The Best Cake Clubs

Monday, October 14th

2024 Cake Club Reviews

Amazing Clubs

• Variety of cakes included
• 8-10 servings per delivery
• Priced from $35.95 to $37.95 per month, depending on subscription length
• Shipping is included in the price
• Can choose a cake club lasting 3, 6, 12 months or seasonal (every 4 months)
• Can schedule deliveries to come every month or every other month
• Pay in full upfront or pay-as-you-go
• Easy to send as a gift
• Fun newsletter included
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Amazing Clubs has been impressing customers with their monthly Cake of the Month Club for years. They have been named the #1 cake club by the Wall Street Journal seven years in a row, which is no small feat. With the Cake of the Month Club, you can expect to receive a new gourmet cake each month from some of the best bakeries across the country.

Delicious flavors never repeated during your membership

Just thinking about the different cake flavors they offer, like Chocolate Bliss, Cinnamon Walnut, Pineapple Coconut, and Pumpkin Spice, is enough to make your mouth water. What's more, Amazing Clubs ensures that their cakes only contain natural ingredients, and they never repeat a flavor during a recipient's membership. Each cake has 8-10 servings.

Ideal for gift-giving

In addition to the delicious cakes, Amazing Clubs includes a newsletter called "A Piece of Heaven" with each shipment. The newsletter contains fun facts about that month's cake selection, as well as serving suggestions to make your cake even more enjoyable. That's part of the reason why this is such a terrific option for gift-giving: not only will your recipient get a delectable dessert and an entertaining newsletter, but you can also set up the membership to send a gift announcement in the mail or via email on the date of your choice (or print out an announcement to give them in person).

The most flexible of all cake clubs

And if you need flexibility with your subscription, Amazing Clubs has got you covered. They offer a range of delivery duration and frequency options, and you can even choose to pre-pay in full or pay as each shipment is delivered. Your club can be delivered every month or every other month, and you can choose plans that include three, four, six, or twelve deliveries. While you won't get to choose the cake flavors, Amazing Clubs tells you a few weeks in advance what the flavor of the month is - and if you really don't like it, it's zero problem to reach out and ask that it be skipped. That "missing” delivery will simply be added on to the end of your subscription.

Under $40 and shipping is free

All this and it's under $40 per month? Absolutely. Depending on the length of your cake club, you'll pay $35.95 to $37.95 for each shipment and nothing extra for shipping.

Longstanding tradition of excellence

You'll also be glad to know that Amazing Clubs offers a "They'll Love It!" Guarantee. This means that if for any reason you're not satisfied with your subscription, you can cancel it and receive a full refund, no questions asked. That's pretty amazing, isn't it? But, chances are really good that you'll never need to ask Amazing Clubs to make good on their promise. According to thousands of customers, every club offered here is fantastic. The cake club itself gets an average of 4.6 stars out of 5 across nearly 200 reviews on the Amazing Clubs site, and even the lower ratings get a friendly, helpful response from customer reps. And did we mention that the company has an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau too?

Best cake club in the industry

Once again, we highly recommend Amazing Clubs for their outstanding reputation, high-quality cakes, and reasonable prices. They truly offer a flexible and trustworthy experience that we're sure you'll love - or that will make you really, really popular with the person you give it to. This is our #1 pick among cake clubs.

Zingerman's

• Variety of coffee cakes included
• 5-7 servings per delivery
• Priced at $145 for a 3-month club, $260 for a 6-month club, and $500 for a 12-month club
• Shipping is included at no extra cost
• All cakes made with premium ingredients
• Download a gift announcement card or include it with your delivery
• "Unbeatable” Guarantee
• "A+” rated by the BBB

Located in Ann Arbor, Zingerman's is a beloved establishment known for its charming and unconventional ambiance. Under the Zingerman's brand, you'll find a group of stores that provide an extensive array of delectable indulgences, including bread and brownies. It's no wonder that they call their website "the online shop for food lovers”.

Better ingredients = better flavor

One reason why Zingerman's coffee cakes are their most popular gift is the use of premium ingredients. These include butter not shortening (and Grassland butter at that), Belgian chocolate, real maple syrup, country-style sour cream, real vanilla, Red Flame raisins, organic bleached and unbromated flour, fresh eggs, toasted nuts, Indonesian cinnamon - oh, and the last "premium” ingredient on Zingerman's list is "love”. Isn't that cute?

