748 Warren St, Hudson
518.660.1106; ninecakes.com
Betsy Thorleifson made Hudson all the sweeter when she opened Nine Cakes in May. An extension of the flagship cake studio she began in Brooklyn in 2008, the new location is a cafe and retail shop serving everything from rainbow-hued macarons to ginger-chocolate scones. Of course, cake is on the menu, too. Available by the slice or whole, the edible masterpieces are almost too lovely to ruin with fork tines, thanks to caramel drippings, oozing fruit fillings, and light-as-air Italian meringue buttercream.
“There was something so romantic about the idea of having a ‘real’ bakery, a place someone could come in and enjoy a slice of cake or an extra-delicious cookie,” she says of her inspiration for the second branch. “I’d heard from many people that there aren’t many places to find a delicious cake [in town] and, after falling in love with Hudson, it seemed like a perfect fit.”
At Nine Cakes, confection is everything. Pastel plates and party favors color the shelves, while raspberry macarons and cookies and cream cake beautify the pastry counter. The treats pair with La Colombe coffee and Harney & Sons tea for the afternoon respite of dreams.
Thorleifson appreciates the nostalgia associated with “being able to sit at a little café table with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy a slice of cake,” she notes. “We bake fresh chocolate chip cookies throughout the day as well, and those practically sell out before they get stacked up on the front table.” — SS
Thurs 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
