Blue Vanilla Bakery & Catering

Wow! This was the second time and I’ve used Blue Vanilla for a birthday cake. I had several compliments on how fresh and yummy it was. Margie was very accommodating as this was last minute notice. She delivered it with a smile and we will definitely order from her again.

Where to begin? This place is pure heaven! The food pairings were perfect.
The plates are small plates. we thought we were going to be hungry when we left, but it was the exact right amount.
We ordered the asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with a soft boiled egg & parmesan, frisee salad with nectarine, almonds, feta, and honey mustard dressing. Later, added beef and blue sliders with fries. Wow!
The food was 5 star dining quality. I highly recommend!

This bakery is awesome and very consistent! Amazing customer service! Go here for special order cakes and cookies!

This is a quaint little spot in Des Moines, kinda hidden but definitely worth seeking out…
Awesome Raspberry cheesecake. I ordered one for my sisters graduation, what a hit!

I love their raspberry morning muffin. It is unlike any other pastry I’ve had… I think part of the secret might be high quality sour cream… but really I think it’s made of magic.
Many other good things there too! I could go for a slightly warmer space, but the food is the point, and it’s amazing.
Go there! But do not take the last raspberry muffin… it’s mine. :-)

Wanted to meet a friend at a café near her place. Found Blue Vanilla on Unilocal :) decided to meet at noon for lunch and coffee before work. It was just us this last Tuesday. We ordered lunch and waited for the bakery to get their fresh cupcakes and eclairs finished. Yummy eclairs! Got the tuna melt it was good but nothing spectacular.
The café is a decent size, didn’t check if they have wifi. Parking on the street was plentiful and there are 2 or 3 spots in front of the café. It might be tough to find because you can’t see the place from the street. Just turn where your gps tells you, even if you don’t see the place. Right when you turn look for the green sign. The café is in the back.
The café closed early the day we went. Was supposed to stay open until 3pm but they closed at 1. The staff wasn’t in a hurry to push us out though, they didn’t even tell us. We noticed when we left at 130pm and saw the sign they placed on the door.

Well, I have lived in Des Moines for over 30 years and seen lots of restaurants and coffee shops move in and then close a year or two later… But, I think we’ve finally got a keeper here!
I, skeptically did not try this restaurant until finally I went there and got sandwiches for my friend and I. I was unsure of what to order so the nice lady at the counter offered that I should try the muffaletta. I not thinking I would like it discussed options, then said who am I to change your recipe, make it the way you would normally make it! OH MY I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE BEST SANDWICH THAT I HAVE EVER HAD!!!
So, I went back on Saturday and found that they don’t make lunch on Saturday. Then Monday was a holiday and it was closed so on Wednesday I finally got another. Will be back soon for more!!!
Thank you!

Blue Vanilla made my daughter’s 1^st birthday cake a memorable one! Our overall experience was great. We got a 2-​tiered cake and a smash cake. Our guests raved about the lemon cake. The owner is friendly and pleasant. I asked for them to deliver the cake since I was not confident in our ability to not damage the cake on the way to our venue. I was pleasantly surprised to see the owner hand delivering the cake, and loaning us cake stands at no extra charge.
We’ve had other cupcake flavors and brunch as well. But I must say their lemon cake, french toasts and Eggs Benedict are worth the trip.
I must say I miss going there because their hours are limited. Wish they were open again on Saturdays.

The orange-​almond french toast here is the best french toast I’ve ever had. Eggs benny was great, too. The ladies behind the counter were friendly.
Didn’t care much for the coffee, but then, I’m not a fan of Caffe D’arte.

Breakfast sandwich and quiche were both great! If I’m ever back in the neighborhood I’ll be back.

Yum! raspberry cheesecake is to die for… Bought for a celebration and want disappointed.

They make the most delicious custom order pies. I ordered a Lemon Meringue for my husband’s birthday (he’s not big into cake) & he said it was the best he’s ever had. We have had meringue at quite a few bakeries since it is his favorite. Thanks!

We love this place! We live in Des Moines and frequent this place for either lunch or just a coffee and treat. We love the relaxing enviroment and friendly staff. My favorite is the homemade soups and grilled cheese. A must go!