Flavor choices follow the calendar

So, what can you expect from this cake club? You'll need to choose how long you'd like it to last: three, six, or twelve months. The flavors of coffee cake you (or your gift recipient) will receive follow a set schedule:

• Three month club: Sour Cream, Summer Fling, Hot Cocoa Chocolate
• Six month club: Sour Cream, Summer Fling, Hot Cocoa Chocolate, Sweet Butter Tea, Lemon Poppy Seed, New Deli Crumb
• Twelve month club: Sour Cream, Summer Fling, Hot Cocoa Chocolate, Sweet Butter Tea, Lemon Poppy Seed, New Deli Crumb, Almond Pound, Casbah, Olive Oil (!), Sour Cream, Hot Cocoa Chocolate, Lemon Poppy Seed (note that there are a few repeats over the course of the year)

Competitive price and free shipping

Zingerman's prices their cake club at $145 for three months, $260 for six months, and $500 for a full year. Those prices include "free relaxed shipping”, which just means that your cakes will arrive within four business days.

Makes gift-giving easy-breezy

Because this retailer is a gift-giving powerhouse, it's only natural that their cake club is super-easy to set up for any occasion you like. If you want to let your recipient know about their gift in person, just click the link on the Coffee Cake Club page to download a card. Otherwise, enter your gift message during checkout, select the date you'd like it to arrive by using Zingerman's interactive calendar, and indicate if you'd like the tracking information to also be sent to the recipient.

The customer is always right here

Zingerman's has an impeccable reputation. The Better Business Bureau has awarded them an "A+" rating, and not a single complaint has been filed against them. This is likely due to their outstanding satisfaction policy, where they go above and beyond to make things right if you encounter any issues with their products, customer service, or shipping - and there's no need to return anything. That's all part of Zingerman's "Unbeatable Guarantee”, and they put it like this: "Customer service is our passion, our charge, and our mission. Stuff happens. Things go wrong. We consider it an honor when you let us help fix a problem.”

Excellent choice if you love coffee cake

While you won't find specific reviews on individual items at Zingerman's (including the Coffee Cake Club), you can easily understand why it's one of our favorite picks by checking out their overall customer feedback. Whether they're local Ann Arbor residents who frequently visit the store or shoppers who send special deliveries to loved ones nationwide, customers rave about this company that's adored by foodies and known for its convivial and welcoming atmosphere. We are thrilled to give Zingerman's coffee cake club a most enthusiastic endorsement.

Stonehouse Bakery

• Variety of pound cakes included
• Memberships can last 3, 6, or 12 months
• Priced at $110 for 3 months, $220 for 6 months, $440 for 12 months
• Shipping is included at no extra cost
• Can specify desired flavors and preferred shipping dates

If you're a big fan of pound cake and love supporting small women-owned businesses, you'll want to check out Stonehouse Bakery's cake club. The company was started by Dorothy Rackley back in 2011 after spending a year testing pound cake recipes in the kitchens at Utah State University. Since then, Dorothy's bakery has developed quite the local following in Logan - and across the nation via delivery.

You choose the pound cake flavors you want

Every cake you receive from Stonehouse Bakery will be pound cake - because that's the specialty here. But, unlike some cake clubs that don't tell you what you'll be getting or let you make any requests, Stonehouse Bakery puts all of the power in your hands. They offer a list of suggested flavors that you can indicate in your order notes - or you can customize your very own subscription. That's what you get when you work with a small business like this one.

Recommended cake flavors

Here's the list of recommended flavors you can start with, to get an idea of the tasty possibilities in this cake club:

• Cinnamon Swirl
• Milk Chocolate Truffle
• Orange Glazed
• Classic Vanilla
• Lemon Glazed
• Lemon Blueberry
• Pineapple Chunk
• Lime Glazed
• Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk
• Gingerbread Spice
• Dark Chocolate Truffle

You can choose which months to get cake

Stonehouse Bakery offers memberships lasting three, six, or twelve months, priced at $110, $220, and $440, respectively. FedEx 2-Day shipping is included at no extra cost. But, another way this cake club offers unmatched flexibility is by letting you decide which months you'd like your treats to arrive. So, for example, if you're trying to make Mom feel special on Mother's Day, her birthday, and Christmas, you can choose a three-month subscription with deliveries in those three months.

