bakery | gluten-free| online ordering

 

Story

One thing I really admire about this bakery is that the head chef and owner is blazing her own trial for plant-based sweets in New Mexico. Not only was Karina Cake’s Planty Sweet, Albuquerque’s first vegan dessert shop, but she also teamed up with local coffee shops to make her product widely available to vegan and non-vegans.

As you can find her treats in the pastry display of Zendo Coffee, Humble Coffee, Cutbow Coffee, and Whispering Bean. She intentionally partners with local businesses to further support her community, and still welcomes the partnership of even more local, organic ingredients for her business. After studying at the Matthew Kenney Culinary Institute, a plant-based culinary school, she is now an instructor for the course Advance Raw Cuisine.

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Website: https://plantysweet.weebly.com/

 

What to get?

Glazed Bundt Cakes:

These are like the dessert sampler, entry level, minor league, dipping your foot in the water.

If you’re considering ordering a large cake from them and want to try every option, these mini bundt cakes will be your best choice. Or if you just want to run out and taste a vegan cake right this second, you can find these at Zendo Coffee, Humble Coffee, Cutbow Coffee, and Whispering Bean. But do not bank on trying multiple flavors; they sell out pretty quickly from my experience. Fortunately, you can always put in an order online. Definitely worth it!

Cheesecake: 

Albuquerque vegans are no longer deprived of the rich, indulgency of a fresh cheesecake!!!

Layered Cakes:

These gorgeous cakes are Instagram-worthy and completely edible! I am not sure why we all still pretend that fondant is edible? Fortunately, she has 12 completely edible flavors that include blueberry lemon lavender, Samoa, cookies n’ cream, an Elvis (banana+peanut butter+chocolate), and many more.

Cupcakes:

Any of the layered cake flavors can be made into cupcakes. One flavor per dozen.

Treat Yo’ Self Boxes:

If you can snag one of these before they sell out for the week, treat yo’ self to a box of these assorted treats.

Cost:

Glazed Bundt Cakes are anywhere between $18.75-$39.00.

Cheesecakes fall between $36-$48.

Layered Cakes Range from $35-$70 depending on how many mouths you’re feeding.

Cupcakes are a flat $30 per dozen.

I am unsure on the Treat Yo’ Self Boxes.

Instagram

Verdict:

The reason I hold this place so near and dear to my heart is that it really gave me the encouragement I needed to continue a plant-based lifestyle.  Coffee dates at the previously mentioned coffee shops were a biweekly affair for my mother, best friend, boyfriend, and myself. The idea of “going vegan” is more daunting than the actual execution. I was deeply terrified that I would be sitting at these coffee dates drooling at the pastries but settling for a bag of carrots in my fanny pack. So when I finally decided that I was going to BE a vegan, to my surprise, there was always a vegan option available. “Oh this is not so bad, my pastries look better than everyone else’s and I have like 3 milks to choose from!” These adorable cakes opened my eyes to how fortunate I was, to be living in a time where veganism is becoming normalized and widely embraced.  Thank you Planty Sweet, I can now have my vegan cake and drink my oatmilk latte too!