I was very disappointed with my cupcakes purchase. The cupcakes did not taste fresh as they claimed and they were on the dry side. I would definitely not suggest this place to anyone. read more

Excellent pastries! Their cupcakes are moist, balanced in flavor, & perfectly complemented by the frostings. Not excessively sweet, either, just right. I really like the peanut butter chocolate, & the mango passion fruit cupcakes. Their brownies & scones are also very good. I always bring out of town visitors to this pastry shop, & every one of them has loved it. Only wish they had a espresso bar in there... That would be awesome! read more

YUM! One of my favorite cupcake joints in town. I discovered this while venturing around the neighborhood around Turkey day and could not resist (you can smell it from down the street!). Amazing little space, amazing cupcakes and variety... sooooooooooooooooooo YUMMO! read more

Best cupcakes ever. Overpriced, but I would say there is no comparison to any other cupcakes around! Much better than Dozens. The frostings are just so incredibly light and indescribable! My favorite is the mango passionfruit and vanilla with the caramel frosting! Yum! Not too much seating, this place is cute for a quick little mini-date! read more

AMAZING. I just came from a city rich with cupcakes, and none of them came close to touching the greatness that is Vanilla Pastry Studio. The prices are just OK, but the taste is amazing. So far I've only tried their caramel buttercream, but I'm looking forward to my next trip here! read more

I always envision heaven being a little bit never ending cookie, cake and sundae bar. This place comes close to that! The cupcakes are so moist and fluffy! Plus they're packed with a TON of flavor! I have had the Mango Passion fruit, Dulce de Leche, Coconut, Chocolate Fudge. And seriously...every.single.one was FANTASTIC! I don't even like chocolate cake that much, but that fudge icing was TO DIE FOR! The icing is butter cream, but not the the thick version, it's the light and fluffy kind. If you're like me, an icing expert, you KNOW the different kinds of icing out there. Obviously I'm pretty excited about this place since I'm writing in mostly ALL CAPS! The store is very simple, but cute. It's great because you can order in bulk and walk out or stop in for a nice treat after one of the great restaurants around the area. If you don't go, you'll be cheating yourself out of a little piece of heaven, I swear! read more

Move over (and go far away) Dozen! These cupcakes are little things of happiness. The frosting is very light and smooth and delicious. I have probably tried all their flavors except for the PB kinds and the mango passionfruit is my fave. If you like sweets and haven't been there, you are doing yourself an injustice. read more

One day I got bored and I decided to go on a mini self-guided tour of Pittsburgh bakery (I went to Vanilla pastry studio, La Gourmandine Bakery and Jean-Marc Chatellier's French Bakery.) I got red velvet and peanut butter cupcakes. The red velvet was great. I like the icing and everything. Peanut butter cupcake was okay, it was not really anything memorable. Maybe I was just too high on sugar from all the pastries from other places. Having say that, I would rather get a cupcake or pastries from La Gourmandine or Jean-Marc Chatellier's. Sorry sugar fairies, it was good but I did not get any urges to stuff my face with any of my cupcakes like I usually do with other places. read more

YUM! A lot of reviews already talked about flavors - but I tried the Key lime one yesterday and it was DELICIOUS! I usually only get chocolate (and peanut butter) ones, but the key lime and raspberry ones were excellent too. The cake part was nice and moist. Agree with some other yelp-ers, do not tilt it even a little bit!!! My walk back home (~10 minutes), the frosting just slid off. I had to scoop it back on. Luckily, it wasn't too bad and I was really satisfied! I would love to try the other pastries (cookies, cakes) in the future! read more

So, I have been marnating for a couple of months of how to draft this review. I like cupcakes. I LOVE cupcakes. You could probably say I have a mild obsession with tasting cupcakes from all over, whenever I travel. That being said, I have tried every cupcakery here in Louisville, Cleveland, and then others here and there where I have travelled (Portland, Cincinnati, etc) I also tried a couple other bakeries in Pittsburgh. Went to visit my sister for the weekend, so she planned a cupcake tour of the city. Vanilla was our first stop. I had Hazelnut, she had Lemon, and I believe we took a Vanilla Caramel to go. Fast forward two months. Mom's birthday. My sister brought in about 18 cupcakes from Vanilla again- Strawberry and Mango (for our tropical themed party) as well as a couple of singles- key lime, chocolate, etc. Okay, down to the nitty gritty. I CRAVE these cupcakes. I find myself comparing all others to this studio's cupcakes. Their cakes are very moist. And the frosting, good golly miss molly the frosting. I don't know how they get such a smooth whipped texture, but it truly is heavenly. You are able to sink your teeth in to it and it just melts. Heaven. I may end up making the 7 hour trek up there one day just to go get some. Oh, I guess I could see my sister too. Priorities. . . . ;o) read more

