Simply Desserts in Baltimore: House-Made Pastries and Cakes by the Slice

Simply Desserts is a standalone dessert shop in Federal Hill that sells slices of layer cakes, whole cakes for order, pastries, and coffee in a small counter-service format, anchoring a neighborhood without a dedicated bakery-café between the denser restaurant corridors.

What Simply Desserts Actually Is

The shop occupies roughly 400 square feet on South Charles Street and operates as a made-to-order cake and pastry business with a small walk-up counter. The owner bakes most cakes fresh, rotating flavors weekly. You choose by the slice ($7 to $10) or order a whole cake with 48 hours' notice; whole cakes start at $45 for a six-inch and run to $90 for a nine-inch, depending on flavor and filling. The space works as a grab-and-go, not a sit-down venue. A small espresso program runs alongside: drip coffee ($3), lattes ($5.50), and seasonal drinks.

Menu and Pricing

Cakes rotate on a roughly weekly schedule. Regulars include a dark chocolate layer cake with chocolate mousse filling ($8 per slice), a vanilla bean cake with buttercream and fresh berries ($7.50), and a lemon icebox cake with whipped cream ($8). Flavors like brown butter carrot, Earl Grey, and red velvet appear monthly or seasonally. Whole cakes can be customized: you can specify frosting type, filling, and dietary restrictions (gluten-free options are available at no upcharge if ordered in advance).

Pastries include croissants ($4.50), Danish varieties ($5), and daily-baked brownies and blondies ($4). Coffee drinks range from $3 to $6. Prices hold steady year-round, though seasonal specialty cakes (pumpkin spice in fall, peppermint in December) may shift by 50 cents.

How It Compares to Other Baltimore Dessert Options

Federal Hill has few standalone dessert-only venues. The closest alternative is Choco Loco, a chocolate shop on Light Street that sells truffles, ganache cakes, and hot chocolate; it leans into single-portion chocolates rather than sliceable layer cakes, and prices are higher per item ($12 to $16 per truffle). Vacarro's, an Italian bakery in Little Italy three blocks north, offers cannoli, pignoli, and whole cakes ($35 to $75) with a broader pastry range but less flexibility for custom orders on short notice. For coffee-plus-dessert in a sit-down setting, Artifact Coffee in Canton roasts its own beans and pairs them with pastries from local suppliers, but you're paying a premium for the café atmosphere and cannot order custom cakes.

Simply Desserts suits you if you want a single slice, a specific flavor, or a whole cake with 48 hours' lead time at a neighborhood price. Choose Vacarro's if you need Italian specialty pastries or a larger whole cake with more elaborate decoration. Pick Choco Loco for chocolate-focused gifts or single indulgences.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

The shop works well for office workers grabbing a slice and coffee on Charles Street, neighbors ordering a birthday cake for a small gathering, or anyone wanting a specific flavor without committing to a whole cake from a grocery chain. It does not suit customers seeking elaborate tiered cakes, same-day decorating, or a dining space. It also closes early (see Hours), so evening walk-ups are not an option.

What the First Visit Involves

Enter, scan the display case and the weekly flavor board posted above the counter. Ask the staff member behind the register what's fresh that day (morning visits, especially Tuesday through Thursday, have the widest selection). If you want a slice, hand over your choice and pay. If you want a whole cake, provide your desired date, flavor, filling, and any dietary notes; a 50 percent deposit is required, due when you place the order. Pick-up is during regular hours. The entire transaction takes five minutes or less.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Simply Desserts opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 p.m. Saturday; it is closed Sunday and Monday. Street parking on South Charles is metered (two-hour limit, $2 per hour) but reliable during off-peak hours (before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m.). A small paid lot is available one block away on South Cross Street ($2 for one hour, $4 for two hours). Public transit: the #3 and #27 bus routes stop at Charles and Cross Streets.

Simply Desserts fills a gap for residents and workers in Federal Hill who need quality cakes without visiting a full-service bakery, and its weekly rotation and custom ordering system encourage repeat visits.