Looking for the perfect slice of carrot cake to accompany your perfectly brewed cup of coffee? Trying to find the towering red velvet of your dreams for your next birthday bash? Never fear, this list of patisseries, coffee shops and skilled bakers in and around Durban have got all your cake needs covered.

Baking & B (around Durban)

Durban local Bron Celine is a freelance copywriter and cake baker. What started out as a childhood passion blossomed into a booming baking business. Bron’s cakes can be seen at weddings and parties around KZN with over 20 flavours from which to choose – she even made five differently flavoured cakes for her own wedding. Customer favourites include dark chocolate with salted caramel and bacon; roasted white chocolate and toasted coconut; rose and pistachio with white chocolate; and a condensed milk carrot cake. Birthday cakes start at R450 and wedding cakes start at R900.

A post shared by Bron Celine (@beingbron) on Sep 4, 2017 at 12:51am PDT

CakeLab (Morningside)

This super cool cake company is headed up by Lucy Markewicz (of Renegade Kitchen and, previously, Freedom Café). Order anything from simple, moist carrot cakes or red velvet to confetti, ombre, or chocolate macaroon cakes. When it comes to the decorations, these beauties can be dripping in gold or adorned with fresh flowers. They can also be tiered, made into a unicorn or simply dusted in cocoa. Gluten-, dairy- and egg-free options are also available on request. The prices per cake range from R210 for a 15cm to R600 for a more intricately decorated 23cm.

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Chateau Gateaux (Durban North)

This classic cake shop has been keeping Durbanites satisfied since 1997. The cake fridges are always filled with pastries and bakes, and the range on offer is impressive. Gourmet gateaus range in price from around R44 a slice to R340 for a 24cm cake. Flavours include Swiss carrot cake; Rococo chocolate with choc-chip cookies, ganache, and layers of chocolate torte; red velvet; or walnut-truffle. For a bit of retro nostalgia, the black forest gateau is a favourite.

Delish Sisters (Salt Rock)

The sister team from Salt Rock knows how to play with beautiful seasonal ingredients to turn them into something seriously delicious and when it comes to their cakes, there is no exception. The harvest table and cake fridges will always feature some form of baked treat, which are also available to order. The options range from indulgent to health-conscious with creations like poppy seed, coconut and white chocolate; hummingbird cake with cream cheese icing and pecan brittle; zesty gluten-free lemon cake; or gluten-free orange, almond and olive oil cake. Prices range from R38 up to R48 per slice and whole cakes range from R380 to R520 each.

A caramel-topped cake from Delish Sisters. Photo supplied.

Era Ice Cream (Morningside)

Aside from scooping great ice cream, Penny Fitchet’s café has also mastered the art of a good bake. Treats in-store might include beetroot and chocolate, lemon and yoghurt with meringue frosting, or a slice of lavender and orange cake (R35 to R40 per slice); while made-to-order options could be the German apple crumble cake or a tiered wedding cake of dense chocolate and a caramel Swiss meringue buttercream (prices range from R300 upwards).

A lavender and orange cake from ERA. Photo supplied.

Madeleines (Hillcrest)

This little café and cake studio is incredibly popular with Hillcrest locals on the hunt for a good cuppa and a slice of cake. The intense chocolate cake topped with chocolate buttercream icing and chocolate shards is a popular choice, as is the classic layered carrot cake. Also look out for the coffee-and-pecan cake for the perfect cappuccino-pairing slice. (Slices range from R40 to 45). Madeleines also does a range of beautiful custom-made cakes for events. The prices of these vary depending on size and decorations.

A slice of generously frosted carrot cake from Madeleines in Hillcrest. Photo supplied.

Old Town Italy (Umhlanga)

The cakes at this Italian market-style eatery change regularly with the bakery counter always full with delicious baked treats. Think red wine and chocolate cake, carrot cake, pear and almond frangipane cake, Italian pannetone fruit cake and more. Cakes can be custom ordered with options serving six to 12 people, prices range from R150 to R600.

The red wine and chocolate cake at Old Town Italy. Photo supplied.

So Whipped (Umhlanga)

This Gateway coffee shop is not only a good spot for a post-shopping slice, the team also offers cake catering for all sorts of events. In-store slices (priced between R39 and R50) include orange blossom cake with vanilla sponge; carrot cake with pineapple and cream cheese frosting; and the extremely popular Lindt chocolate cake with chocolate sponge, chantilly butter cream and a luxurious blanket of Lindt ganache. Glorious catered cake creations have included options like layered chocolate cake with Belgian chocolate and salted caramel buttercream; a pink and rose-gold drip cake with vanilla, white chocolate and cream cheese; and even a sponge cake topped with a tower of pastel-coated éclairs.

A custom èclair cake from So Whipped. Photo supplied.

Smith’s Bakeshop (Assagay)

Passionate baker Taryn Smith operates her bakeshop from her home in Shongweni. You’ll also spot Smith’s Bakeshop at the Shongweni Market and I Heart Market where you can get your sweet treat fix. Her custom made cakes include popular flavours like salted caramel, milk tart, ginger bread, and peanut butter and banana. There’s also flavours of grapefruit and white chocolate, German chocolate cake and more. The cakes start at R480 for a 20cm semi-naked drip cake to R530 for a fully iced version. The prices will then go up depending on decor and add-ons.

A beautiful chocolate and caramel creation from Smith’s Bakeshop. Photo supplied.

Sprigs (Kloof)

This well-known bakery and food retail space offers a variety of options including breakfasts, light lunches, decadent pastries and a lunch harvest table, in an unpretentious space. While there are always a few cakes on display in-store, you may want to take a whole one home to enjoy with family and friends. Order one for your next tea party at a cost of around R350. (It serves 10 to 12 people.) Flavours include almond and rosewater semolina cake with plum compote; pineapple pecan and currant cake; yoghurt and date cake with cream cheese icing; and chocolate ganache and caramel meringue cake.

The chocolate ganache and caramel meringue cake from Sprigs. Photo supplied.