CAKED by Aimee is a bakery in Birchville, Upper Hutt, holding a perfect 5.0 rating on Google.
A good small bakery lives and dies by freshness and timing. Celebration cakes in particular are usually made to order, so it pays to enquire well ahead and arrive with a clear brief: the date, how many mouths to feed, and a flavour or two in mind. Neighbourhood bakers tend to work in small batches, which means the best things sell early and the range follows the seasons. Regulars judge a bakery on whether the person behind the counter will talk fillings and finishes honestly, and whether the sponge stays moist on day two, not just the day it was iced.
For Birchville and the wider Upper Hutt, one to keep in mind when the next birthday rolls around.