This Amsterdam bakery has become an institution for dessert, and for good reason. All-American sweets run across the menu, ranging from luscious layer cakes to chunky cookies and New York-style cheesecakes. Cupcakes such as Black Bottom and Devil’s Food have officially made their way into the Dutch diet, while generous spreads of cream cheese frosting are sometimes too much to handle (take note of the unfinished cakes, which reflect fullness as opposed to lack of flavor). It’s clear De Drie Graefjes offers an extensive list of tempting treats, but these are my favorite picks…
Red velvet cake
A crowd-pleasing cake, the red velvet is De Drie Graefjes’ most renowned dessert. Brimming in bright red, a soft and spongy base sits between thick layers of cream cheese frosting, which come together perfectly in every more-ish mouthful. Not that it’s easy to finish in one sitting.
Hummingbird cake
Filled with bananas and pieces of pineapple, the hummingbird cake is decidedly refreshing, moist and not too sweet. An untraditional touch, De Drie Graefjes speckles coconut shavings onto its cream cheese frosting, which adds even more tropical sweetness to this Southern American staple.
Rainbow cake
What started as a pride special has now turned into an ever-so popular permanent item, thanks to endless layers of eye-catching colors. But this rainbow cake is more than just good looks: De Drie Graefjes has reached peak fluffiness here, and proves vanilla frosting is far from boring.
Blondie
Every brownie needs a blondie… well, I think I need at least three of these blondies to satisfy my slightly-out-of-control sweet tooth. A sucker for anything with white chocolate, I absolutely love this blond bombshell with a buttery – almost cookie dough-like – base, complete with a layer of happiness on top (white chocolate, obviously).
Address (multiple locations): Rokin 128, 1012 LC; Eggertstraat 1, 1012 NN; or Stadionplein 111, 1076 CK.