The best cupcakes in The Burgh by far! The cupcakes themselves are light and moist. The icing is a light and fluffy without being too sugary sweet. I love this place! read more

As a newcomer to Pittsburgh, I was overly delighted to stumble upon Vanilla Pastry Studio! It is now my go-to bakery for EVERYONE's birthday. All cupcakes are sure to please---from the Mango Passionfruit to the Red Velvet, Vanilla Pastry Studio has everyone's favorites! Both the regular and mini sized cupcakes come neatly decorated and are a favorite at gatherings. The staff is very helpful both in person and over the phone for placing orders. If you're in the area, the quaint bakery is a great place to stop in for an afternoon treat(cookies, bars, and biscotti, too!). read more

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE ECSTATIC TO ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLE UPON A PLACE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! So me any my friends were waiting in line for our first brunch visit with Paris 66 when standing outside we happened to notice this beautiful little store. We decided to stop by after eating brunch. THANK GOD WE DID!!! First of all, April, the owner, and her wonderful employees all greet you with this amazing enthusiasm!! I felt like I had known everyone for years! There were only 2 cupcakes left as the place was closing in a half hour. We ended up settling on Vanilla Buttercreme Cupcakes and let me tell you something, I have never in my entire life put anything more delicious in my mouth. I went back for a second one in fact! I also picked up a lemon-blueberry poundcake slice to go which was also a little piece of heaven. We ended up leaving and ordering some birthday cupcakes for our friend. I am blown away by this place and wish there was one closer to me. Actually, having them 45 minutes from me is probably the best thing I could ask for! HAHA! Enjoy! read more

I love this place. I come from washington d.c area where are have cupcake stores galore but since moving to pitt this place serves probably the best cupcakes i've ever eaten. my fav is the peanut butter chocolate. i've also had a gift box cake which was totally cute and an amazing surprise for my sister in chicago....yes i transported it all the way to chicago and it held up well! i had the red velvet cake and it was such a cute cake and tasted amazing!!!! highly recommended. i've never had a cupcake i did not like here. they are no overly sweet at all and totally hit the spot. read more

So, truth be told, the cupcakes taste good and the shop looks like something out of every little girl's dream... no complaints there. This review is regarding the rude, unprofessional, and downright unethical practices of Vanilla Pastry Studio and their so-called "Sugar Fairy". If you have a special event or wedding coming up, please do yourself a favor and do not even CONSIDER dealing with these people! Not only is their product a far cry from the neatly-presented cupcakes they display daily, their prices absurd, and their attitude simply intolerable, but they think nothing of manipulating you and leaving you with a big mess. Want more details and photos? Send me a message. Brides, grooms, party hosts and hostesses-- STEER CLEAR!! read more

I can't believe that I am updating an update! My birthday was on a Sunday this year and instead of a huge cake, I just wanted cupcakes from Vanilla. Since they are only open for a short day on Sunday's, we called ahead to pick our flavors and they boxed them up for our quick pickup. Love the cupcakes here. We got Vanilla Champagne, Vanilla with Raspberry buttercreme icing, Red Velvet and Vanilla with Mango and Starfruit buttercreme. What a special treat! read more

I'd love to give this place a higher rating BUT I never even got the chance to try a cupcake. After circling the block for about 10 minutes because not being from the area the bakery is not well marked. That wasn't the issue. So, the bakery was pretty full of people waiting for some other flavors to be brought out. I was one of them too. 10-15 minutes later.........I was ignored by not one, not two, but three of the employees. I was standing in line just like the other customers but was overlooked by three people. I have not decided if I would even attempt to go back because of this experience. read more

I have heard a lot of good things about Vanilla. So I decided to give it a try. I went in on my daughters birthday to get some cupcakes. The woman behind the counter was less than personable, she looked irritated that I wasn't sure what I wanted and even more irritated when I asked questions, like which one was her favorite. I had my daughter with me, who's birthday it was and she didn't even acknowledge her when i mentioned it was her 2nd birthday. I bought 4 cupcakes, the red velvet, chocolate, chocolate fudge and espresso. They were all dry. I am not sure if I just got some old cupcakes or if they are always this dry. Needless to say, I didn't find it worth the drive for the bad service and dry cupcakes. read more

Yes, I have been back to Vanilla many many times and the store is cute, the people who work there are very nice, and the cupcakes are indeed the best I have ever had. Their buttercream is light and heavenly! GO!! read more

My favorite was the vanilla bean. I have never had a vanilla cupcake that good. They said their red velvet was their most popular. But is was very boring, whole foods does better. I could have bought it at safeway. The frosting didn't have the classic cream cheese edge. The chocolate buttercream was good, but predictable. Oldie but a goodie. I prefer the West Coast Sprinkles chair leaps and bounds over their cupcakes. read more

