Cakewalk Chicago

One-​stop shop for all your baking needs! They have a comprehensive inventory of items for baking and decorating. When my daughter wanted a «Frozen» cake for her birthday, they had snowflake sprinkles in-​stock! We also like to get big 1lbs blocks of handmade caramel for dipping apples around Halloween. Definitely worth a visit. You won’t be dissappointed.

This review is solely related to the chocolate making class.
I saw a Living Social deal for $ 27 (regularly $ 55) for a chocolate making class and thought that sounded like a really cool idea. Unfortunately, the chocolate making class was more of a chocolate dipping/​chocolate molding class with most of the time devoted to waiting for our chocolate to harden in the freezer.
I’d say there was one good thing about the class: the woman who taught the class was really sweet. We had a few people in our group who waited too long to buy the Living Social deal, but she allowed them to join anyway. The same problem has happened to me in the past for other activities in Chicago and I thought it was super generous of her to let the rest of our group in for the Living Social price. That is why this review gets 2 stars instead of 1.
I knew I was in trouble when she started the class with «I’ve never done this before.» I wanted to hope for the best at that point, but I felt an ominous sense that things were going to get worse (spoiler alert: they did). Following this revelation, she spent 20 minutes talking about the products they sell to make chocolate and then verbally telling us how to use them to make chocolate, but we NEVER made any chocolate. Instead, there were several crock pots filled with melted chocolate that we used for the class. It was also disappointing to know that they sell 4 different kinds of chips to make chocolate (white, dark, milk, and mint), but we only used two during the class.
Following the verbal demonstration, we filled 6 small molds, dipped a pretzel and twizzler, and made a cracker and Oreo chocolate confection. We also learned how to make a turtle, which was the coolest part of the class. Unfortunately, we were provided with mixed nuts rather than what turtles are normally made out of (e.g., cashews).
They say the class is 2 hours, but the class (with the 20 minute instruction) takes between 45 – 60 minutes. What do you do the rest of the time? You wait your turn to put your molds into the freezer because they don’t have a big enough one for the class (this would have been true even if the extra people were not let into the class).
I think that this is a REALLY neat idea, which is why I bought the deal. Unfortunately, they need to seriously consider how to present this in the future if they want to continue offering this class.

I set out to make a cake that my sister in law saw a picture of and became quite excited over. I stumbled upon a quaint store conveniently located right off the Beverly Hills Metra train stop. But don’t let the size fool you they are home to an abundance of baking/​candy making supplies. I can confidently and proudly say that I am a fan of Lori. She was so helpful, knowledgeable and polite this morning when I went into Cakewalk. I went in unsure and nervous about the cake I was trying to create or re-​create. Lori took a look at the picture and took me right to the products I would need also provided helpful tips and suggestions. She demonstrated how honest this establishment is by giving me tips on how to use one product in multiple ways in stead of trying to sell me multiple items or products. I had a really satisfying experience in the store and I can’t wait to go spend more money with them. Lori even seemed interested in my finished product. Cakewalk is now my go to for all things baking and candy making. I recommend you at stop by and check it out for yourself.

Saw a deal on LivingSocial for a 2-​hour chocolate making class in my hood. $ 27 seemed like a good deal, full price for the class is $ 55. I rounded up some friends and we decided to go for it. Scheduling the class required me calling, being put on hold and/​or told to call back in «two-​minutes» a few times in a row. Eventually, I got through and booked the class.
Cakewalk is a tiny storefront on 99^th Street & Wood. If you blink, you may miss it. Street parking is available. There are two rooms to the shop. The first room is the store to purchase baking supplies and the second room is where they hold classes. It is a small, cute space. The owner, Lori, is great.
The chocolate making class was more of a chocolate demonstration. It was about 90% demonstration, and 10% filling chocolate molds with pre-​melted chocolate. We were given about 20 minutes in the middle to go and shop in the store. Really, this was not worth the $ 27 deal, and for sure not worth the full price of $ 55. We dipped two pretzel rods, one twizzler, one Oreo, and filled about 6 tiny molds. Once they cooled in the frige, wrapped them in saran wrap and took them home.
Great owner. Cute store. If you are looking to buy some cake decorating items, I would recommend. I would not invest the money into a «class».

Making and eating candy should always be a fun event. I room a class here with my cousin, and had a blast. Lori’s passion for the delicious and her sense of humor really came through. I highly enjoyed learning how to make turtles, chocolate covered pretzel rods, and chocolate truffles in a casual yet highly informative environment. Small female owned businesses like this need our support– and I’ll gladly do what I can to get the word out about Cakewalk!

