Business Details
Your Niagara-on-the-Lake Patisserie & Bakery
Willow Cakes & Pastries is a European-inspired patisserie and bakery located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Founded by award-winning pastry chef Catherine O'Donnell, our establishment combines artisanal craftsmanship with locally sourced ingredients to create exceptional baked goods, desserts, and custom-designed cakes for weddings and special occasions. With decades of combined experience from our culinary team, including Pastry Judge A titleholder Catherine O'Donnell and European-trained chef Neils Lunds, we offer daily fresh breads, gourmet desserts, savory items, and specialty beverages in a welcoming environment.Our commitment to quality is evident in every product, from our signature multi-tier wedding cakes to our handcrafted chocolates and seasonal pastries. We pride ourselves on being an integral part of the local community while maintaining international standards of excellence in pastry arts education through partnerships with institutions like Niagara College.
Services
Custom Wedding Cakes
Artisan Breads
Gourmet Desserts
Catering Services
Cookie Decorating Classes
Chocolate Confections
Seasonal Pastries
Beverage Service
Bakery Tours
Pastry Education Programs
Highlights and features
- We offer custom-designed cakes for all occasions with 24-hour notice availability
- Our team includes award-winning pastry chefs with international experience
- We use only the finest, locally-sourced ingredients in all our baked goods
- We provide comprehensive catering services for weddings and special events
- We maintain partnerships with culinary institutions for ongoing pastry arts education
Services
Custom Wedding Cakes
Willow Cakes specializes in creating show-stopping custom wedding cakes with intricate designs and premium ingredients. Our team offers consultations three months in advance to ensure perfect execution. We provide tiered cakes ranging from 1 to 5 tiers, with options for personalized decorations and flavor combinations that reflect each couple's unique style and preferences.
Artisan Breads
Our daily artisan breads feature traditional and contemporary recipes using high-quality ingredients. Led by bread baker Megumu Gumi Kawarada, we produce a variety including sourdoughs, baguettes, specialty rolls, and seasonal varieties. Each loaf combines technical precision with creative flair, ensuring both exceptional taste and visual appeal for our customers.
Gourmet Desserts
The dessert menu showcases our pastry chefs' creativity with items like mousse cakes, tarts, cheesecakes, and seasonal specialties. Carol Giang, our assistant pastry chef, leads production of both individual desserts and large custom orders. All desserts use premium chocolate, fresh fruits, and house-made components to guarantee exceptional quality and flavor.
Catering Services
We provide comprehensive catering for weddings and special events featuring custom cake displays, savory platters, and dessert buffets. Our team creates elaborate food presentations combining sweet and savory elements. With experience serving major local events, we ensure seamless execution from initial consultation to final delivery and presentation at your venue.
Pastry Education Programs
As an extension of Catherine O'Donnell's role as a pastry professor, we offer hands-on learning experiences in our professional kitchen. The programs combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills in cake decorating, chocolate work, and pastry techniques. Participants learn from experienced chefs using industry-standard equipment and methods.
People
Catherine O'Donnell
Founder & Pastry Chef
Catherine began her pastry career at 14 and trained at George Brown College and Callebaut Chocolate Institute. With experience at top Toronto hotels and as a Niagara College professor, she established Willow Cakes as a local institution. Recognized as a Pastry Judge A by the World Association of Chefs, she leads our culinary team with expertise in cake design and chocolate artistry.
Sean O'Donnell
Business Manager
Sean transitioned from part-time baker to business manager after traveling abroad. He oversees daily operations and strategic growth while maintaining customer service standards. With 16 years of experience in the bakery industry, he focuses on community engagement and adapting to evolving hospitality trends while preserving the business's core values.
Neils Lunds
Savory Chef
European-trained chef Neils brings international experience from kitchens in Copenhagen, Paris, and Manchester. He specializes in savory creations including quiches, pies, and seasonal preserves. His expertise enhances our menu with sophisticated flavor combinations while maintaining the high standards expected from our patisserie heritage.
Carol Giang
Assistant Pastry Chef
Graduate of Niagara College's culinary program, Carol progressed from apprentice to assistant pastry chef. She excels in creating both standard and custom cakes with artistic flair. Her attention to detail and ability to transform simple ingredients into stunning edible art make her an essential part of our award-winning pastry team.
Megumu Gumi Kawarada
Bread Baker
Japanese-born bread specialist Gumi joined Willow Cakes in 2017 after extensive training with renowned chefs. Her meticulous approach produces our signature croissants, breads, and pastries. Committed to quality, she believes in creating baked goods that balance technical perfection with irresistible taste, ensuring every product meets our exacting standards.
Questions
What types of custom cake orders can you accommodate?
We create custom cakes for weddings, birthdays, and special events with 24-hour notice. Our team handles orders from simple sheet cakes to elaborate 5-tier wedding cakes with personalized designs and flavor combinations.
Do you offer consultations for wedding cakes?
Yes, we recommend scheduling wedding cake consultations approximately three months before your event to discuss design options, flavor profiles, and serving requirements with our expert pastry team.
Are there options for customers with dietary restrictions?
We offer select gluten-free desserts and can accommodate some special dietary requirements with advance notice. Our team works closely with customers to create suitable alternatives while maintaining exceptional taste and presentation.
Do you provide catering services for events?
Yes, we offer comprehensive catering services including custom cake displays, savory platters, and dessert buffets for weddings and special events with personalized menu planning and on-site presentation.
What baking classes do you offer?
We provide seasonal cookie decorating classes and occasional pastry workshops in our professional kitchen, led by our experienced chefs using industry-standard techniques and equipment.
Can I tour the bakery facility?
Yes, our bakery features viewing windows where customers can watch our team at work. Guided tours are available during regular business hours to showcase our baking processes and kitchen operations.
Reviews (6)
Valerie Lord
Dec 13, 2021
Report
Beautiful wedding and birthday cake. Great service, great value and amazing tasting cakes. We can't wait to use them again for our future celebrations. Thank you Willow!
Tina Yk Choi
Sep 20, 2021
Report
Great place for quick bite or coffee/tea break. We tried a number of items in 2 visits and liked all of them. Best though were the quiche & beef pot pie. The pastry on both were great - no soggy bottoms! Other desserts we had were good - perfect size, not too big/small. As of early September 2021, only 3 people were allowed in at a time so during morning time the wait can be long.
Norma Lisoy
Sep 10, 2021
Report
We went to Willow Cakes and Pastries for lunch last Sunday. We also brought home some fruit and nut bread. Everything was so delicious. I love their tomato veg bread too. And my favourite is their almond croissants. It's our favourite place to visit! Thanks for great quality baked goods!
Jay Haywood
Jul 29, 2021
Report
I got my wife 2 different cheescakes for her birthday. Was a great choice! My wife is a cheescake lover and she said the two she got were the best she's ever had. We got the peanut butter Toblerone and the Nutella ones.
Jake Kelly-Cuthbert
Jul 11, 2021
Report
Willow Cakes & Pastries did an amazing job making a custom birthday cake for my moms 50th. They were very attentive to my request and the finished product was beautiful and delicious!
Lora Bidner
Jun 28, 2021
Report
We loved our cake! It was a deliciouse red velvet. The only thing I'd suggest is if you're ordering something unique and special like our cake, send photos of what you're looking for and a photo of the colour palette you want, an email or phone discussion will not be clear enough. Over phone and email I had asked for there to be earth tone blues and greens flowers, they didn't put any blue at all and it was all pastel yellow, green and pinks which I was dissapointed about. I covered the flowers with these real eucalyptus branches so it made it okay though.