These pastries are incredible. If you don't believe me, please go in and try one. While sitting in Vanilla's fun, pretty pink shop in a comfy wingback chair, paging through pictures of fanciful wedding cakes, munching on, say, a perfectly light lemon cupcake, I relax more than after any yoga session. All organic, locally owned, independent love. It is my favorite cupcake bakery in pgh by virtue of both its quality and its location a few blocks from my apartment. Love it. read more

Adorable interior; friendly, knowledgeable staff; and fudgy, delicious double chocolate brownie - I intend to get back to Vanilla to try their other treats soon (specifically, the peppermint patty brownie)! read more

So I've never actually been here, but my friend bought me half a dozen cupcakes from here when I went to visit her in Pittsburgh. Having been brutally disappointed by a new cupcake shop that opened up in Ann Arbor, I was so surprised by Vanilla Pastry's cupcakes. I can't even remember which flavors I had--definitely there was a mint chocolate one, a lemony one, a margarita one, and some others that my parents ate when I got home. But I'm not a huge frosting fan when it comes to baked goods and I loved the buttercream frosting they used. I also thought the cupcakes themselves were really tasty and moist, especially in comparison to some places where it seems like the cake is an afterthought. And, to note, they were still so good despite the fact that my friend bought the cupcakes at the end of the business day and I didn't eat them until a day later (and didn't finish eating all of them until two days later). read more

Yum, Yum, Yum! Got 3 different cupcakes: carrot cake with cream cheese icing, red velvet with cream cheese icing & a basic cupcake base with mango passion icing. The carrot cake was my favorite, the velvet next & not so much on the 3rd. The downsize...the PRICE!!! read more

Lovely little pastry shop that makes delicious cupcakes! (Much better than Dozen, where they make them way too dry -- someone please tell them!) About as close to Magnolia Bakery as it gets in the 'burgh, without the line around the block. read more

HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! This place may have the best tasting cupcakes in town, but their customer service left me very bitter! After reading reviews about the stellar quality of Vanilla Pastry Studio's product, I was really excited at the possibility of using them for our upcoming conference, even though they were more expensive than other local bakeries. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that the expense of their cupcakes wasn't limited to just dollars and cents. For two weeks I went back and forth via email and phone with various members of the bakery staff trying to place an order for 12 dozen cupcakes (the order would've been close to $500.00). After several instances where my voice-mail messages and emails went unanswered for 2 or 3 days, I finally made my concerns known to the owner, April Gruver. She assured me that they took all orders seriously and would be in touch with me the following day, but I never heard from her. In fact, five days went by before I ended up calling the bakery to follow-up. An associate answered my call and I explained to him the situation, but no matter what I said or how many times he put me on hold, April would not come to the phone to speak with me (first I was told she wasn't there, then I was told she was in the bathroom changing, then she "had to run"). Frustrated and appalled by the lack of professionalism and just downright rude behavior, I told her associate to let her know that we were taking our business elsewhere. Apparently she's not at all concerned with losing the opportunity to gain a large order and FREE publicity at a major event, because I haven't heard from her since. I don't care how good the cupcakes are... there's no excuse for this kind of disregard and rude behavior from a business owner. read more

Hands down the best little bakery in Pittsburgh! Cupcakes to die for, great pies on Friday, and the other baked goods, while limited, are consistently excellent. Freshest pastry around. The staff is excellent as well, everyone treats each other with respect. So happy that Vanilla relocated to East Liberty, and glad to see them thriving here! read more

The cupcakes are amazing. The finest quality ingredients are used. The cupcake itself is very moist, a great variety of flavors and they are beautifully decorated. However, VPS lacks customer service skills. I reviewed their site several weeks ago and purchased their cupcakes for an event. This past Friday I called to order a birthday cake for Sunday. I was told on first phone call that they need three days notice. I figured this was fair but didn't remember seeing this on their site. I went back to review the site and called back spoke to someone else.(Angie) I told Angie that the 3 day notice wasn't on the site and that I had e-mailed a question regarding birthday cakes abt a week earlier and didn't get a response. ( I really did this) I was told if I wanted info I should have called and not relied on the site. Why have a contact page at all. She offered me cupcakes. I wanted a cake and if you can make me cupcakes for Sunday why not a cake. I felt as though my hands were being slapped and that I should go stand in a corner. Remember the customer is always right. I was coming from the South HIlls and there some great bakeries out here. I don't need attitude or to feel like I've done something wrong. I was also told that the website is in the process of being updated. Let's see when it changes. read more

