Sometimes all we need is a little something sweet.  Since the close of Upper Crust Pies, the North Raleigh area has been kind of lacking in the bakery department. Sure there are a few trendy bakeries around, but some of us prefer a treat that is less fussy. If this sounds like you, look no further than Premier Cakes! Located in Falls Village Shopping Center, this new gem of a bakery has been hiding right under the Millbrook community’s noses. Premier Cakes is owned and operated by married duo Tracy and Bobby Outlaw. Mrs. Outlaw is a master baker, and she has been baking for twenty years. You can observe her working her magic through the bakery’s open design. “Everything is homemade from scratch. Everyday we bake from about four to five in the morning to 10 at night,” Mr. Outlaw said.

Premier Cakes offers a wide selection of cakes. “We have fifteen to thirty varieties at any given time,” said Mr. Outlaw. These different flavors, available on a rotating basis, include  hummingbird, sweet potato, strawberry, coconut macaroon, and many more homestyle, French,  and other exotic varieties including Caribbean, Jamaican, and Thai. The bakery’s bestsellers are the hummingbird and sweet potato, both of which are delicious. The hummingbird is a moist pineapple and banana cake with nuts, and the sweet potato is a lightly spiced cake with real sweet potato flakes. Their cakes are light, have a wonderful texture and are not bogged down by frosting, a mistake many bakeries make. These flavors  are all available by the slice. Senior Victoria Anderson said, “ I like that they have a big variety and also that it changes so it’s not like you’re coming in and getting the same exact thing every time.”

You can order whole cakes beautifully decorated by Mrs. Outlaw for weddings, birthdays, showers, and other occasions. For details on ordering you can stop by or check out their website, premier-cakes.com.   In addition to cake, Premier offers other desserts such as pies, cheesecakes, real Italian cannolis wherein the filling is made fresh upon request, and a delectable bread pudding made with butter croissants.

Visiting Premier Cakes and sitting down with a slice (or two!) of cake is truly a treat. My personal favorites are the sweet potato cake, the rum cake, and the bread pudding. The small bakery, while not overtly fancy,  has a cheery atmosphere and brightly colored walls. One of the place’s best qualities, however, is its owners. Mr. and Mrs. Outlaw are both extremely friendly people and never hesitate to interact with their customers and make them feel welcome. You would be hard pressed to find better cake or company.