10 Picks for Birthday Cakes & Cake Alternatives in Vancouver & the Lower Mainland

When it comes to birthday cakes and birthday cake alternatives in Vancouver for your family celebrations, there’s plenty of options: homemade, a box cake with store-bought icing, the local grocery store bakery…

But some years (maybe because it’s a special milestone, for a big party, or just because) – it’s fun to do something splashy and special – or quirky and cool. Looking for a classic layered cake, a unique theme, or something entirely new? How about donuts, cake pops, brownies, and more? Besides, blowing out candles on a cake everyone’ll be eating is maybe not the best idea right now.

Check out our round-up for all the sweet, sugar, sprinkle-covered possibilities for birthday cakes and cake alternatives in Vancouver & the Lower Mainland:

Birthday Cake & Cake Alternatives in Vancouver

Cartems

Butter Baked Goods

Butter Baked Goods is a modern take on the classic, cozy bakery, with all the classics from butter tarts to muffins, all made from scratch daily. But they also do custom cakes and cupcake orders for celebrations of all kinds. And if you want to try your hand at owner Rosie Daykin’s creations, no problem: she’s published a cookbook for her happy fans.

True Confections

Swiss Bakery

Cakes a-plenty (along with fresh bread, muffins, cookies and much more) at this much-loved Mount Pleasant shop that’s been in operation for nearly 30 years. Check out their picnic packs for a fun outdoor birthday option (or indoor – throw the picnic blanket on the floor for a rainy day option) as well as unique stuffed croissants and more.

Hey! Cake This

The sky’s the limit for Hey! Cake This, where themes of almost any kind are expertly crafted. Check out the extensive gallery for inspiration: Sailor Moon cupcakes, a cake that looks like a bowl of ramen noodles, cake pops of all kinds and much more. If you’re looking for a unique theme, you’ve hit the jackpot here.

Birthday Cake & Cake Alternatives in Burnaby

Cupcakes

The shop that started the cupcake craze: Cupcakes is considered the original cupcake bakery and is well known as the business featured on the TV show The Cupcake Girls on W Network. Locally, the shop is available in Burnaby at Metrotown, in Abbotsford at High Gate and in Surrey at Guildford. Skip the mess of cutting up a cake and have a cupcake-tower instead, complete with perfectly piped icing in a rainbow of colours and flavours.

Delta

Boca Grande Donut Shop 

For surprising combinations and cool toppings, Boca can’t be beat. From a towering Christmas tree atop a donut, to popcorn and crushed Oreos, the toppings at Boca are definitely outside-the-box. But don’t worry, they’ve got the sprinkles and powdered sugar too. Get a tray of donuts and pop a candle in the middle of one for an easy birthday “cake.” (Want to make the meal simple, too? Check out their take-home taco kits – all the supplies and fixings for a soft taco feast.) This shop is located in the heart of the Ladner area of Delta.

Birthday Cake & Cake Alternatives in Abbotsford

Traceycakes Bakery Cafe 

Check out the beautiful and classic possibilities at this Abbotsford bakery, from cupcakes to a classy high tea selection. Traceycakes is also known for their “babycakes” – miniature cupcakes – which are a sweet alternative to the big cupcakes overflowing with toppings. The store offers more than 60 different flavours of both cupcakes and babycakes for custom orders.

Birthday Cake & Cake Alternatives in Surrey

Happy Cakes

On the Surrey-Langley border, this vintage-inspired bakery isn’t just known locally – it was the winner of Season 1 of the Big Bake on the Food Network. Cakes for all sizes of groups, from small to extra large, along with gorgeous cupcake options, make this a great option for a custom cake with a great reputation behind it.

Oh So Sweet Sugar Boutique

The one-stop-shop for bakery goods of all kinds, on the Surrey-Delta border at Oh So Sweet Sugar Boutique. Layered cakes, cookie platters, specialty brownies, mixed box combinations and so much more. Find an old-fashioned layered serving platter and fill each level with a different kind of treat – there’s plenty to choose from here.