The Mexican "Hot" Chocolate brownie is a really creative twist on a crowd favorite. A hint of chile, just enough to let you know it's there, goes well with the deep and rich chocolate used to make this tasty desert. Great spot in East Liberty, this pastry place being one of the staples that people will definitely consider a defining establishment in this steadily revived neighborhood. Once you walk in, prepare yourself for the swell of baked goods that fill the air. It's a seriously indulgent experience read more

Let's say they are good but it's not the best. They had me with the s'more cupcake, that was really tasty. But every other that i try are well made, moist and everything but they miss some originality. It's a well made cupcake like all the other and for me that's not enough to be worth the trip. If you are craving a traditional cupcake and you want to get what you expect: something beautiful, well done and consistent this is the place to go. If you want to be amazed with something you didn't expect maybe cupcakes are not the answer... read more

I initially gave VPS high stars from their maple bacon cupcakes but after doing a tasting in NY and DC then revisiting VPS I must drop them to average status. The cake was hard and dry (I just had six different flavors) and the frosting/icing wasn't up to snuff. Sorry for being clouded earlier with the 5-star but I strongly feel an average rating is more appropriate given a second look at the cupcake field of play. read more

The BEST cupcakes AND patries in Pittsburgh! Put this on your to do list of places to visit if you are in the area! Friendly staff, cute little shop - totally worth $2.50 for a cupcake that tastes great and amazingly moist (even after it's been in my fridge for 3 days!)! read more

Shameful customer service. I ordered a cake for a special occasion and they canceled the order without a mere phone call. The owner failed to even offer a discount. I've been a patron for six years and have made countless recommendations but am appalled by their behavior. read more

If I had to pick one thing to eat before I died, I think I would choose Vanilla Pastry Studio cupcakes. Seriously. I've been here many times and have never had a bad cupcake, but my favorite is the chocolate espresso. If cupcakes aren't your thing, the other baked goods are pretty good too. Staff is very friendly and it's a cute place to sit and enjoy something sweet. read more

Great cupcakes!!!! Mouthwatering buttercream icing and very moist flavorful cake. Great LOLLYS (which are decadent chocolate dipped treats on a lollypop stick). Parking is tricky but worth the effort! I can't wait to buy a birthday cake and give it a try. read more

Just one more reason to love East Liberty again!

I love this place!! It's in a part of Pittsburgh I had never been before and I loved that about it!! They atmosphere and decor of the studio altogether was nice and the colors were great! I loved the fact that they had seating and even a table. The window looking into the baking area was very nice too!! The cupcakes were also amazing!!! My only complaint is the price however every once in a while I can handle it. It actually keeps me from eating a ton of their cupcakes thus stopping me from getting fat. read more

Everything is here is delicious! The cupcakes are so perfect it's hard to write a review without having one in your hand. They are my favorite of all the places we have visited or lived (including New York and Boston). read more

I have to admit that I absolutely love the cupcakes here!! Some of the best I have ever had. That being said. They really really need to loose the Attitude!!! Seriously!! There are many more folks I speak with on a daily basis about how impolite and downright rude everybody at Vanilla is. April, you have a great product that many people will never eat again. You need to stop the "I'm giving you the Honor of letting you buy my cupcakes" attitude. Sorry but there not THAT good. read more

I tried a few things this morning, and was particularly impressed with the carrot cake muffin. Moist and delicious, with a cream cheese icing so light and flavorful as it danced fitfully across my tongue, coyly resisting my every attempt to savor it in my mouth some more. An absolute delight! The aloof and impersonal lady behind the counter wore proudly her IUP Culinary School coat, as if such a prestigious coat of arms should excuse her from the usual niceties expected from a person behind a food-service counter. I smiled and asked if I should try the carrot cake muffins (I'm glad I did!), and she replied sternly that "it depends on whether or not you like carrot cake." Oh really?, I thought, what a rude response to a polite question. There was no stress-inducing long line of customers to blame, either. It wasn't only her attitude that was foreign to food-service. This cakestress looked somewhat other-worldly; so fantastically bizarre-looking that I wondered if she was a magical creature exiled to East Liberty from Planet Moonpie for acrimonious behavior. A cupcake bakery conjures up images of a warm, cozy place (like DOZEN bakery), with a warm atmosphere as well. This place shocks you with its cold, austere, "choose quickly, pay, and go" character. Yikes! Anyway, great bakery from what I can tell, but I would suggest to the proprietors that they enforce some minimal rules of politeness, so that customers are not alienated. By the way, the people who work at DOZEN bakery are some of the most helpful, and they really take pride in their products and exhibit excellent salesmanship. If you want to compete with that, you should think about your appearance as well as your behavior, since your location is non-competitive. read more