Republic of Cake

Long overdue review. Many have written about their intensely creative, artisinal cupcakes. …And how they push the envelope with their savory or savory-​sweet specials. …And what a treat it is for kids or parties. I don’t think I can say much new about any of that.
But I can add a word about how their level of service and attention to their customers is top notch. We stopped into Republic of Cake on our first day in the bay area, while we were out on a house hunting trip. Chatting with the friendly owner who was there that day helped my wife and I feel just a little more connected with the hometown atmosphere of Orinda. And I’ve been impressed that, even though we haven’t been the most frequent customers, they still recognize us years later. So, not just terrific cupcakes, good location, and a treat for the kids, but also good people, the kind of small business you feel good for supporting.

I drive 33 miles for these cupcakes. Worth. It.
The standout characteristic of everything here is that it’s well balanced in several key qualities, the texture and density of the cake and frosting are always perfect, cake is light and moist frosting is silky and smooth and melts in your mouth, and if you get a filled cupcake you cannot go wrong. The ganache in Sam’s Very Messy Chocolate Cupcake is rich without being overly sweet and the lemon curd in the Honey Lemon Lavender is perfect. Speaking of the HLL I was very pleasantly surprised that I could taste the lavender without being overwhelmed by it, just another of the great qualities of these cakes is that the chef pays a lot of attention to balancing the flavors in each, which helps to avoid some of the cloying pastiches I’ve come to expect from cupcake shops.
Also, I highly recommend a butterscotch beer.
Pro-​tip: read the descriptions of the flavors that’s sitting right on the counter. They have descriptions on the counter and in the case.

These aren’t just cupcakes, they are little bits of art for your mouth! The blend of textures, colors and flavors are nothing short of genius. My daughters and I always share to experience 3 different cupcakes each visit. Since they update the menu monthly base on what’s in season, it’s always a surprise. We also eat them at the shop so we can provide our feedback which the owners, Chi and Peter seem to take to heart. It’s always a joy coming to this shop!

I found this shop in a strange way. I was exiting the freeway and saw someone holding a box that I assumed had cupcakes in it and did a Unilocal search for cupcakes in Orinda and just assumed this was the place. Either way it goes I’m glad I found it!
I deducted one star because they sell few flavors, and two of the offerings are basic chocolate and vanilla. How they make up for that is by making some really tasty combinations. I ordered chocolate cream, which looked like a fancy hostess cupcake but tasted far beyond store bought (frosting swirl, chocolate ganache, moist chocolate cake and marshmallow cream filling). The caramel apple crisp wasn’t short on caramel or apple and had a nice flavorful cake. My Dublin chocolate bomb was somewhat dry, and my least favorite but still not a fail. None of them were too sweet! That’s hard to find in a cupcake. At $ 2.75 each I will be back to try more flavors very soon!

Beautiful presentation, interesting flavor mixes, good cupcakes at great prices! I’ve had 7 different cupcakes from this place and they were all good, but the savory cheddar stout was by far my favorite, exceptional even — very moist and good balance of flavors. It was my first savory cupcake so I was hesitant but I’m definitely a believer now. My next favs were their dark chocolate peanut butter cupcake, chocolate cream and then the plain vanilla vanilla. The caramel apple crisp, taste of persia and sam’s messy chocolate were good but nothing to write home about. Overall solidly good cupcake joint but I continue my search for the best cupcakery in the east bay…

Worst customer service ever! Asked for cupcake to be placed in box to protect the frosting while traveling, and cashier rudely responded that cupcake should be fine in bag. Continued to inform the cashier that we preferred a box, and cashier responded with an attitude that it’ll cost us an additional quarter. Did not have an issue with paying extra but definitely did not appreciate the poor customer service. Cashier then proceeded to withhold goods by telling us to leave… followed by a few unnecessary remarks. Definitely would not recommend this bakery.

On paper this is a great cupcake. The Cake is light and is not dry. The frosting is not dense and heavy. They are only $ 2.75.
Maybe I came on a boring flavor day because there were only chocolate and vanilla variations. The only chocolate I do is when it’s in red velvet form and that wasn’t an option so I was left with orange cream-​sickle, Meyer lemon, vanilla, and vanilla bean latte. I went with the latte which had great texture (cake and frosting) but was pretty bland. I didn’t get any vanilla flavor and more of a watered down latte taste.
Better luck next time!

I only try them once and their mini chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting were very dry!

