crumb coat & chill
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★★
District: Home baker
Cakes, cookies, & cupcakes
Perfect For: Baked Goods
Standout Dishes: Creme Brulee Cupcake; Milk & Cookies Cupcake; Chocolate Vanilla Bean Cake
Omaha has an odd source to thank for one of its best bakers: Red Robin.
No, the fast casual burger chain didn’t teach Hailey Vinter how to create incredible cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. But by giving Hailey her first kitchen job, it sparked a fiery passion for cooking inside her.
That drive led her to cook and bake in some of Omaha’s finest restaurants, including The Grey Plume and V. Mertz, before she left the industry at the birth of her son. But she couldn’t stay away—she started baking as a side hustle, and her confections became so popular amongst friends and family that she took the dive and launched full-time into her baking business.
And thus, crumb coat & chill was born.
Hailey’s business has become well-known for its giant, soft cookies, delectable cupcakes, and various sweet treats. But cakes are her first love, and it’s no surprise that these are the show-stoppers on her menu.
crumb coat’s creative flavors and elaborate designs set them apart from just about any in Omaha. When you place a custom order on the website, you’re presented with a bevy of cake flavors, fillings, and buttercreams, making the experience a choose-your-own-adventure cake journey.
Crumb coat & chill’s cakes all start with the same delicate, fluffy base that practically melts in your mouth. Whether it’s the rich, dense chocolate or the sweet, caramel-y brown sugar vanilla, crumb coat’s cakes erupt with indulgent flavor.
The best example may be the Nutella Cake, which starts with a vanilla-flavored white cake. The layers are filled with rich, hazelnut-forward Nutella, adding a nutty sweetness that’s complemented by a solidified chocolate drizzle that rounds out the experience with a touch of crunch. It’s one of the best slices of cake in Omaha.
And the designs and decorating techniques Hailey employs range from simple and whimsical to downright gorgeous. She can make art out of something as basic as a cake with a smiley face or deck it out with elaborate vines and flowers. If you have a design idea, crumb coat & chill can likely execute it (just don’t ask for cartoons).
Given crumb coat & chill’s cake prowess, it would seem this bakery would excel at cupcakes, too. Though they’re starting from the same cake base, creating and layering cupcakes is a whole different ballgame from mastering tiered cakes, but Hailey has this down to a science as well.
The frosting to cake ratio is about 40:60, allowing the luscious buttercream to add a welcome creaminess to the moist cake. Though Hailey offers a host of cupcake options, there are two that stand out:
- Creme Brûlée Cupcake: One of the best cupcakes in Omaha, hands down. The cake is very moist, almost as if it’s been infused with the velvety custard in creme brûlée. But the kicker is the caramelized sugar atop the cupcake, which adds texture.
- Milk & Cookies Cupcake: This is nostalgia in pastry form. Imagine a softer, cake-y version of a chocolate chip cookie dunked in dairy. The crumbled bit of cookie on top at another layer of texture.
Speaking of cookies, crumb coat & chill nails those, too. These frisbee-sized confections have that just-baked-enough quality, giving them a soft, chewy middle that’s countered by a crispy exterior. The Chocolate Chip Cookie eschews chips for large chocolate chunks, and the Snickerdoodle Cookie is buttery with just the right amount of cinnamon.
This is part of what I find fascinating about crumb coat & chill; many bakers pick one or two desserts and work to perfect them. Crumb coat & chill clearly specializes in cakes, but it’s not afraid to take on—and perfect—other baked goods as well.
That includes the Whoopie Pie, which puts poor Little Debbie’s version to shame, and the Salted Caramel Shortbread, which adds just the right amount of salinity to the decadent, gooey caramel.
And while crumb coat & chill’s calling card is sweets, it’s just fine venturing into the savory realm, too. If you need proof, just sink your teeth into the buttery, flaky Herbed Scone. This cousin of a biscuit has layer after layer of fluffy, light levels packed with rosemary, thyme, and other herbs.
The best way to experience all crumb coat & chill has to offer is by placing orders on its website, where you have full customization power. But you can also stop into Her Company, a boutique located off 156th and Q, to peruse the refrigerated cases for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more. Your selection will be more limited, but Hailey does a great job of updating available items on her business’ Instagram page.
Whether you want a stunning cake for your wedding or a sweet pick-me-up on the way home from work, crumb coat & chill has you covered. Hailey’s varied experiences, starting with a middling burger joint, have taught her a variety of flavor techniques that few bakes can match, and her confections reflect her expertise.