Personalized greeting

Your delivery will also include a personalized greeting as specified during checkout. Just don't forget to make all of those requests (cake flavors, delivery months, gift note) in the little box that says "Order notes (optional)” on the order page before you click "Place order”.

Your sweet tooth will be happy here

As you might expect with a small business like Stonehouse Bakery, there isn't a pile of customer feedback to consider on this cake club - but what you'll find is unfailingly positive. Even when traveling a few days in the mail, people say that these pound cakes taste like they're fresh from the oven. You can also check out the bakery's posts on social media and actually see some of those cakes... fresh from the oven. We love how one customer likened it to eating a tomato from the grocery store and then comparing it with one straight from the garden: absolutely no contest which one tastes better.

Perfect for pound cake fans

Stonehouse Bakery is one of our newest favorites among cake clubs. True, you'll have to choose a different company if you want desserts that are more like a birthday cake or coffee cake, but this one should be a top pick if the three Fs - freshness, flavor, flexibility - are what matter most to you. Whether for yourself or for someone you love, Stonehouse Bakery's Pound Cake of the Month Club will be a delight.

Daisy Cakes

• Variety of cakes included
• 16-20 servings per delivery
• Priced from $67.50 to $75 per month, depending on subscription length
• Shipping is included in the price
• Arrives frozen
• Can choose a cake club lasting 3, 6, or 12 months
• Pay in full upfront (no pay-as-you-go)
• You choose which flavors to receive (3- and 6-month plans only)
• Easy to send as a gift
• Fun newsletter included
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

At Daisy Cakes, customers can savor the taste of true Southern hospitality with every bite of their expertly handcrafted cakes. The family-owned bakery, located in South Carolina, takes pride in using only the freshest and finest quality ingredients in their cakes, ensuring that each cake is made with love and care. Unlike supermarket desserts that feel mass-produced and impersonal, Daisy Cakes delivers a homemade, artisanal feel that is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. From start to finish, Daisy Cakes is committed to providing exceptional quality and professionalism that you can trust.

Flavors correspond to specific months

Daisy Cakes is set up a little differently than some of the cake clubs we reviewed. Let's say you choose a three-month membership. You'll be asked to look at their flavor schedule and choose the three options you like best - but those will each correspond to a particular month. So, for example, if you really love Pumpkin Pound Cake, that only comes in November, while Florida Key Lime Pound Cake is sent just in May. It's nice to know you won't be stuck with a cake flavor you can't stand, but it does make for kind of an irregular delivery schedule if you're choosing by what you like. Or, if you sign up for a full year of cakes, your only decision is which month you'd prefer that your deliveries begin.

Special requests welcome

Another nice touch at Daisy Cakes is their ability to accommodate special requests. Maybe you absolutely can't stand sprinkles or you'd like to see if the Banana Walnut Pound Cake in January could be made without nuts. Just put that information on your order notes or give them a call and they'll do their best to accommodate your needs.

Pay up to $75/month but get more for your money

Now, that "just like Grandma's” taste doesn't come cheap. Daisy Cakes' Cake of the Month Club is the most expensive in our review at $67.50 to $75 per month, depending on the length of the membership. You'll have to pay upfront: $225 for three months, $438 for six months, and a whopping $810 for a full year. At least the shipping is included. And, bear in mind that these desserts serve twice as many as most rival cake clubs, with up to 20 servings in each treat.

This cake club can be sent to Alaska and Hawaii

This is also one of the only cake clubs we've found that delivers to all 50 states - no exclusions for Alaska and Hawaii. Your Daisy Cake arrives frozen and can be stored in your freezer, or thaw for six hours and it'll be ready to serve.

Well-deserved positive reputation

Daisy Cakes has an outstanding reputation. The company was even seen on the TV show Shark Tank. The BBB gives the bakery an "A+” and accreditation, and there were no complaints filed there - and that lines up with everything you'll see on Daisy Cakes' social media channels, which have thousands of followers and enthusiastic supporters (and lots of pretty cake pictures).

Great choice among cake clubs

While Daisy Cakes' cake club might be out of range budget-wise for some people's sweet tooth, it's worth the luxury price to get such lovingly-crafted desserts on the regular. For a taste of Southern charm, look no further than Daisy Cakes.

