Thimble Cakes
369 Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1Y2
Map
Tel: 613.695.0109
Website: thimblecakes.ca
Craving a perfectly moist and scrumptious, sinfully delicious cupcake that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating? Then Thimble Cakes is a must try! With an extraordinarily accommodating commitment to their customers, this gourmet cake shop promises to cut out any component possible—whether it’s nuts, eggs, dairy, sugar, gluten, or any other allergy you may possess—in order to please everyone to the utmost, without compromising taste in the least. This specific brand of care and attention to detail is what first drew me in to try out Thimble Cakes.
During my first visit to the shop, I chose to indulge in one of my favourite flavours of all time: the incomparable red velvet. The delicacy that I consumed hereafter was nothing like I could ever have imagined a red velvet cupcake to taste quite like. From its commitment to the true richness of flavour, to an explosion of multidimensional flavour profiles that dare to redefine chocolate, which only true care and meticulous attention to taste could achieve. The fluffy cream cheese frosting, velvety smooth, melting upon contact with your tongue (minus the heavy component that most frostings of this name usually carry), drizzled ever so gently with a divine chocolate syrup are what truly elevate this simple cupcake staple to a class of its own. Have I mentioned the perfectly moist and effortlessly light cake itself that contributed to this extraordinary experience? Because that was final and most essential element made it outstanding, completing the journey of my taste buds with a true sense of happiness and satisfaction beyond what i’ve ever experienced in cake form.
If that’s not enough to have you sprinting down Bank Street to get your hands on one of these delectable treats, founder Wendy Van Velthoven promises that all products of her bakery, including wedding cakes, birthday cakes, ice cream, and those incredible cupcakes her shop has become famous for, are made with the healthiest and most organic ingredients she can find. And I must say, after trying several other flavours of cupcakes from the shop, you can taste the difference that this extra care for quality makes.
“We make our cupcakes as healthy as they can be” she affirms, “We care about our customers so we want to use as much natural ingredients as possible, so we can guarantee that our customers are eating something that’s real.” As a foodie with a particular penchant for sweets, I was relieved to know that the cakes I was devouring wouldn’t quite have to be a guilty pleasure, but one I reveled in delightedly.
Save on calories while indulging—can it get any better than that?
Continuing in the nature of doing good for others, the shop is involved in a wide array of charity work, focusing mainly on animal shelters, environmental causes (for now), and generally contributing to the well-being of the community around her, with all proceeds of one day a month of business going entirely to a charity. When asked why such a commitment to charity work has been so important, Wendy explains that it’s something she feels is natural, and that she must do her part for a community that so graciously welcome her and her dream of a cake shop 2 years ago when Thimble Cakes was established in Ottawa.
If the irresistible cupcakes still weren’t enough to keep you coming back for more, I was astounded by the atmosphere that it provides, enveloping you into a different world of a lavish, warm boutique, that’s undeniably feminine yet inviting to all, adorned with chaises and a grand chandelier that exude a timeless class and elegance. Upon entering the shop, you soon realize that beyond the delicious cupcakes and saccharine aroma of baked goods that wafts about, Thimble Cakes offers and experience of the senses in its entirety—yet another meticulously considered detail to accommodate the customer for an unforgettable visit. I was pleasantly welcomed by this atmosphere, finding myself genuinely wanting to stay a while and take in this cozy and charming boutique with a group of friends while enjoying a treat as smooth, classic jazz plays in the background. A perfect anytime spot to relax and unwind, taking in the simple pleasures; a little piece of heaven in every way.
With 100 different flavors of cupcakes that are in rotation year-round, including my favourite classic red velvet to rootbeer, cotton candy, and pumpkin chocolate chip, yet another fan favorite, you must drop in to Thimble Cakes for your little piece of heaven.
Photography. Andrew Carter