I was just told by the owner why I had an odd experience at Blue Vanilla the day my coworker and I came for a visit. I had no idea what was going on and what happened was completely understandable. The food was not only memorable, it was wonderful. The upshot is that they care deeply about the customer experience here and I heartily recommend giving them a try if you happen to be in the area around the airport. It’s worth the extra miles to Des Moines where great food is a rarity and to be appreciated when found. A real gem!
I’m removing my original review so I’m just pasting in my impression of our brunch:
” The space this place occupies is very pleasant. It’s not facing busy Marina View Drive and they’ve made a nice naturally lit space with a home kitchen feel to it. The pastry cases show off cookies, cupcakes, bread and pastries. They looked good but we were hungry!
They brought the food pretty quickly. Julie’s sandwich was perfectly browned and the tuna blend in it looked light and fluffy. She later wrote me and said it was the best tuna melt she’s ever had. I asked ahead of time if the turkey sandwich had mayo in it. The girl said it had just what it said on the board: turkey, lingonberry spread and cream cheese with lettuce. I could swear it had mayo on it, but I enjoyed it very much anyway. The bread was so moist yet light with a great chew on the crust. I brought half of it home to my boyfriend who also declared the sandwich excellent. The sandwiches were great and we’ll come back.”

Found this little gem on a recent vacation.
I made the mistake of ordering yogurt instead of just pastry. It was not great — super sweet and mild. However, I did rectify this issue by having a raspberry oatmeal bar — Fantastic! Coffee was good, service was great. It looks like they have some serious treats as well — Yum!

My girls and I stopped in on a whim after looking on Unilocal for a bakery near us at the time. They were getting ready to close early due to a street fair, but were very friendly and patient while my girls changed their mind a few times on what they wanted. We settled on a Raspberry Oat Bar, an Éclair and a Chocolate Chip Cookie. All three were delicious! Four stars based on their bakery desserts in the afternoon. Still fresh and delicious.
They have a full breakfast and lunch menu that I plan to try out later. I’ll update my review after I go back.

It was good, but not great… I had a cookie and a cupcake. I probably would come back if I was REALLY craving something sweet…

I have been here a few times now and every time the service has been great and the food has been even better. This is what I have ordered so far: (definitely some things I still can’t wait to try)
— Raspberry Cream cheese morning bun (muffin) (favorite)
— Cinnamon roll
— Smores dessert
— Raspberry bar
— Coconut cupcake with almond cream cheese frosting (favorite)
— Chocolate cupcake with Salted caramel frosting (favorite)
— Turkey, Cream Cheese, and Lingonberry sandwich (favorite)
— Potato leek soup
— White caramel mocha
The pastries and baked goods here are extremely tasty and the atmosphere is cozy. Almost every time I have been here the place was packed with people so I have taken that as an indication of how many people enjoy coming to this place. This place is located off of Marine Drive but it is not right on Marine Drive. It is on the backside of a building located on Marine Drive.

Don’t understand all the 5 Star Reviews. I went here twice — hoping that the first visit was just a fluke. If you aren’t a regular — they really don’t care about helping you (there was a review that’s now deleted that stated the same thing). I realize your regulars are your bread and butter but you could be a little nicer to those that aren’t — I saw this both times I was here! So service gets 1 star…
The pecan sticky roll and the orange roll were good (not fantastic) and they were a bit overpriced for the size. They did have a really small selection both times I was there which was early in the morning (the cases looked like they should look at the end of the day when everything is picked over).
Will I be back? If I’m in the neighborhood and have to have an orange roll.

Fantastic! The ladies of Blue Vanilla Bakery, Margie & Ashley, are as passionate about creating great food as most of us are about enjoying it.
On my latest visit, I tried the chocolate-​covered, cream-​filled éclair. Wow! Good thing I walked in just before closing or I would have gone back for the rest in the case!
Whether you’re craving a breakfast sweet or a fresh, handmade lunch, BVB will satisfy you. Add a superbly made cappuccino or latte and you have the perfect meal!