Maybe we’re taking this too seriously, but we’ve been searching for bakeries serving New Jersey’s best crumb cake. If you’re not a fan of the cake, you might want to leave now because we’re really going to get into the discussion. Now, for those of you who are fans, read on.
New Jersey fans of crumb cake have been treated for years with the delectable breakfast offering. As we’ve found, this treat is not available all over the country. While companies such as Entenmanns have tried to fill the bakery gap with both the regular and deluxe(extra crumb with a Drakes cake yellow base) versions of its recipe, it’s still not even close to crumb cake heaven. That’s what this piece is about – using the Internet to get the word out and get your stories back on what you say is the best crumb cake in New Jersey. And since the world revolves around New Jersey, the title would mean global supremacy in the crumb-cake world. My story started as a young kid going to Margie’s Cake Box on the Scotch Plains/Plainfield border in New Jersey (Gone but not forgotten!). Can’t remember the age – but I do remember the experience.
What is Crumb Cake?
If you Google “Crumb Cake,” you will return with over 4.86 million hits. Click on the images search and you’ll start to see that some weird people are snapping pictures of their favorite crumb cakes. If you then Google “Best Crumb Cake,” the search drops in half to just over 2 million results. Finally, we searched “New Jersey’s Best Crumb Cake” and got over 500,000 results. Other terms are used to define this popular breakfast item – crumb cake, crumb bun, and coffee cake are just a few. But now you start to see who’s in the game! We’ll discuss it later.
But let’s see how Wikipedia describes crumb cake: What’s not there? Listed as a reference is the term Streuselkuchen (crumb cake)—a German term—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumb_cake (unbelievable)—shoved in there with the coffee cake genre—how dare they! We’ll have to work on that after this review is published.
Anyway, if you check recipes for crumb cake, it’s basically brown sugar and butter and a variation of other things, but that’s about it. Depending on the piece, the calorie count could be 500-700 calories per serving (depending on how you add to what we’re going to discuss next—butter and icing).
Origins of Crumb Cake
Based on our research, all signs lead back to Germany. The origin of crumb cake was called “streuselkuchen,” Today’s modern crumb cake is fairly similar to its forebear as Jersey bakeries have mastered this Streuselkuchen “crumb cake.” The modern version often refers to a cake made of a sweetened yeast dough finished with a crumb topping called “streusel.” So you can credit or blame those German bakers who migrated to Jersey. Today, bakers make crumb cakes with baking soda or baking powder for leavening. But so many different variables make a great crumb cake, so it’s time to break it down and find out who makes the best in New Jersey. And yes I’ve heard some call it crumb buns, but I don’t like the bun, I like the sheet cake crumb cake (and I don’t like the corner!
Butter or No Butter on Top
While my wife thinks it’s one of the grossest things ever done, you just can’t beat a swab of soft butter on the top of your masterpiece. It just takes it over the top, and that’s why people probably do it. However, it is a personal preference, and we won’t hold it against you if you do. Vote now and tell us what you prefer.
Here’s another opinion: How about icing on top? Post what you think. No, we won’t see if you like icing AND butter—is that just way over the top to even ask? (We think that’s just too personal!)
Best Crumb Cake
So let’s start with what makes a perfect crumb cake. First, it’s the crumbs – that top layer supported by a cake base. After all, it is called Crumb Cake and not just Crumbs. And yes, there is a required balance. While some experts prefer heavy crumb content, we’ve created the Crumb-to-Cake Ratio (CTC Ratio) to avoid confusion. A perfect crumb cake will be just that – crumb AND cake. The Crumb TO Cake ratio should be somewhere between 70-80% crumb, with the remainder being cake. And when we say cake, we mean cake, not that yellow-looking Drakes cake-like sponge stuff (you know what I’m talking about).
The Best Crumb Cake in Jersey Map – #crumbcakeroadtrip
While we’ve done our best to find the best crumb cake, we have only one opinion. Give us the names and your experience, and we’ll post here.