I had the pleasure of attending the cake baking class this past weekend and I have to say that it was an incredible experience. Chef Lori was warm, patient and knowledgeable about her craft. She gave us great tips and answered any and all questions that were posed to her. I usually bake box cakes like Duncan Hines or something similar. However, Lori promised me that her cakes will be superior to anything produced from the box and she did not disappoint. Our cakes turned out moist, delicious and blissfully flavorful.
The cozy shop is located in the Beverly neighborhood which is tucked away in a quiet area, slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of 95^th street. The area is full of beautiful homes and tree lined streets. There is a park nearby which gives the area a very peaceful feel. The shop itself is stocked with just about everything you need to bake. Lori and company are always willing to help and give you great advice on products and techniques.
Try this place. You will be thankful that you did!

I’ve been there twice for cake toppers that they didn’t have. Nothing naughty for a bachelorette party nor an Oscar party. So they don’t have everything. But nice friendly service & small Indy owned. I just suggest a phone call ahead if you’re looking for something specific.

If I need something – they have it. Recently, I purchased items here to make different colored candies for a bridal shower. They are always very helpful.

We are in a mission to make a Tangled Tower Cake… we found Cakewalk on Unilocal and headed out. It felt like a road trip from downtown Chicago!!!
We pulled up and it was closed. As I read the sign I learned they were on vacation. I turned to my wife and said, «Lucy…you’ve got some explainin’ to do!» no I didn’t say that but I sure thought it.
Just then the owner Lori came and opened the door. She said that they were closed but invited me in to look around. That is called Customer Service and deserves 5 Stars!!! Wow a business owner who cares!!!
Lori and I talked about my research on making a cake tower and we came up with some good ideas. She was so helpful. I bought edible paint, brushes and other things to start my project. (This is my wives fault because she thinks I can build it… and I’ve gotta accept the challenge.)
My wife also got cool things to make little mini flowers for her cupcakes… I’m also gonna need flowers for my tower too. So now we start building!!!
The store was fun and there were so many things to see. Thanks Lori for opening your doors and letting us shop!!!
Lori also gave us directions to see the old historic houses and the castle at 103^rd street. She is also a great tour guide too. She takes pride in her business and the area she is from!!! I think she needs to start a cupcake walking tour!!!
Thanks again Lori!!!

A traveling salesman is driving down an old country road one evening when his car breaks down. He walks to a nearby farmhouse and asks if he can stay the night before going to get help the next morning. The kindly farmer tells him he can stay, on the condition that he does not touch any of the extremely delicious cupcakes that he had just finished baking earlier in the day. In the middle of the night, the salesman wakes up hungry, walks down into the kitchen and eats all the cupcakes. The cupcakes totally let him too, because cupcakes are sluts like that.
*Thanks to Brodie Brohkie for that. :) I was at Cakewalk for a cupcake decorating class (yay Unilocalppp) with Lori, who is warm and friendly, and came back to buy some supplies once I was inspired. They have everything! Fillings, melting chocolate, guava essence, whatever else you need to bake amazingness. I made some cake pops for Food Friday at work today (it is what it is.) and I made lavender vanilla and then grapefruit guava. Amazing. Anything you need and more, plus classes! I wish it weren’t so far… but it’s probably for the best.

I went here recently for a cupcake decorating class and it was great! First the store has all this amazing stuff, top quality and its very reasonable priced. The class was alot of fun, I learned sooo many different things and I was only there for about 1.5 hrs. Lori is a great teacher, its a family enviornment. Her kids were there being adorable, her husband was the photographer. It’s a pity it takes me 45mins to get to her shop… I definitly would like to make it a once monthly field trip for myself tho.

Having taken a class here over the weekend, I cannot do anything but highly recommend that you check out Cakewalk! The location was easy to find (with plenty of parking) in a surprisingly cute neighborhood. The instructor, Lori, was super pleasant, professional, and gave great advice. The supplies available during the class were outstanding (I have never had so much fun decorating baked goods!) and the supplies at the store were beyond! I ended up buying some basic cake decorating supplies like tips and bags, but I could have purchased detailed cookie cutters, yummy fillings, professional-​grade icing, or beautiful baking accessories. If you need any kind of decorating supply, I would go here first. It is an independent, family run business, and I can’t wait to come back for another class!

I took the cupcake decorating class through Unilocal Gets Cultured and I was blown away. My cupcakes normally taste good, but don’t look particularly nice. After that class, I have no doubt that my cupcakes will look as good as they taste in the future. I was surprised at how fun and easy it was to make the cupcakes look nice once I learned the proper technique.
Lori was such a great instructor, and a really sweet person. After the class I went into the store and bought filling, food coloring, and a tip for the pipping bag and it was only $ 12 for everything.
I am surprised that I have never been to this store before, because it seems like a place my mom would love. This store would be most bakers favorite places. So many of the items are things I have ordered for my mom from bakers catalogs, but it would be way more fun to buy them in a store than to order them from a catalog. Plus the people in the store can answer any questions!

