One of the most common questions we get from Austin parents booking a cake smash session is: "Where should I get the cake?" Since our on-location sessions are BYO (you provide the cake and decorations), picking the right bakery matters. After years of seeing cakes from every bakery in town show up at our sessions, we have strong opinions. Here are our top picks — from artisan custom bakeries to budget-friendly options that photograph just as well.
What to Order: The Basics
Before we get into specific bakeries, here is what to ask for at any bakery:
- A 6-inch round cake — single or double layer. This is the standard smash cake size.
- Buttercream frosting — not fondant, not whipped cream. American or Swiss meringue buttercream both work.
- Light-colored frosting — white, pastel pink, light blue, lavender, or mint. Avoid dark colors that stain skin.
- Simple decoration — sprinkles, a rosette pattern, or a smooth finish. Less is more.
- Tell them it is for a smash cake. Most Austin bakeries know exactly what this means and will make appropriate recommendations.
For a deeper dive into frosting types, colors, and sizes, check out our Complete BYO Smash Cake Guide.
Our Top Austin Bakery Picks
Quack's 43rd St Bakery
Quack's has been an Austin institution since 1979 and their simple buttercream cakes are perfect for smash sessions. They do not do elaborate custom designs, but their straightforward round cakes with clean frosting are exactly what photographs well. The flavors are excellent and the prices are reasonable — usually under $25 for a 6-inch cake. Order a day in advance for the best selection.
Order tip: Ask for a 6-inch round with smooth buttercream in your color choice. Their carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is also a surprisingly great option.
Sugar Mama's Bakeshop
Sugar Mama's is one of Austin's most beloved bakeries and their cakes are as photogenic as they are delicious. They make beautiful buttercream cakes with excellent color matching, and their piping work is clean and professional. They are also very familiar with smash cake orders and can guide you on size and style. Expect to pay $30-$45 for a custom smash cake. They get busy on weekends, so order at least 3-4 days ahead.
Order tip: Their floral buttercream designs are stunning in photos. Ask for pastel tones.
Upper Crust Bakery
Upper Crust does excellent custom work and can execute nearly any design you bring in. If you have a specific theme or color palette in mind for your cake smash, this is a great option. Their buttercream is smooth and holds up well, and they are experienced with small custom orders. Pricing ranges from $35-$60 depending on complexity. Allow at least a week for custom orders.
Order tip: Bring a photo of what you want — Pinterest screenshots work perfectly. They are great at replicating designs.
Coco's Cakery
Coco's specializes in custom cakes and has a strong reputation for creative, Instagram-worthy designs. They have done countless smash cakes and understand what works for photography. Their buttercream is excellent and they offer a wide range of colors and finishes. Pricing is mid-range for custom work. They also offer delivery, which is convenient if your session day is hectic.
Order tip: Ask about their "smash cake" menu — they often have a streamlined option specifically for this purpose.
Tiny Pies
While Tiny Pies is known for — you guessed it — pies, they also make beautiful small cakes and their miniature baked goods offer a unique alternative to a traditional smash cake. A set of their fruit pies arranged on a tray creates a colorful, distinctly Austin setup. If you want something different from the standard round cake, Tiny Pies gives you that option.
Order tip: Their mini pies arranged as a set of 4-6 make for a visually unique smash session. The fruit fillings are colorful and messy — perfect for photos.
Bird Bird Biscuit
This is our wildcard pick. Bird Bird is famous for their biscuits, not cakes. But if you want a truly unique, only-in-Austin smash session, a pile of their oversized biscuits with jam and butter creates an adorable (and delicious) alternative. Not traditional, but unforgettable. Some families combine a small smash cake from another bakery with Bird Bird biscuits for a brunch-themed session.
Order tip: Get a half dozen of their original biscuits plus a container of their honey butter. The mess is glorious.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes is a chain, but their cakes are reliably delicious and their signature cream cheese frosting is thick, holds up well, and photographs beautifully. Their bundtlets (individual-sized bundt cakes) are an adorable smash cake option — set up a few on a plate and let baby go to town. The distinctive bundt shape is recognizable and cute. Pricing is very affordable: bundtlets start around $5 each.
Order tip: A tiered bundtlet arrangement (3-4 in baby's color theme) makes for a playful, affordable smash setup.
H-E-B Bakery
Let us be honest: H-E-B cakes are great and there is no shame in the H-E-B game. Their bakery department can make a simple 6-inch buttercream cake in any color for around $12-$18. You can order online or at the bakery counter with 24-48 hours notice. The frosting holds up well, the colors are vibrant, and the taste is solid. We have photographed dozens of H-E-B smash cakes and they look just as good in photos as cakes costing three times as much.
Order tip: Ask for a 6-inch round with buttercream in your preferred color. Add sprinkles if you want extra fun. That is all you need.
Bakeries by Location
If you live outside central Austin, here are some closer options:
- Round Rock / Pflugerville: Nothing Bundt Cakes (La Frontera), H-E-B, Sweet Treets Bakery
- Cedar Park / Leander: H-E-B (1890 Ranch), Nothing Bundt Cakes (Lakeline), Kerbey Lane Cafe (custom cake orders)
- Lakeway / Bee Cave: Bee Cave H-E-B (excellent bakery), Sweetish Hill (delivers to west Austin area)
- Georgetown: H-E-B, Georgetown Cupcake Company
- Kyle / Buda: H-E-B (Kyle Marketplace), Central Texas custom bakeries via delivery
- Dripping Springs: H-E-B (Belterra), Wildflour Bakery
Timing and Ordering Tips
Order 3-7 days in advance for custom bakeries. H-E-B and Nothing Bundt Cakes can usually accommodate 24-48 hour notice.
Pick up the day before or the morning of. Buttercream cakes keep well refrigerated for 2-3 days, but they taste and look best fresh.
Keep the cake refrigerated until 15-20 minutes before the session. Cold buttercream holds its shape better, especially in warm Austin homes.
Transport flat. Put the cake on a flat surface in your car — never on a seat that could tilt. A non-slip mat under the box helps.
The most important thing to remember: your baby does not care where the cake came from. They are going to smash it, taste it, make a mess, and have the time of their life regardless. Choose a bakery that fits your budget and makes you happy, and we will make it look amazing in photos.
Have more questions about cake choices? Book your session and we are happy to help you plan every detail.