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Bakery · Pittsburgh, PA

Prantl's Bakery Menu 2026: Burnt Almond Torte, Cakes & Pittsburgh Classics

Full Prantl's Bakery menu guide for 2026 — every category of cake, pastry, and cookie from Pittsburgh's bakery institution since 1902. Best known for the legendary burnt almond torte, Prantl's also produces custom cakes, classic pastries, an extensive cookie selection, and seasonal specialties. Below: the full menu, signature item spotlights, ordering tips, and common questions answered.

Founded 1902Pittsburgh institutionFamous burnt almond torteCustom & wedding cakesMultiple Pittsburgh locations
Sample · $$

Signature items

Burnt Almond TortePittsburgh's icon
Layer CakesCustom orders available
Butter CookiesClassic & seasonal
Eclairs & Cream PuffsPastry case staples
Holiday SpecialtiesStollen, Springerle & more
Jump to: The burnt almond torte Full menu Custom & wedding cakes Seasonal specialties Ordering tips Related bakeries FAQ
Pittsburgh's most famous bakery item

The Burnt Almond Torte — Prantl's signature since 1902

The burnt almond torte is what put Prantl's Bakery on the map and kept it there for over 120 years. No other item in Pittsburgh's food landscape is more closely associated with a single bakery.

What is the burnt almond torte?

The burnt almond torte is built from layers of tender yellow cake filled with vanilla custard cream. The entire cake is then encrusted with a thick layer of caramelized almonds — the "burnt" refers to the deep amber color of the caramelization, not any bitterness. The result is a contrast of soft, creamy interior against the crunchy, slightly bitter-sweet almond shell.

It is sold whole in several sizes and as individual slices at the bakery counter. A chocolate variant (chocolate cake layers) is also available. The torte is the go-to Pittsburgh gift: locals box it up and carry it when visiting family out of state, and Prantl's has historically offered shipping for exactly this reason.

If you visit Pittsburgh and visit only one bakery, this is the one — and this is the item.

  • Layers: Tender yellow butter cake
  • Fill: Vanilla custard cream
  • Crust: Caramelized burnt almonds
  • Sizes: Whole cake (multiple sizes) + single slice
  • Variant: Chocolate Burnt Almond Torte
  • Shipping: Available seasonally — check prantlsbakery.com
Quick answers

Common Prantl's Bakery questions, answered

The four things people most often ask about Prantl's Bakery — answered in one glance.

Most famous item
Burnt Almond Torte

Pittsburgh's defining bakery item since 1902. Custard-filled cake encased in caramelized burnt almonds.

Best for gifting
Burnt Almond Torte (boxed)

The go-to Pittsburgh gift — Prantl's has offered shipping for out-of-town recipients.

For celebrations
Custom Layer Cake

Birthday, anniversary, and wedding cakes made to order with your choice of flavors and decorations.

Everyday treat
Butter Cookies or Slice of Torte

Pick up a slice of the torte or a bag of butter cookies at the bakery counter any day they're open.

Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All Prantl's Bakery menu categories.

The full menu

Every category at Prantl's Bakery

All menu categories and items below. Prantl's is a traditional European-style bakery — the menu reflects the seasons and in-store availability may vary day to day.

About pricing. Prantl's Bakery does not publish a price list online. Prices for all items — tortes, cakes, cookies, and pastries — vary by size and are best confirmed by visiting a Prantl's location or contacting the bakery directly at prantlsbakery.com. We do not display unverified prices.
Custom & wedding cakes

Ordering a custom cake from Prantl's Bakery

Prantl's has been making custom celebration cakes for Pittsburgh families for generations. Here's what to know before you order.

Plan ahead

Order with lead time

Custom and decorated cakes require advance notice — typically one to two weeks minimum for standard orders, longer for complex wedding cakes or large quantities. Contact the bakery as early as possible for holiday windows (Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day) when demand is highest.

Flavors

Choose your cake and fill

Prantl's offers multiple cake flavors (yellow butter, chocolate, carrot, red velvet, and others) with various filling options including buttercream, ganache, custard cream, and cream cheese frosting. The burnt almond torte can also be ordered in custom sizes for large gatherings.

Decoration

Custom designs available

From simple inscription cakes to elaborately decorated tiered wedding cakes, Prantl's decorators work with customers to create the right look. Photos and inspiration boards are helpful to bring to your consultation.

