoy a coffee and watch the day go by.

Everything about the space reinforces the idea that this bakery was built with genuine care, not just as a place to sell things, but as a place to make people feel welcome.

Why Nomada Bakery Belongs on Every Food Lover’s Map

Some places earn their reputation over decades. Nomada Bakery did it with a clarity of vision that made the national spotlight feel inevitable.

Using only organic and fresh ingredients, avoiding artificial colors or flavors entirely, and building a menu rooted in real culinary tradition, this bakery operates at a level that most establishments never reach.

The combination of award-winning cakes, handmade pastries, scratch-built croissants, flavorful empanadas, and exceptional imported coffee creates an experience that is genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else.

Every item on the menu connects back to the founders’ personal story and their commitment to making food that matters.

For anyone planning a trip through West Virginia, or anyone willing to make the drive specifically for a great meal, this is the kind of stop that justifies the whole journey. The bakery opens at 8 AM, Tuesday through Sunday, so arriving early gives you the best selection of everything.

Come hungry, come curious, and leave with a box of something you absolutely did not plan on buying.

Address: 210 11th St #15, Huntington, WV