Luscious Little Desserts

• Variety of pound cakes included
• Choose between medium (8-10 servings) and large (16-20 servings)
• Memberships can be for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
• Priced from $125 / $171 (medium/large) for a 3-month plan up to $468 / $664 for a 12-month plan
• Get the 13th month free with a 12-month subscription
• Shipping is included in the monthly price
• Shipped frozen, stays fresh for up to 10 days or in the freezer up to 3 months

Have your cake and eat it too? Absolutely yes, if you'd like to support a small business that's certified as both minority- and woman-owned - all while getting pound cakes based on decades-old favorite recipes from the South. Diana Scott-Sho's Luscious Little Desserts company offers a cake club that's guaranteed to have you slicing off "just one more little piece” every month.

Pound cake flavors by the month

While every dessert you'll receive here is pound cake, you'll experience a great variety of flavors. It's all according to a set calendar:

• January: Rum Raisin
• February: Triple Chocolate
• March: Southern Comfort
• April: Coconut
• May: Banana
• June: Lemon
• July: Country
• August: Peach
• September: Apple Spice
• October: Butter Pecan
• November: Sweet Potato
• December: Eggnog

Medium or large?

So, there's no need to choose flavors with this cake club, but you will need to decide how many servings you'd like each pound cake to have: the Medium membership delivers desserts that serve 8-10, while the Large membership serves 16-20.

Get an extra month with one-year cake club subscriptions

No, these pound cakes aren't cheap, but you definitely get the quality and taste you pay for with Luscious Little Desserts. If you choose the Medium-size pound cake club, you'll pay $125 for a three-month plan, $244 for a six-month plan, $351 for a nine-month plan, and $468 for a full year. Bumping up to the Large-size pound cake club, you've got the same lengths to choose from (3-6-9-12 months), and those are priced at $171, $332, $498, and $664, respectively. Fortunately, shipping is included with all pound cake club plans here. And one other nice little perk: if you buy a 12-month cake club subscription here, you'll get an extra one (the 13th month) for free. Twist your arm, right?

No obvious gift-giving features

There's not really any gift-giving options here - no monthly newsletter, no scheduling desserts to arrive way in advance, that sort of thing. But, this is a small business, and if you've got a special request, it can't hurt to ask. It's easy to reach someone via phone, email, or on any of Luscious Little Desserts' social media channels (and that last one is a great way to get to know this company better).

Definitely try the sweet potato pound cake

Just peek at the customer reviews for the cakes here and you'll see why the cake club is so popular. Lots of people specifically mention the sweet potato pound cake, with one person even jokingly calling it the "gateway drug” to the rest of the flavors in the rotation (you may even want to order it as a one-off purchase if you don't want to wait until November to get it in your club delivery).

Check out this cake club if pound cake is your fave

If you're a big fan of pound cake, Luscious Little Desserts wants to help you satisfy your sweet tooth every month with their delicious subscription. These cakes are made with lots of love and plenty of fresh, high quality ingredients, and you can choose between two sizes to make sure everyone gets a slice (or two... or three...). You're sure to be impressed with the just-like-home taste - just don't forget to save a piece for us.

Goldbelly

• Variety of cakes included
• 8-12 servings per delivery
• $74.95 per month
• Shipping is included
• Can choose a cake club lasting 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
• Pay upfront in full or use Klarna for interest-free installments

Goldbelly is a delivery service that brings unique, mouthwatering, and just plain fun cakes from some of the best bakeries in the country straight to your door. They started out in 2013 as an online marketplace for selecting and delivering yummy regional and artisanal foods. Goldbelly cherry-picks only the best of the best for their customers. When you check out their website, you can't help but feel the festive vibe - almost as awesome as the cakes themselves.

Take a taste journey without leaving home

Feeling a hankering for a Southern Coconut Cake from Sugaree's in Mississippi? Or maybe you're in the mood for a classic Tiramisu from NYC's classic Ferrara Bakery? What about a sweet and simple Huckleberry Cheesecake from Elle's Belles? With Goldbelly, you can have all these heavenly desserts and more from across the country. Their delivery options include traditional cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and even crispy cakes, offering a variety of scrumptious treats with every shipment.