Weddings

A Pittsburgh wedding tradition

A Prantl's wedding cake is a Pittsburgh rite of passage for many families. The bakery has been providing wedding cakes for Pittsburgh couples for over a century — the burnt almond torte is sometimes incorporated as a groom's cake or supplemental dessert alongside a traditional tiered wedding cake.

Pickup

In-store pickup only

Custom cakes are typically available for in-store pickup at the agreed-upon location. Confirm availability and any delivery options directly with the bakery when placing your order.

Contact

How to order

Visit prantlsbakery.com for current contact information, location hours, and any online ordering options. In-person visits to the bakery remain the most reliable way to consult and place a custom order.

Most notable

Prantl's Bakery highlights

The six items and categories that define the Prantl's experience — what to order on a first visit or ship as a Pittsburgh gift.

  1. 1Burnt Almond TorteThe Pittsburgh signature — caramelized almond crust over custard and cake layers.See bakery
  2. 2Chocolate Burnt Almond TorteChocolate variation of the flagship torte.See bakery
  3. 3Custom Decorated CakesMade-to-order for birthdays, weddings, and special events.By order
  4. 4Butter CookiesPrantl's classic pressed butter cookies, sold by the dozen.See bakery
  5. 5EclairsChoux pastry with custard cream and chocolate glaze.See bakery
  6. 6Stollen (Christmas)German holiday bread — a Prantl's seasonal tradition.Seasonal
Signature spotlight

What makes Prantl's Bakery worth a visit

Four reasons locals and visitors seek out Prantl's over 120 years after it opened.

Since 1902

Over 120 years of Pittsburgh baking

Prantl's was founded in 1902 — before the Pittsburgh Steelers, before Pittsburgh's three rivers were cleaned up, before most of the landmarks the city is known for today. It has outlasted economic depressions, world wars, the collapse of Pittsburgh's steel industry, and the rise and fall of countless restaurants around it. That longevity is its own statement.

Pittsburgh culture

The burnt almond torte as Pittsburgh identity

Ask any Pittsburgh native what food they miss most after moving away, and the burnt almond torte comes up alongside Primanti Brothers sandwiches and Heinz ketchup. It is a food that functions as a symbol — of Pittsburgh's working-class European immigrant heritage, of neighborhood bakeries that outlasted chains, of things made the same way for a very long time because they work.

European tradition

Old-world baking in a modern city

The seasonal specialties — Stollen at Christmas, Springerle cookies, buttercream layer cakes, hand-decorated sugar cookies — reflect Prantl's roots in German and European baking traditions that arrived in Pittsburgh with immigrant communities in the early 20th century. The bakery has maintained these traditions largely unchanged.

Special occasions

The Pittsburgh bakery for milestones

Generations of Pittsburgh families have marked weddings, birthdays, graduations, and holidays with Prantl's cakes. For many Pittsburgh families, there is no other option for a wedding cake or a significant birthday. That kind of generational loyalty is unusual in any business, let alone a bakery.

Ordering tips

How to get the most out of Prantl's Bakery

First visit

Start with a torte slice

On a first visit, buy a single slice of the burnt almond torte at the counter before committing to a whole cake. The slice lets you experience the famous caramelized almond crust and custard layers before ordering by size.

Gift idea

Ship the torte

Prantl's has offered shipping for the burnt almond torte — making it the ideal Pittsburgh gift for former Pittsburghers. Check prantlsbakery.com for current shipping availability and seasonal windows.

Holidays

Order early for holidays

Christmas (Stollen, Springerle), Easter (decorated cookies), Mother's Day, and Thanksgiving are the bakery's busiest windows. Custom cake and holiday item orders should be placed weeks in advance for guaranteed availability.

Cookies

Buy a cookie box

The butter cookie and assorted cookie boxes make excellent gifts and travel well. They're a lower-commitment introduction to Prantl's for someone who hasn't tried the torte yet — and a reliable addition to any holiday cookie spread.

Custom cakes

Plan 2+ weeks out

For any custom or decorated cake, contact Prantl's at least two weeks in advance. For wedding cakes, begin the conversation months ahead of the event date to allow for design consultations and scheduling.

Locations

Confirm hours before visiting

Prantl's operates multiple Pittsburgh-area locations, and hours can vary by location and season. Check prantlsbakery.com before making a trip — especially for holiday closures or early closing times.

About Prantl's Bakery

Pittsburgh's bakery institution since 1902.

Prantl's Bakery was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1902, making it one of the oldest continuously operating bakeries in the American Midwest and one of the oldest businesses of any kind in Pittsburgh. The bakery built its reputation on European baking traditions brought to Pittsburgh by immigrant communities in the early 20th century — layer cakes, tortes, decorated cookies, and holiday specialties that reflected the city's German and Central European heritage.