Check out the Mr. Local History Comfort Food Google map that showcases the best bakeries, diners, pizza, and more… Click Here
And if it’s not here, tell us in the comments below.
Those We Lost – The Jersey Hall of Fame for Crumb Cake
For those who can’t let go of the one bakery, they remember getting their Crumb Cake. As a kid, what was the place you remember as the best crumb cake you ever ate in New Jersey? All entries were sent in by our readers.
- Kay’s Bakery in Lavallette
- Margies Cake Box in Fanwood / Plainfield
- Nardone’s Bakery – Bernardsville
- Mazurs
- Gar’s Bakery
- Danziger’s Bakery in Morristown
- Speikermann’s in Union City
- Village Bakery Rt. 46
- Schoenings bakery in Hoboken (Bought by Carlo’s)
- Freedman’s in Belmar
Post yours in the “Comments” below. Call it the “Jersey lost crumb cake “Hall of Fame
Recommendations for the Best Crumb Cake in New Jersey
North Jersey
- B & W Bakery – (Boehringer & Weimer Bakery) – 614 Main St, Hackensack, NJ 07601 – (201) 342-5577 – Boehringer & Weimer, the original owners — is a traditional German bakery.
- Crumb Cake Creations – 500 W Main St Wyckoff, NJ 07481 – (201) 644-6066
- Styertowne Bakery – 1039 Bloomfield Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07012 – Tel: (973) 777-6193
Central Jersey
- Bakers Bounty – 7 Maple Ave, Linden, NJ 07036 – Found at many farmer’s markets as well (Bernardsville and Motown)
- Bay Ave Bakery – 11 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732
- Natale’s Bakery – 185 Broad St Summit, NJ 07901 (908) 277-2074
South Jersey
- Mueller’s Bakery, 80 Bridge Ave., Bay Head, NJ 08742 (732) 892-0442
- Park Bakery – 408 SE Central Ave Seaside Park, NJ 08752 – (732) 793-4090 (someone has to send us a photo!)
- Crust and Crumb Bakery – N Bay Ave And 9th St, Beach Haven, NJ 08008 – (609) 492-4966
- Surf City Bake Shop – 610 Long Beach Blvd, Surf City, Long Beach Island, NJ 08008-5251
Share Your Best Jersey Crumb Cake Recommendation
Post what you think is the best crumb cake around. But don’t tell us it’s some homemade recipe cause we’ll then come right to your house. Remember, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but it has been a fun topic to discuss. And it’s even funnier when you find someone else who has a REAL opinion on the subject. Gotta love the Internet. It’s really serving its purpose.
Do you Dare Make a Crumb Cake?
Dare to make one yourself? Post a comment below if you see a great one. Here’s a solid recipe – Click Here
Other Fun Food History from New Jersey
Updated: January 27, 2024
Original Post: 2016
Are there any kosher bakeries that make shtreusel kuchen
Reinholds Bakery in Waldwick, NJ makes THE BEST Crumb Cake ever!
David Burkes Dixie Lee Bakery. In Keansburg nj. Also try the coconut buns.
B & W all the way!
Pacanack Bakery, Route 23 North, Wayne, NJ has 70% crumb to 30% cake. It is old fashioned and scrumptious. It’s the only place I go for crumb cake as all others disappoint. They don’t have a website. They have a Facebook page and the profile picture is their crumb cake.
Packanack bakery in Wayne has fabulous crumb cake. La bonbonierre also has delicious crumb cake.
Mike’s Crumb Cake Factory in Brick makes the best!!
Which do you think is the best? I grew up in Union (Union County). I am now living in North Carolina. I was introduced to Crumb Cake by Entemans. Lowes Foods (NC) makes a better one.
Italian Bakery & Espresso Bar, 31 Reaville Ave. in Flemington makes incredible crumb buns!
Added to the map and we’re going on a road trip.
Anyone know anyone who used to work at Freedmans in Belmar. I’m recipe hunting, I miss their hard rolls.