Letterbox bakes

Finding a box of freshly baked cakes on your doorstep is a guaranteed mood-booster. We sniffed out five of the best cake delivery services, so you can treat a friend (or yourself) to a consignment of carb-based bliss  

Wild Flour Cake Company, Bath (pictured top)

Wild Flour’s first bakes were made in founder Jessica’s Somerset kitchen using baking tins inherited from her grandmother. Five years later, the business is blooming, and the baking’s done in roomier premises on the outskirts of Bath, from where it supplies indie cafes and farm shops with beautiful cakes made from wholesome ingredients.

A new home delivery service (live from November 16) means you can get Wild Flour favourites sent direct to your door. Choose between traybakes such as banana sponge smothered in a fruity peanut butter glaze; traditional round cakes in non-traditional flavour combos such as Beetroot, Orange and Ginger; and muffins like the almost-too-pretty-to eat Red Velvet Rose Muffin.

Must try: banana sponge smothered in a fruity peanut butter glaze.

Exploding Bakery, Exeter  

Exploding Bakery’s UK followers squealed with excitement when the Exeter indie launched its letterbox-friendly brownie box in October 2020. Thanks to its location next to the city’s Central Station, the bakery has amassed fans from across the nation who’ve fallen for its homemade cakes and quirky charm. And now they (and you) can get their hands on the good stuff without hopping on a train.

There are 12 flavours to choose from which are all vegan and gluten-free. Delivered in bright and beautifully designed boxes the cakes make a gorgeous gift and, if you decide to treat yourself, you can easily justify the self-indulgence by reminding yourself of the bakery’s eco credentials: the boxes are plastic free, 20 per cent of profits go to good causes and the business is a member of 1% For The Planet.

Must try: dangerously good Blood Orange Brownie studded with nuggets of Jaffa-Cakey goodness.

Da Bara Bakery, Cornwall

The team at Da Bara Bakery have been crafting their cult cinnamon buns for just short of a decade, and they’re one of our favourite things – especially now you can get them by post.

Slathered with a rich cinnamon-infused butter, rolled into a signature rose shape, baked until golden and then showered with cinnamon-spiked sugar, the bun-croissant hybrid is a triumph. 

The Da Bara bakers recommend reviving the buns in the oven for five minutes to rejuvenate the spring in the dough and crisp the crust – if you can stop yourself from gobbling one as soon as you’ve ripped the package from the delivery driver’s hands.

Must try: sample more carby delights from Da Bara via its Every Day or Breakfast Box.

Make Da Bara’s cinnamon buns at home – get the recipe here.

Honeybuns, Dorset

Emma Goss-Custard started Honeybuns in 1998, delivering cakes to cafes and delis across Oxford by bike. The bakery HQ is now based at an old dairy farm in the Dorset countryside and crafts an award-winning range of gluten-free traybakes and cake slices.

Order a tray of your favourite cake or opt for one of the giftboxes which include a selection of delicious goodies. Vegans aren’t left out of the fun either – the vegan gift tin includes a Millionaire’s Slice, Oaty Raspberry Bar, Oaty Dark Choc Bar and Dark Chocolate Brownie.

Must try: the zesty Apple Crumble Traybake with a cashew and date base.

ANNA Cake Couture, Bristol

Not strictly a letterbox bake but too beautiful to miss, ANNA Cake Couture’s beautiful creations are worth making the pilgrimage to Bristol to pick up in person. The Clifton cafe has earned a cult online following for its pastel-hued macarons, chunky NYC-style cookies, beautifully dressed cupcakes and all-out gorgeous occasion cakes.

When lockdown restrictions don’t apply, sit in and enjoy your pick of the selection with a flawless flat white, but until then, pre-order online and collect your goodies from the takeaway set-up.

Must try: the sizeable red velvet cookie studded with chunks of white chocolate.