With so many of our local bakeries closing their doors across Long Island, finding quality baked goods has become a real challenge. While many of us default to Costco for birthday cakes or head to The Cake Don for special occasions, I decided to test whether local supermarket bakeries could fill the void for everyday sweet cravings.
My first stop: ShopRite at Country Pointe in Plainview.
Generally speaking, the Country Pointe location is one of my favorite supermarkets on Long Island. It is exceptionally clean and boasts an impressive selection of food products. The only notable downside is the deli counter. The wait time for sliced deli meats can be painfully slow.
But today, we’re here for the bakery!
I picked up two classic items from the bakery display: the Crumb Cake and a Vanilla Ring Cake with Chocolate Icing.
The Crumb Cake
Score: 8.1 / 10
For serious crumb cake aficionados, the topping-to-cake ratio is everything. ShopRite nails this right off the bat with an impressive 1:1 ratio—the crumb layer is just as thick as the underlying cake.
The Pros: The crumbs tasted exceptionally fresh, and the cake base was rich and buttery with a subtle, warming hint of cinnamon.
The Critique: My only complaint was the crumb structure. Rather than large, soft bakery nuggets, the topping consisted of smaller crumbs.
The Verdict: Despite the smaller crumbs, this was a fantastic slice. In fact, I actually preferred it over the crumb cake from Buttercooky Bakery in Manhasset.
Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Icing
Score: 7.5 / 10
This cake delivered a heavy hit of nostalgia, immediately recalling the neighborhood bakeries of my youth.
The Pros: The vanilla sponge was moist, tender, and undeniably fresh.
The Critique: The chocolate icing fell slightly short. The flavor was a bit muted, and I was hoping for that classic, firmer chocolate shell texture rather than a soft glaze.
Final Verdict
| Item Reviewed | Highlights | Overall Score |
| Crumb Cake | Excellent 1:1 crumb ratio, rich & buttery base | 8.1 / 10 |
| Vanilla Cake w/ Chocolate Icing | Nostalgic flavor, very moist cake base | 7.5 / 10 |
Overall Bakery Rating: 7.8 / 10
While it won’t entirely replace specialized custom cake shops, the bakery at ShopRite Country Pointe is a surprisingly strong contender for your everyday bakery cravings. If you’re looking for a fresh, high-quality crumb cake on Long Island without bakery prices, it is well worth a visit.