Growing up, I always struggled with change. I struggled with changing schools, I struggled with changing teachers, and I especially struggled when my dad tried to change the recipe of one of my go-to comfort meals when I was still in middle school. I respect the intention of trying to elevate food for the better, but sometimes change just simply isn’t necessary.
The same methodology can be applied to cakes. Just last year, everyone was raving about Whole Foods’ Berry Chantilly cake. It quickly became a favorite of the chain grocery store. People love it due to it not being overly sweet. With lots of desserts usually giving you a solid punch of sugar, this cake seems to be a diamond in the rough for people who prefer their sweets on the lighter side. It features layers of delicate vanilla cake, fluffy Chantilly cream frosting, and fresh berries.
“The cake is now a staple at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide and is still the #1 cake flavor west of the Mississippi where our stores might see hundreds of Berry Chantilly orders during holiday weeks!” Natalie Dunham of the Whole Foods Bakery Category team told TODAY.
Why are people obsessed with the Whole Foods Berry Chantilly cake?
For those who don’t know the story behind the dessert, Whole Foods’ Berry Chantilly cake came into existence in 2005 in New Orleans all thanks to former bakery manager Chaya Conrad deciding to get a little experimental. Little did she know that she would be starting a revolution. The Chantilly cake craze has only increased.
Sadly, it seems as though all good things must come to an end — the Berry Chantilly cake may have changed, which has some fans outraged.
Has the Berry Chantilly cake changed?
According to two avid Berry Chantilly cake fans on TikTok, within the last week, the flavor of the cake, along with its presentation had changed.
“Whole Foods is discontinuing the Berry Chantilly Cake we all know and love,” said TikTok user Lisa, known as @mylegalera, in a video on Sunday. “I literally get a slice on a weekly basis religiously.”
During said weekly trip, when Lisa went to grab her regular slice, there were none out. “I asked the guy [behind the counter] if they were making more,” she continued in her video. “He was like ‘Oh we actually changed the recipe. We don’t do it like that anymore.’”
According to her, the Whole Foods worker said that the cakes are now being sent frozen without fruit in the middle. She isn’t the only one who noticed a change to the cult favorite.
In a separate video published last Friday, TikToker @culturework made similar claims.
“Whole Foods’ Chantilly cake is a victim of shrinkflation,” she said, showing off how the cake slices now look.
From @culturework’s point of view, the price cake slice is now smaller but the same price and has some sort of jam in between the layers with the fresh berries on the side instead of layered within. The flavor is also different. “It tastes like raspberry jam-flavored cleaning product,” she continued.
Lisa agreed in a follow-up video. “They’re not changing the full size cakes,” she said, referring to the fact that the cake sold by the slice tastes and looks different, but the whole cakes still have the delicious flavor she remembers. “I feel like the cake doesn’t taste the same as the slices. There’s too much cake, not enough frosting.”
So what now?
We reached out to Whole Foods for comment on if these changes are true, but as of publication, the grocery store has yet to respond. Until then, maybe you want to try to make your own! Food Network and Bake With Zoha came out with copycat recipes that may satisfy your cravings.