$75/month for just 8-12 servings of cake, FYI

You can have your Goldbelly cake club last for three, six, nine, or twelve months. No matter which one you choose, you'll pay $74.95 per month (delivery is included in the price). That's twice as much as some of the cake subscriptions we evaluated, while still offering the same number of servings (8-12). Fortunately, Goldbelly allows you to use Klarna if you'd rather pay for your membership in installments instead of upfront.

Not the most intuitive for gift-giving

Gift-giving is a possibility here: just put your recipient's info in as you fill out the checkout page: But, be aware that they'll get the announcement right away and that might spoil a surprise if you're having the cake club sent at a later time. Goldbelly recommends that you put your email address in the recipient field, and then you can forward or print the announcement later. That's not quite as smooth and gifting-friendly as some of Goldbelly's rivals, but it is what it is.

Company has plenty of fans

Goldbelly is known for their trendy, modern style, and professional approach that's infused with personality. With numerous positive reviews and a ton of press coverage, it's clear that they are doing something right. Goldbelly is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has over 10,000 five-star customer ratings (averaging 4.7 out of 5 total) on Trustpilot.

Not necessarily the most for your money

However, Goldbelly's prices are quite steep - and that's not always a possibility. If their product quality was notably better than their competitors, then maybe their prices would be justifiable. However, we believe there are other outstanding options that won't put such a dent in your wallet. If you're looking to splurge, then Goldbelly's cake club is a great option. But if you're looking for high-quality products at a fair price, you might find a better alternative higher up on our list.

Pemberton Farms

• Variety of coffee cakes included
• Priced from $124.95 for a 3-month subscription up to $469.95 for a 12-month subscription
• Shipping is included at no extra cost
• Memberships can last 3, 6, 9, or 12 months

In 1930, the Pemberton Farms Marketplace originated as a family-owned retail store for fruits and vegetables in Massachusetts. As of today, the business has transformed into a specialty grocery store, garden center, and provider of high-quality gifts. One such gift is Pemberton Farms' Coffee Cake of the Month Club.

Just coffee cake

What will you get with this cake club? Pemberton Farms is noticeably light on details. Here's what you can know for sure: all of the cakes you'll get with this membership are, as you'd guess from the name, coffee cakes. That means no pound cake, no birthday-type cake, just coffee cakes typically in a Bundt style.

Several cake club lengths to choose from

Memberships here can last for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. When you set up your membership, you'll choose which month you'd like the deliveries to start. The Coffee Cake of the Month Club will cost you $124.95 for a 3-month plan, $239.95 for a 6-month plan, $349.95 for a 9-month plan, and $469.95 for a full year. Shipping is included in those prices, though deliveries can only be made within the continental US.

More information, please?

...and that's about all you'll know in advance. Which flavors can you expect? How many servings are in each coffee cake? Is it a set schedule (Pumpkin Coffee Cake every November, Peach Coffee Cake every June) or random? Are they seasonal? These are all terrific questions that many cake clubs are happy to answer, but Pemberton Farms seems to prefer a little mystery in theirs.

Online ordering was broken

The mystery deepened when we went to add the cake club to our online cart: it just wouldn't work. We reached out to Pemberton Farms' customer service and were pleased to get a prompt response. Unfortunately there was no way to actually start a cake membership online at the time of this review, but the customer support rep was more than happy to take our order over the phone.

Typically coffee cakes

He also explained that typically they just choose coffee cakes from among the flavors listed in the general store (Lemon Burst, Applicious Walnut, Blueberry Blizzard, Triple Chocolate, Cinnamon Walnut, and Caramel Apple Harvest) with no repeats, but we're not sure how that's possible with a 12-month membership and only six flavors in the lineup. But, if you decide to go with Pemberton Farms and the online order process still isn't working, you can reach out via phone and they'll actually let you specify which flavor you'd like to start with.

Good reputation

The majority of reviews for Pemberton Farms are centered around their physical grocery store rather than their shippable products, such as their Coffee Cake Club. Customers generally give high praise to this retailer, whether shopping in-store or receiving deliveries. They often say that they appreciate the family-owned atmosphere that pervades everything sold there.