My 300^th review calls for something special. Cakewalk Chicago, you’re it!
I was able to attend the Cupcake Decorating Class via Unilocal Gets Cultured Week and I had a wonderful time. Pastry Chef Lori was a wonderful instructor and pretty entertaining as well. Her friendly manner and enthusiasm made it a very comfortable and fun class environment.
We learned some basic piping techniques and basic fondant techniques and got to be as creative as we wanted to be on the dozen cupcakes each of us got to decorate. I’m excited to incorporate these techniques in my future home-​baked goods.
I was so excited after class that I spent some time shopping in the store. It’s a small shop, but it’s loaded with many many different supplies that can help folks decorate cookies, cupcakes, cakes, etc. There is also a huge selection of cookie cutters and candy molds. I felt the prices for many of these items were pretty reasonable and I’m ready to channel my inner Martha Stewart and get going on my cookie and cupcake projects!
It’s a bit of a drive out to Beverly for this suburban gal, but totally worth it for the fun class and decorating goodies I bought.

I took the cupcake-​decorating class with Lori through Unilocal Gets Cultured and it was fantastic! We were given 12 cupcakes to decorate and all kinds of fun frosting, fondant, toppings, and tools. Lori gave us an overview and then let us loose to try things out, while she walked around to offer helpful advice. She is delightful and clearly loves what she’s doing — her husband and children were around and were adorable as well. The shop has all kinds of baking supplies and every type of candy mold you can imagine. Per Lori’s advice, I also explored Beverly a bit and was surprised to find such a verdant neighborhood full of mansions and interesting shops. The only reason I’m taking off a star is that I felt the price of the class is a tiny bit high. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it if it hadn’t been complimentary through Unilocal.Overall, though, the store is fun, Lori is fantastic, Beverly is lovely and the class was a blast!

They’ve got it ALL. The best of everything for Cake Decorating, Candy Making and All Pastry related needs. Owned and operated by a Lori who is a Professional Pastry Chef. Whether you’re an occasional baker or a Pro. This is your one stop shop. They are always happy to see you and they truly appreciate your business.

As a professional cake decorator, I usually try to find a cake supply shop to visit any time I go somewhere and Cakewalk is the place I wanted to find in Chicago. Anyone who visits very many cake supply shops knows that they tend to fall into three categories: small and cluttered, more party than cake supplies so they’re bigger, or they do a stiff mail order business and can afford more space. This one is small and cluttered but well worth the effort. I spent the first 20 minutes just looking at the cookie cutter rack because the variety was so amazing. Indeed, Lori had almost everything I’ve collected and use in my own shop and a few things I didn’t have, which I promptly purchased. Things I asked about, she was more than willing to order and ship to me in a USPS one price box which saves me a minimum order with the same supplier. Well worth the trip if you are a cake decorator.

Ok I want to say cakewalk is tbe BEST. As far as a shack it’s not, if you bake cakes and look @ how everything is placed u will find everything u need. I’m a baker everything I neeeeeeed is there. If u r indeed a true baker u will appreciate the store and the service they provide… This is from a professional stand point, we love places like this. CAKEWALK keep doing what u do MAD LOVE!

If you’re into cake decorating or candy making, they have everything you need. If you’re not sure, call ahead and they’ll be happy to order it for you. I had quite a time trying to find a candy making supply store in Chicago, and was happy to make the trip down to Beverly to visit Cakewalk. What a find! The owners clearly take great pride in serving their customers. I’m sure I’ll be back.
Oh, and if I cared about a fancy building I’d go to a big-​box store in Niles. No thanks.

As a birthday treat, my girl took me here to learn how to decorate my own birthday cake. A sweet gesture.
Be forewarned that Cakewalk Chicago isn’t in the greatest neighborhood. I mean, I like abandoned factories and adjacent train tracks as much as the next guy, but it’s very outskirts-​y.
Also, Cakewalk is basically in a shack. It’s a run-​down old house. Up front is a room filled with cookie cutters, cake decorating accessories and other baking supplies. On the day I arrived a trio of small tables were set up for our class.
God forbid you have to use the bathroom in the back. This place barely has running water, which makes you kind of worry about the fact that they’re handling actual food here.
Despite those major setbacks, the class itself was fun. Chef Lori will give you a quick & dirty tutorial on how to decorate a cake like a pro. Whether your cake comes out looking like a pro did it… that’s up to your skill. It was a fun couple of hours, and it was nice to take home an edible souvenir.
Oh, and it was fun to have the added floor show of Lori browbeating her husband every now and then. He’d come up to start asking her a question and she’d answer before he’d finish speaking. And then he’d have to ask his actual question again and she acted annoyed. Good times!
If you want to learn something fun in a building that should be condemned, Cakewalk Chicago is for you!