One of the downfalls in living on this side of the East Bay is that it’s hard to find good, quality local eats. When it comes to cupcakes, you can find your old run-​of-​the-​mill chain cupcakery serving you the same cupcakes, or just get your fix with some store-​bought cupcakes from the grocery store.
That is where Republic of Cake comes in, and why I am SO grateful that they exist right here in Downtown Orinda’s «locals only» theatre square. They are whipping up some quality, carefully-​made, in-​store fresh cupcakes made with local, wholesome ingredients and flavors that rotate by season, featuring carefully thought and well-​planned ingredients to make one perfect little cupcake. And I am NEVER disappointed.
Their cupcakes come at $ 2.75 a piece which is TOTALLY affordable and reasonable, knowing a) you’re getting what you pay for, and b) you are supporting such a great small business. The owners are super friendly and genuinely care about their cupcakes and in serving you. You can tell they’re passionate about their cupcakes and know every bit of what goes in them.
Their savory cupcakes are a MUST. Why? Because who else do you know can pull off a savory cupcake that tastes great, fresh, is not overwhelmingly savory or sweet, and provides such a balance of flavors that it makes you want more? I had their Autumn Corn Chowder back in the fall which had a lovely moist cornbread flavor with a fluffy, whipped cheese topping and crunchy baked bread slice to bite. It was delicious! But their Mushroom Alfredo cupcake won me over, as they packed real mushroom slices in their moist and buttery buttermilk cupcake. The whipped creamy cheese topping paired with the crispy cheese bread chip was perfect. Moist, well-​balanced and slightly sweet to make it a perfect pick-​me-​up.
For sweet, I tried their Vanilla Bean Latte cupcake which was perfectly moist and not overwhelmingly sweet. It was just the right amount of indulgence, topped with an espresso toffee bean brittle.
You can tell that these cupcakes are good because 1) they don’t make you feel like you ate a fistful of sugar, 2) you can taste the quality of ingredients as every bite is fresh and moist and so well balanced, and 3) you can leave with no complaints, assured you will come back again.
I’m a fan, ROC. I’m so glad I found you. I hardly ever indulge in cupcakes, and I was never a big fan of cupcakes from the get-​go, but you make cupcakes feel less of a guilty pleasure and more of a sweet and perfectly okay-​to-​treat-​yourself treat. Yum!

Great cupcakes!!! No mass produced. The frosting is exquisite!!! I had the pumpkin cupcake is just delicious!

Artisinal cupcakes are not created equal. This place is an example of well done cupcakes where it’s not a result of overdoing the creativity. We had the Mexican Chocolate and the Black Bottom. Both were sweet but not overpowering. You can taste the cinnamon and the cheesecake. Flavor was great but cake was not as moist as desired.

My family has been buying cupcakes at ROC since they opened and have always found them to be top quality and delicious. Everything is made fresh from scratch and is locally sourced if possible. This is not a mass production shop — they make limited batches every morning and are often sold out before the end of the day.
While ROC has all the traditional flavor combos of chocolate and vanilla, the highlights are the slightly sophisticated and filled cupcakes that are changed monthly. Chef Chih does amazing things with citrus and berries — try anything with meyer lemon or strawberries. He also reinterprets classics desserts like s’mores, Girl Scout Samoas and carrot cake into delectable and beautiful treats. The savory cupcakes are also amazing and an interesting twist on traditional savory foods like Mac and Cheese. And if you like chocolate, you can’t go wrong with the Sam’s Very Messy Chocolate Cupcake — it’s chocolate lover’s heaven!

OMG!!! How in the hell did I just find out about this place!!! I’ve been going to Table 24, next door, for the past year and just now noticed it yesterday. I’ve been in love with Frost Cupcakes in the southbay, but unfortunately I will no longer get my cupcake fix with them, Republic of Cake is where it’s at! I got the standard vanilla, pineapple passion and mud pie and I wish I would have gotten 2 more of each flavor. They are amazing, so moist with frosting that isn’t overpowering, it’s just right! Keep up the great work, I will see you guys very soon!

My kids still love this place.
All their cupcakes are fresh, moist and delish!
They now have pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas but you have to pre-​order them. Can’t wait to order mine!

Small shop located near one entrance to the walkway that runs around the Orinda Theatre. It has a small counter display with only a couple of levels and a small (about 10) selection of cupcakes. All of what they had out looked good, but today I tried the orange cranberry.
I’m a fan of cranberry stuff, like rhubarb it gives a nice tart touch to what could otherwise be an overly sweet desert.
The cupcake had a single candy covered cranberry and a small wedge of orange (not candied or treated in any way, just normal orange with rind). The frosting was a good white dollop on top with a light orange flavor along with vanilla. I liked how the orange wasn’t overpowering but was clearly there in each bite. The cake was a sweet and and sticky. A light white breading with whole cranberries. The frosting slightly overpowers the light cake but a bit of the tart comes through to make the overall experience pleasant.
Next time I’m driving by the area I’ll visit again and give another of their cupcakes a try.

Wow these were rich, decadent cupcakes! I couldn’t finish a whole one. All the cupcakes are the perfect size with moist cake so you won’t lose a crumb.
The Chocolate cupcake was so luscious and moist with mousse-​like chocolate frosting, chocolate sprinkles (that tasted like chocolate) and filled with creamy ganache! I also got the Orange, Cranberry cupcake which was lighter but still had that mousse-​like frosting in vanilla! Lastly, I got the Caramel cupcake, topped with mocha flavored frosting, yes, moussey too, and filled with, oh-​my-​gosh-​creamy-​caramel! I have no idea how the frosting is that fluffy, it’s like no other frosting that I have ever had.
The shop is tucked away from the street in the small theater plaza next to other restaurants and shops. The store is simple and clean with friendly staff. They also serve savory cupcakes that I was too afraid to try. Now I am kicking myself.

