Kristoffer's Cakes

Kristoffer’s Cakes brings Tres Leches from Pilsen to McKinley Park | Eater Chicago

"Opened in McKinley Park just before Thanksgiving, this cozy bakery from founders Carlos and Cristina Chavarria concentrates on desserts and coffee and builds on the couple’s long-standing reputation for outstanding tres leches cakes. The traditional vanilla tres leches is the biggest draw and has earned endorsements from notable chefs, helping make the Chavarrias a local food landmark; they also supply cakes to restaurants. The menu is expanding beyond classics to include a flourless chocolate cake, a carrot cupcake with a not-too-sweet cheesecake frosting, red velvet, and a newly unveiled corn flan, with paletas planned for warmer weather. The shop serves Intelligentsia coffee (including a Salvadoran offering reflecting Carlos’s roots), offers delivery via GrubHub and DoorDash, and features a small main seating area plus a 1,000-square-foot back room that can be reserved for events. Family recipes and multi-generational baking traditions underpin the operation, reflecting the owners’ return to Chicago after a stint in Florida." - Ashok Selvam