The burnt almond torte became the item that transcended the bakery itself. Today Prantl's is a Pittsburgh cultural institution as much as a bakery — referenced in regional media, sought out by Pittsburgh expats, and carried as a gift by Pittsburghers visiting family elsewhere in the country. Multiple Pittsburgh-area locations serve the region. The formula, more than 120 years in, has not changed.

1902Founded
120+Years in Pittsburgh
MultiPittsburgh locations
1Legendary torte
Common questions

Prantl's Bakery — frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about Prantl's Bakery, the burnt almond torte, custom cakes, and visiting Pittsburgh's oldest bakery.

What is the burnt almond torte at Prantl's Bakery?

The burnt almond torte is Prantl's most famous creation — and arguably Pittsburgh's most iconic bakery item. It consists of layers of tender yellow cake filled with custard cream, all encased in a coating of caramelized, crunchy burnt almonds. The torte has been a Pittsburgh tradition for generations, and Prantl's is the definitive source. It is available as a whole cake in multiple sizes and as individual slices at the bakery counter.

How long has Prantl's Bakery been in Pittsburgh?

Prantl's Bakery was founded in 1902, making it one of Pittsburgh's oldest continuously operating bakeries. It has been a fixture of Pittsburgh's food culture for over 120 years, serving generations of Pittsburgh families for birthdays, weddings, holidays, and everyday treats. The bakery's reputation rests almost entirely on the burnt almond torte, which has become a Pittsburgh symbol recognized well beyond Pennsylvania.

Where are Prantl's Bakery locations in Pittsburgh?

Prantl's Bakery operates multiple locations in the Pittsburgh area. Location hours and addresses are listed on prantlsbakery.com. The bakery has historically maintained a presence in Shadyside and other Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Confirm current locations and hours directly with the bakery, as they can change seasonally.

Can I order a custom cake from Prantl's Bakery?

Yes. Prantl's Bakery takes custom cake orders for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other special occasions. You can select flavors, fillings, and decorations. Lead time is required — it's best to place orders at least one to two weeks in advance for large or elaborately decorated cakes. Contact the bakery directly via prantlsbakery.com for current ordering procedures.

Does Prantl's Bakery ship the burnt almond torte?

Prantl's has offered shipping for the burnt almond torte in the past, making it a popular gift for Pittsburgh expats. Availability of shipping may vary by season and current capacity. Check prantlsbakery.com for the most current shipping information, as this changes. In-store pickup remains the most reliable way to get a fresh torte.

What other pastries and cakes does Prantl's Bakery sell besides the torte?

Beyond the burnt almond torte, Prantl's carries a full range of bakery items: layer cakes (chocolate, yellow, carrot, red velvet, strawberry shortcake), decorated and custom cakes for all occasions, an extensive cookie selection (butter cookies, spritz, sugar cookies, chocolate chip), and classic pastries including eclairs, cream puffs, napoleons, and cannoli. Seasonal items include Stollen at Christmas, Springerle cookies, Easter cookies, and pumpkin roll in autumn.

Are Prantl's Bakery prices listed online?

Prantl's Bakery does not publish a comprehensive price list online. Pricing for cakes, tortes, and custom orders varies based on size, decoration complexity, and seasonal availability. The most accurate pricing is obtained by visiting a Prantl's location in person or by calling or emailing the bakery directly. Check prantlsbakery.com for contact information.

What makes Prantl's Bakery a Pittsburgh landmark?

Prantl's has been in operation since 1902 — over 120 years — making it one of the city's oldest businesses of any kind. The burnt almond torte became a Pittsburgh cultural touchstone: it shows up at Pittsburgh weddings, birthdays, and holidays; it's taken by Pittsburgh natives as a gift when visiting other cities; and it has been featured in regional and national food media. The bakery's longevity and single-item fame make it one of the most recognizable food institutions in Pittsburgh alongside Primanti Brothers and Heinz.

Does Prantl's Bakery offer gluten-free options?

Prantl's is a traditional European-style bakery; gluten is present throughout the kitchen in flour-based cakes, pastries, and cookies. Gluten-free options are not a standard part of the Prantl's menu. If you have a serious gluten allergy or celiac disease, contact the bakery directly to discuss cross-contact risk before ordering. For most customers with dietary restrictions, the safest path is to call the bakery and ask about current offerings.

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