Whether you’ve noticed celebrities trying sourdough starters on Instagram or your favorite cookbook authors publishing new chocolate cake recipes online, it’s no secret that baking has been on the rise during stay-at-home orders. In fact, at the end of March, the number of people searching “bread” hit an all-time high on Google, yeast and flour are flying off grocery store shelves and, as of mid-April, the hashtag #quarantinebaking had been used in nearly 100,000 posts on Instagram.
But sometimes, all we really want is a tasty treat without the stress of cooking it ourselves. And, thanks to these local businesses, that’s easy to achieve. Find details on how to make your time at home just a little bit sweeter with these delivery services, below.
LoveLe Sweets
This Alexandria-based cake and dessert shop has been committed to serving residents of the DMV with custom-made sweets for over 10 years. And with its CakeBox subscription, the family-owned bakery sends everything you need to put its delicious cakes together from the comfort of your home. Simply sign up for a one-, three- or six-month subscription, and in the first week of every month, you’ll receive a 6-inch cake cut into layers, flavored icings and all decorating tools needed to create the perfect dessert. Plus, as the stay-at-home order remains in place, LoveLe Sweets has debuted DIY Quarantine Cupcake Boxes, featuring six assorted cupcakes, pre-bagged buttercream and decorations to match, all of which come in a new theme every week. // $18-$180
KillaCakes
Owned by 25-year-old Bria Taylor, KillaCakes is not your average local bakery, as each house-made cake features a bold, out-of-the-box design you can’t find anywhere else. While the Alexandria-based shop is known for its custom-order wedding cakes (serving only customers of the DMV), it has also recently launched Bite Boxes featuring some shopper favorites. The creative boxes are filled with a variety of items from KillaCakes’ menu, with the inaugural May box including Killa Confetti Shortie, an Atomic Brownie, one Berry Munchtart, a Snack Attack Cookie and two Coco Loco Bombebons. To start, the monthly subscription box will be sent only to residents of the DMV, but in the coming months you can send KillaCakes’ Bite Boxes to loved ones across the U.S. // $45, available for preorder
Fran’s Cake and Cookie Supplies
While it started as a small candy store, Fairfax-based Fran’s Cake and Cookie Supplies has since become a one-stop shop for all your baking needs. In addition to a wide supply of products for professional chefs and bakers alike, the family-owned shop sells DIY cookie decorating kits for families of Northern Virginia to bake like the pros. As of press time, you can receive pre-made dinosaur- or unicorn-themed cookies with the accompanying toppings, or a spring-themed cookie-decorating kit delivered to your home. While the treats and tools don’t arrive as a monthly package, they can be shipped at any time, to any doorstep nationwide. // $25
CakeLove
Ever wish you didn’t have to share your cake with other people? Well, thanks to Alexandria-based CakeLove, there’s just enough fluffy dessert for one, as each cake is served in a small, reusable jar. From traditional flavors like carrot cake to unique creations like bananas foster, each one fits inside a plastic jar that you can fit inside your pocket. While the company has expanded its reach to retailers across the country since opening in the early 2000s, only Northern Virginia residents can get CakeLove in a jar driven to their home via Uber Eats and DoorDash. // $4.99-$59.99
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