HUDSON, N.Y. — Want to give your special someone a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day?
Nine Cakes is ready to ship a box of six or 12 of their Valentine’s Day macarons to your sweetheart.
Tha macarons — decorated for the holiday with roses, hearts, chocolates and gold flecks — come in six flavors: vanilla bean, strawberry-dipped chocolate, toasted almond, raspberry, triple citrus and chocolate decadence. A box of six ($24) has one of each flavor, while a dozen ($48) gets you two of each.
If You Go
Nine Cakes
What: Boutique bakery offering Valentine’s Day-themed macarons and cakes.
Where: 748 Warren St., Hudson, N.Y.
Information: 518-660-1106, ninecakes.com
Want to deliver your gift in person? Nine Cakes also offers variety of Valentine’s Day options that can be ordered online and picked up in person — a box of assorted treats ($25), a cake for two ($35) and an exquisitely decorated Lambeth heart-shaped cake ($125).
On a recent trip to the shop on Warren Street for a press tasting, we were able to sample the macarons, profiteroles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, meringue kisses with ganache, chocolate vanilla bean mini cupcakes and giant double chocolate cookies. We were also offered samples of four of the shop’s cake flavors: almond orange, chocolate decadence, cardamom raspberry and cafe au lait.
Light, delicate and crispy, with the perfect amount of Italian meringue buttercream in the center, you’ll want to indulge and try each flavor.
PHOTO BY NINE CAKES
Betsy Thorleifson, owner and baker, opened Nine Cakes in Brooklyn in 2008, offering nine flavors of cake from her apartment, equipped with only 18 inches of counter space. She opened her second bakery, now the flagship space with a team of bakers, in Hudson after falling in love with the town in 2018. (The Brooklyn bakery closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, although deliveries are still made to New York City, once a week.)
VALENTINE’S TREATS
MACARONS
Larger than average, these macarons feel like they are meant to be shared.
PHOTO BY NINE CAKES
What: Box of six or 12 macarons. Each box has one of each flavor (two if you order a dozen): vanilla bean, strawberry-dipped chocolate, toasted almond, raspberry, triple citrus and chocolate decadence.
Price: $24 for six; $48 for a dozen. Pickup and mail order. Must order by Feb. 12 for shipping.
Our thoughts: Larger than average, these macarons feel like they are meant to be shared. Light, delicate and crispy, with the perfect amount of Italian meringue buttercream in the center, you’ll want to indulge and try each flavor. Our favorites include the chocolate decadence (of course) and the triple citrus, which has a surprising, but not overwhelming, burst of citrus at the end of each bite.
TREAT BOX
The meringue kisses are crisp on the outside with a slightly chewy center and have just enough ganache frosting that will make you want to continue to pop these bite-size treats in your mouth until they’re all gone.
PHOTO BY NINE CAKES
What: This box includes meringue kisses with ganache frosting, heart-shaped macarons, a stacked sugar cookie filled with cherry cardamom jam, a mini chocolate vanilla bean cupcake and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Price: $25. Pickup only.
Our thoughts: If you’re not sure what treats to get your sweetheart, this box is the perfect mix of all things delicious. The meringue kisses are crisp on the outside with a slightly chewy center and have just enough ganache frosting that will make you want to continue to pop these bite-size treats in your mouth until they’re all gone. The chocolate-dipped strawberries are a delightful treat, as neither the chocolate nor the fruit overpower the other. And, if you’re wondering what one of Nine Cake’s signature cakes tastes like, the mini cupcake is the perfect teaser.
CAKE FOR TWO
Four layers of cake, three layers of filling and only 4-inches round, this cute little cake is perfect for two.
PHOTO BY NINE CAKES
What: Four layers of cake, three layers of filling and only 4-inches round, this cute little cake is perfect for two. Made from scratch with all-natural ingredients, each mini cake is iced with vanilla Italian meringue buttercream. Select from 16 interior cake flavors, including vegan or gluten-free vanilla or chocolate.
Price: $35. Pickup only
Our thoughts: Choosing just one flavor is going to be a struggle. We sampled four at the taste test and each one was delicious. If we had to choose one flavor that stood out among our four samples, the cardamom raspberry takes the prize. The cake was moist, light and airy, and the flavor well-balanced. We also enjoyed the cafe au lait, as its flavor profile was reminiscent of a tiramisu.
VALENTINE’S LAMBETH CAKE
A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, this exquisitely piped cake is surely worth the drive to Hudson.
PHOTO BY NINE CAKES
What: A heart-shaped layer cake, made from scratch, layered with buttercream and piped in a fun Lambeth-style before being topped with glittered cherries. Available in two sizes, 6- and 8-inches. Choose from 14 interior flavors, including vegan or gluten-free chocolate.
Price: From $125. Pickup only.
Our thoughts: Nothing says “I love you” like a heart-shaped, pink buttercream-frosted layer cake that says, “I love you,” in white frosting. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, this exquisitely piped cake is surely worth the drive to Hudson.
IF YOU GO
Nine Cakes
What: Boutique bakery offering Valentine’s Day-themed macarons and cakes.
Where: 748 Warren St., Hudson, N.Y.
Information: 518-660-1106, ninecakes.com
Dining and Cooking