If you think the cupcake craze of the late 2000s — early 2010s has come and gone then you have not tried the cakes here.
Most cakes go for $ 2.50, and they have a wide variety of flavors both year round (like carrot cake, espresso, and black forest) as well as seasonal favorites (pumpkin, gingerbread and s’mores). The caramel apple is a must try as well. Cakes are always moist and sometimes only minutes right from the oven. The icing can be a little on the sweet side, but better that than not sweet enough.
Can’t get to Orinda? You can occasionally find their cakes at Diablo Foods, and that might spur you make the trip to where it all happens.

Safeway sure saved a bunch of my classmates’ moms way back in the day. When I was in elementary school, they would always bring those dozen cupcake packs in the plastic containers to celebrate birthdays. I was never a fan of royal icing, so I’d just scrape it all off and contentedly eat the little chocolate cake round that was left. Aside from Safeway, though, I only knew of cupcakes that friends and family would make from boxed mixes, and so store-​bought cupcakes were still a real treat.
Enter the cupcake craze set of, allegedly, by Sex & The City’s spotlight on Magnolia Bakery in NY.
I’m not a momma, but I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of crazy standards kids today must have concerning what exactly consitutes a good cupcake. I mean, have you ever watched an episode of Cupcake Wars? It’s crazy what people nowadays can come up with. Things like Republic of Cake’s strawberry cheesecake and blueberry velvet cupcakes, for instance. At $ 2.50 a pop, I am definitely a hardcore advocate of smaller class sizes…
Here are the descriptions straight from their website:
(Seasonal) Strawberry Cheesecake — $ 2.50
Fresh, local, Oakley-​grown strawberries get baked into a rich vanilla butter cake on top of a graham cracker crust. Finish it all off with vanilla cream cheese frosting, a dollop of fresh strawberry sauce.
Blueberry Velvet — $ 2.50
We take pureed blueberries and make them into our blueberry cake filled with the pop of whole blueberries, topped with blueberry buttercream, and garnished with even more fresh blueberries.
I really enjoyed the graham cracker crust at the bottom of their strawberry cheesecake cupcake (see photos). There was such a great mix of textures going on in each bite and the fresh strawberries not only tasted great, but they made the cupcake smell absolutely delightful. The vanilla definitely overpowers the cream cheese in the frosting (good!), and the «dollop of fresh strawberry sauce» is more like a concentrated, slightly thicker than usual, strawberry coulis (no complaints, though!).
As for the blueberry velvet, there’s not much of a fruity scent going on, but that’s totally alright. They do manage to capture the rich purple color in their buttercream frosting, and the fresh blueberries on top is a wonderful touch. I was a little wary of the cake part, though, because I instantly thought of blueberry muffins gone wrone. I had a particurly watery batch one time when I didn’t use good blueberries and didn’t realize I could make something close to a compote first. Oh well, live and learn! But Republic of Cake managed to steer clear of those issues and still keep to the light fluffiness of cupcakes instead of opting for a firmer muffin texture.
All in all, cupcakes like these have absolutely broken me of my icing scraping habit. I can’t wait to come back and try more!

I love this place.
The owners Chi and Peter are friendly.
I love the (regular or chocolate) raspberry cupcakes most, but all the flavors are tasty and made from scratch.
They offer savory cupcakes but I’m not bold enough to try them :)

Not bad.
This place is another place (like most of them) that had been on my list of places to go for some time.
After a nice long hike up Mt Diablo with my friend, for some reason I had a mad craving for something sweet and decadent (I know, what a way to kill a workout). So, since I wanted to take a little drive somewhere, I decided to drive on over to the Orinda hood and get my sweet kick on at Republic.
Located in the heart of the main downtown area of Orinda, Rebublic of Cake is tucked away and slightly hidden amongst a handful of other shops towards the back of the main shopping area.
The interior of the shop is bright and cheerful, and appeared to be extremely well kept. It is also quite small, offering only a small handful of outside seating.
I arrived fairly after they opened, and they were still in the process of finishing up some of there items to put on display. They did not have a huge selection of items to choose from, though still a decent amount. Which in some cases may be better :) They also serve coffee and tea though, no specialty lattes or anything: (
I ended up getting one mini vanilla cupcake. One Caramel Latte and One Oreo cookie– which I tried within a course of two days.
I tried the mini Vanilla and Caramel Latte the first day. Mini Vanilla had an exceptional taste and was moist– which is one of the key factors in my book. Caramel Latte was also quite delicious though, the frosting was slightly too sweet for my liking. The next morning I had the Cookies and Cream. This was my favorite for sure. The C&C frosting was absolutely superb! It also had an oreo cookie at the bottom, which just ended your experience on a happy note.
I feel everything is quite reasonably priced. Mini cupcakes for $ 1.00 and $ 2.00 to $ 2.75 for regular cupcakes. My total came to around $ 6 something, which I found fair.
Overall, cute, clean place. Small, but cute. Owner and staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. The prices also seem reasonable. As far as the cupcakes go, I can’t say it was some of the best cupcakes I have had, but they were certainly above average and satisfied my sweet craving. I do however, want to come back and try more flavors :)