Prantl's Bakery burnt almond torte named state's best by Food Network

The burnt almond torte created at Pittsburgh-based Prantl's Bakery has been named Pennsylvania's best by the Food Network.

The Food Network's "50 States of Cakes ," selected decadent cakes from across the map.

Noting that "Prantl's is a Pittsburgh institution," the network describes the confection this way:

"Layers of light yellow cake are held together with vanilla custard, covered in snow-white buttercream and smothered in toasty sugared almonds. The nuts make the cake. Every morning, bakers toss sliced almonds with sugar, egg whites and water, then toast them until they're golden and brittle. They press them onto all sides of each and every cake by hand.

"Prantl's ships the cake to nostalgic former Pittsburghers all over the country."

The torte already had been proclaimed " the greatest cake America ever made " by the Huffington Post.

National demand for the torte led bakery owner John Felice of Hempfield to expand to Greensburg .

The new Prantl's Bakery location at 612 Grove St. accepts prepaid orders for the torte and custom-designed cakes for pickup.

Prantl's Greensburg Cake Decorating and Design Center opened Jan. 2, according to its Facebook page. The bakery employs a design team to create special-occasions cakes.

Prantl's also acquired Jeff Pastor's Special Order Bakery, which has been making desserts in Greensburg for more than 20 years. Pastor will continue to bake for Prantl's, according to bakery officials.

The Grove Street facility is producing baked goods to fulfill online orders and supplement the supply at existing stores in Shadyside and in Market Square, Felice said in September.

The Pittsburgh locations had run out of capacity to meet rising demand, Felice said.

The Grove street building is the former home of Anderson's Market, a historic neighborhood grocery that operated for a century, until 2005.