Our Bakery Story
Kristoffer's Cakes' legendary Tres Leches recipe, born in Mexico, found its Chicago home in 2003. Cristina Campos Chavarria, inspired by her sister Bricia's pastry expertise, founded Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery in Pilsen. Today, Cristina and her son Kristoffer continue this family-owned bakery tradition, blending Mexican heritage with Chicago's vibrant food scene.
Our journey began with a single flavor of Tres Leches, but our passion for innovation quickly led us to experiment with new tastes. We were the first in Chicago to introduce flavored Tres Leches cakes, starting with our now-famous Strawberry Tres Leches in 2005. This bold move set us apart and sparked a trend in the city's dessert landscape.
Beyond our signature cakes, we've become an integral part of Chicago's culinary community. We regularly collaborate with local chefs for special events, participate to food festivals, and even offer baking classes to share our Mexican baking techniques with enthusiasts. Our commitment to quality has earned us recognition from food critics and a loyal following among Chicago's dessert lovers.
As a beloved Mexican cake shop in Chicago, we honor our roots while innovating. Our menu features unique creations like RumChata, Cappuccino, Oreo, Mango, Strawberry, and Abuelita Tres Leches, alongside traditional favorites.
A Milestone in Kristoffer's Cakes History: Rick Bayless Endorsement
June 2, 2008 marked a pivotal moment in the story of our family-owned Chicago bakery. Renowned chef Rick Bayless visited our Mexican cake shop and declared:
"I've eaten a lot of tres leches in Mexico, and this—this is the best one I've ever had."
This image captures that day. On the left is Cristina Chavarria, our pastry chef and owner, standing with world-class chef Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. On the right is Carlos Chavarria, co-owner of our beloved Chicago bakery.
This endorsement from a James Beard award-winning chef specializing in Mexican cuisine solidified Kristoffer's Cakes' reputation as Chicago's premier destination for authentic Mexican desserts.
