cakes at Safeway vs Giant vs Harris Teeter

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks for all the answers! We're definitely going for one of the regular supermarket cakes, not Costco (too far) or WF (too expensive for 6 year olds). But what is the whipped frosting? Is this something you have to ask for or not ask for? I don't like frosting in general, but I know the kids love it, so do I have to request something special?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

we love safeway cake in this house!!! Even will buy the precut/individual slice they sell. It's funny for my sons bdays I have used Heidelberg Bakery, Gtown Cupcake, Whole foods and the kids all prefer the sugary goo of Safeway. I got my 1 year old a safeway cake for his actual bday to have with our nanny and another nanny in the neighborhood who comes over to our house for playdates...and they still can't stop talking about how good the safeway cake was....

I think the 'big name' bakery cakes are all about me and not my sons' favorite choice...so this Fall for the soon to be 4-year old I am getting Safeway cake because it is his favorite. I can have my fancy cakes on my bday or anniversary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, thanks for all the answers! We're definitely going for one of the regular supermarket cakes, not Costco (too far) or WF (too expensive for 6 year olds). But what is the whipped frosting? Is this something you have to ask for or not ask for? I don't like frosting in general, but I know the kids love it, so do I have to request something special?

Thanks!

The whipped frosting is not nearly as sweet (not sure if it has less sugar or if it is "whipped" to increase the volume). I'd say it is almost tasteless (because I am a sweet buttercream frosting type of person). If the main audience is kids, I'd go with the regular (buttercream). I'd pre-order it (then you can choose flavors, decorations) and they will ask about the type of frosting.

[Anonymous]

I find Safeway's whipped frosting to be much lighter and not so sugary sweet as regular frosting. That's why I like it. I've never seen a kid turn up their nose at it, but I've only been around really young kids eating it, so their cake palettes might not be so refined yet.

[Anonymous]

I like cakes from HT and Safeway way more than giant. Safeway does have a really good frosting.

I agree with the PPs who don't like Whole Foods cakes. Even at room temp, they just don't taste quite right to me.

And, CakeLove is most definitely overrated. Cupcakes from Best Buns are better. (we used to live in Shirlington)

[Anonymous]

Safeway and Giant make great moist cakes with tasty whipped cream frosting. Every kid we have ever served it too loved it. Whole foods cakes are very dry and the frosting too buttery. I spent $60 on one once and the kids wouldnt eat it. Balducci's makes a good cake too, but Safeway and Giant are just too good. Can't keep my husband away from them....

[Anonymous]

We just had a birthday cake from Harris Teeter for my daughter's birthday a week ago and it was VERY good. I even liked the frosting and I'm not a big frosting person.

For myself, I get cakes from Heidelberg Bakery in Arlington but I was very impressed with the Harris Teeter cake.

Last year we got one from Giant and it was also very good but I think I liked the Harris Teeter one a bit better - something about the frosting....

Don't listen to the silly cake snobs...

[Anonymous]

One more comment. If you do decide to use the Safeway bakery, try one of their chocolate chip cookies while you're there!! They are delicious!

[Anonymous]

OP here -- this input was so helpful, thanks very much. I think I'm going to order from Safeway b/c of convenience and ask them if I can try the two kinds of frosting.

[Anonymous]

I am totally one of those "illy cake snobs". I worked at a NY bakery and loved it and so stuff from the supermarket is crap to me. The artificial fillings (canned fruit in goo) suck and the "buttercream" is nothing more than crisco (pure lard) and sugar. We get cakes from Balducci's and Alexandria Pastry Shop. That being said, if the party is mostly for children, I think it's okay to get whatever cake the kids will like and that is within your budget. Why spend $60 for a cake if no one will appreciate the difference between real fresh whipped cream and lard sugar frosting?

[Anonymous]

You can't go wrong with Safeway cakes! I remember two events where there were Safeway cakes and everyone just raved about the cakes!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Safeway! I bought my son's 1st birthday cake from there - chocolate with raspberry filling - VERY GOOD!

[Anonymous]

all the frosting and cakes and everything from these places are the same exact products! i decorate cakes, i know. its all frozen cakes that get sent from a company (same exact cake from most of these grocers) and the whipped topping is this stuff called Bettercream which all these companies use as well. the only thing that differs is their versions of "buttercream" which is also from a can but each place uses something different, but basically the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry to say all these fall in the category of "poor quality sugar". Nobody actually likes them. Try a cake from Whole Foods, Balducci's or Cake Love (downtown Silver Spring). Although expensive, the party guests will REALLY appreciate your discerning taste. And it is better to have a tiny delicious morsel of cake than seeing everyone stick their huge cake portions in the trash. I believe downtown Bethesda also has a few small cake shops that are really good too, but cannot remember their names.

Uhm, I don't think you can speak for me because I LOVE Giant cakes. I think they're great. And what the hell is "poor quality sugar" vs. "high quality sugar?" Sugar is sugar darling.
OP, I order cakes from Giant all the time and love them. And NO ONE sticks their portion in the trash.

[Anonymous]

Safeway, not proud..... Remember when my kids were born and I ordered from Whole Foods, overheard an older neighbor say at the first birthday party "she'll learn" -- she was so right!