We wish there were more customer reviews

We would like to see more reviews specifically focused on the cake club. There was just one on the club's page on the Pemberton Farms website (dated all the way back in 2016) - but we're not overly concerned about the quality of the cakes you'll get here or the customer service aspect of the membership. The company enjoys an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and is very active on social media. You should have no trouble reaching a representative if you have questions about the club or have issues with any deliveries.

Good cake but difficult-to-use website

While Pemberton Farms has a lot of room for improvement in their online shopping experience, we give them points for having responsive customer service and for a solid reputation as a small business. You're probably going to have to jump through a few extra hoops to set up your cake club here, so we suggest looking at some of our higher-ranked options and circle back to Pemberton Farms if you don't find what you need there.

Flying Noodle

• Variety of cakes included
• 8-12 servings per delivery
• Priced from $35.95 to $37.95 per month, depending on subscription length
• Shipping is included in the price
• Can choose a cake club lasting 3, 6, 12 months or seasonal (every 4 months)
• Pay in full upfront (no pay-as-you-go)
• Easy to send as a gift
• Fun newsletter included
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

For over 25 years, Flying Noodle has been providing Italian gourmet gifts to customers. They offer a variety of monthly clubs, which include wine and beer, as well as chocolate and cake options.

They're still in business

When you first visit the Flying Noodle site, you might wonder if this company is still in business. The URL for the Cake Club page wasn't secure the last time we visited, and the site didn't seem to have been updated since our previous review. Fortunately, the toll-free number connected us with a representative right away - so, never fear, despite the outdated website (and the seemingly dead social media pages for Flying Noodle), the company is still up and running.

You'll know what you're getting ahead of time

We were glad to get our questions answered, since the Cake of the Month Club page doesn't go into a ton of detail. One important piece of information you'll want to know is that you (or your recipient) will be told in advance what the month's flavor will be - and if it's something you really don't like (or you're allergic to), it's no problem to give Flying Noodle a call, ask them to skip that particular delivery, and add another shipment on to the end of your membership.

Several club lengths plus monthly or bi-monthly options

You've got four club options with Flying Noodle: three months for $113.85, six months for $221.70, Seasonal (every three months) for $151.80, and twelve months for $431.40. Shipping is included on every cake subscription at no extra charge. You can also opt to have your club stretched out a bit by choosing every other month as the shipping frequency.

Solid gift-giving features

Gift-giving is pretty easy with Flying Noodle's Cake of the Month Club. Click the button that indicates you're buying it as a gift, choose the month that you want deliveries to start (they'll always come during the last week of the month), and decide how you'd like a gift card to be sent, if any (print on your computer, sent by mail or email, or receive a blank card you can fill out and give in person).

Would benefit from more customer feedback

It would have been really helpful to have more details about the Cake of the Month Club from Flying Noodle, as there isn't much feedback available on it. Even the testimonials on the Flying Noodle store aren't specific to this membership, which makes it hard to know what to expect. It's worth mentioning that the Better Business Bureau gave Flying Noodle a "B-" rating for not responding to a complaint. While it's not a huge issue, it's definitely not doing them any favors.

Good but not really great

Of course, it's good to know that Flying Noodle offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee and that you can cancel your subscription and receive a refund for any remaining months. But, in all honesty, these benefits don't quite make up for the ways in which this cake subscription falls behind its competitors. Be sure to look at our higher-ranking cake clubs before settling for Flying Noodle's.

Jarva Cakes

• 4 single-serving flavors of lava cake in every delivery
• Must add water and microwave to serve
• Shelf-stable
• $69.95 + $18 shipping for a 3-month subscription

What is a Jarva Cake? Think "single serving lava cakes” and you'll have the idea. This mom-and-pop business is based in Maine and can be found at plenty of farmers' markets and craft fairs, but you can get all the goodness delivered right to your doorstep.

Four surprise flavors every month

You can always place a one-off order for all the Jarva Cakes you'd like, but if you'd prefer to have them show up like clockwork, the Lava Cake club might get your attention. Each month, you'll get four surprise flavors, all shelf-stable and ready for you to microwave after adding water. These are all single-serving containers, so don't expect a big ready-made cake that you can share at your next church potluck. Lava Cake club members are also the first to get any newly-released seasonal flavors.

A little spendy for four servings of cake

What will this cake club cost? It's a little on the expensive side, especially given that you only receive four servings of cake in each shipment: $69.95 for a three-month subscription, plus a one-time shipping fee of $18.

Website could use a refresh

The Jarva Cakes website could use a little updating: the site copyright was over 10 years old at the time of this review, and it's not the most intuitive online store we've ever seen. For example, the description of the Lava Cake Club says that it's available in 3- or 6-month subscriptions, but the "Shop” button takes you to a page that only shows the shorter membership term, plus a la carte purchase options.

Limited but very positive reviews

There's not a ton of buzz for this small business, though we were pleased to see a couple dozen reviews on Jarva Cakes' Facebook page. People praise the quality of these microwave cakes and mention flavors like Spice Cake, Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry, and Mint.

Not for everyone but worth trying

At the end of the day, Jarva Cakes' Lava Cake Club will be a perfect fit for some customers: think hungry college kids who don't have a lot of freezer space, diet-conscious people who don't want the temptation of a huge dessert sitting on the counter, you get the idea. And there's no question that these cakes-in-a-cup taste far better than anything similar you might find on the shelf at your local supermarket. But, this cake club isn't really robust enough to give our top choices any kind of competition. And that's okay: Jarva Cakes can keep being a cute little business that does one thing really well.

The Black Cake Company

• 4 cake clubs to choose from
• Strong emphasis on Caribbean flavors
• Priced from $17.50 to $46.50 per month (shipping included)

Angela Price, a Barbadian native, founded The Black Cake Company in 1987 to share the cultural heritage surrounding traditional fruit cakes from the Caribbean region. The company started by selling Black Cakes and has since expanded to include other gourmet cake offerings. The business gained worldwide popularity through catalogs and Black Expos, and started selling online in 1996. The company focuses on being consistent and offering quality service while giving back to the community.

What is black cake?

In case you're not familiar with black cake, here's a short primer. The Caribbean Rum Cake, also known as Caribbean Fruit Cake, can also be referred to as "Black Cake" due to the addition of burnt sugar. Depending on the island, this cake may also be known as Christmas Pudding, Great Cake, Wedding Cake, Grooms Cake, or Fruit Cake. It is often associated with celebratory occasions and represents the culture and essence of the Caribbean people. Regardless of the name, this cake remains a beloved part of Caribbean traditions.

Monthly charges - but not always monthly cakes

The pricing structure at The Black Cake Company can be a little confusing. All of the cake clubs have a per-month price... but not all of them actually have a delivery each and every month. Yes, that means that you're spreading out the cost over a full year for the deliveries you'll be getting; just don't send off an angry email to the business thinking you've been cheated out of a cake in the off months.

4 cake club options

Here are the four options for cake clubs:

• Rum Cake Lover: you'll pay $17.50 a month and get deliveries in February, April, May, June, and December. They'll include rum cake miniatures, a one-pound coconut rum cake, a one-pound banana rum cake, chocolate rum cake miniatures, and a one-pound original rum cake.
• Black Cake Lover: at $21/month, you can expect deliveries in the same months as the Rum Cake plan. But, of course, your selections will be different: February's will have eight 3-oz black cake hearts, April's will have a two-pound black cake, May will have a 1.5-pound black cake, June will have five 4-oz black cake miniatures, and December comes with a big three-pound black cake.
• Holiday Program: pay $32.50/month and get your favorite cakes for every major holiday. This includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day (though we're not sure we'd call all of those "major” holidays...). Selections include several types of black cake, brown cake, Dundee cake, and German chocolate cake.
• Monthly Program: finally, an option if you want treats every month like most cake clubs. You'll pay $46.50/month and get a full year of deliveries. They'll include black cake and miniatures, Dundee cake and miniatures, rum cake, German chocolate cake, and several loaf-style cakes.

Bring the taste of the Caribbean right to you

As you can see, if you've been missing the flavor of the islands and want to make your holidays - or your everydays - taste like home, this could be the cake club you've been wishing for but never knew it existed.

Great company and cake - but won't appeal to everyone

On the other hand, his cake club is definitely niche: if you're looking for something that's going to deliver pound cake, coffee cake, or anything a little more traditionally American, The Black Cake Company isn't going to provide it. For that reason, this cake club gets a "just average” three-star rating here - not because it's not a fantastic option in itself, but because it may have limited appeal to anyone that's not already a fan of the regional specialties offered here.