For Alina Dvorschii, baking isn’t just a business — it’s a calling rooted in family tradition. The Ukrainian-born baker grew up watching her mother craft intricate pastries and cakes, a skill that inspired the recipes at European Taste Bakery.
“This bakery is a piece of my home,” Dvorschii said. “Every dessert we make carries a bit of Ukrainian and European tradition, and I’m excited to share those flavors with even more people in Grimes.”
Dvorschii first opened European Taste at Valley West Mall in 2024, but when the mall’s future became uncertain, she faced a race against time. “With every store that moved out, the shopping was dropping and dropping,” she said. “On the lease, it says you will have two weeks’ notice. It took me a good five months to find this spot and three more months for permits and construction.”
The new Grimes location offers a brighter space and a menu steeped in European heritage. Signature sweets include fruit-shaped mousse desserts — lifelike oranges, raspberries and coffee beans called trompe‑l’œil — alongside classics like honey cake, Kiev cake and walnut-shaped oreshki cookies filled with caramel that her husband, Alex, makes.
Many whole cakes are imported from Europe for authenticity. “They use butter. They don’t add this powder to extend the shelf life,” Dvorschii said. “I feel like it’s healthier. They just taste different.”
A lighter taste and reduced sugar are some of the hallmarks of many of Dvorschii’s desserts.
Coffee is simple by design — cappuccinos, lattes and a few cold drinks — to complement the desserts. “I have it just to cover my desserts,” she said.
Behind the pastry case is a grueling schedule. “Ever since we moved here, I work from three in the morning until 10 or 11,” Dvorschii said. But loyal customers keep her motivated. “I bake with love. I love my customers. Every time I see returning customers, I am so happy.”
Her dream? To hire help and spend more time with her children. Until then, she’s committed to sharing the flavors of home. “If you love your bakery, don’t give up,” a mentor told her. Dvorschii agrees: “I will give it another try.”
Meet the lifelike trompe‑l’œil desserts
A viral bakery TikTok trend has made its way to Iowa. Dvorschii didn’t start making her trompe‑l’œil desserts until last fall. The treats look like a pear, orange, raspberry, cherries or lemons, but cutting them reveals a mousse dessert inside.
Trompe‑l’œil — French for “deceive the eye” — creates hyper-realistic visuals. Dvorschii’s fruit-shaped mousse desserts and cakes look like real fruit, nuts or everyday objects, down to the texture and shine.
Fans love these treats because they create a “Wait. What?” moment.
TikTok’s love for trompe‑l’œil in bakeries taps into visual deception, craftsmanship and the joy of discovery. It’s more than dessert — it’s edible illusion, and it’s proving irresistibly viral.
What to order at European Taste Bakery
Trompe-l’œil or fruit-shaped desserts, $8 each: Try the orange (vanilla mousse with orange curd) or raspberry (berry mousse with raspberry layer). They’re Instagram-worthy and delicious.
Honey cake (Medovik), $6.25, or with cherries, $6.75 per slice: A bestseller with a family recipe twist — layers of honeyed dough and cream, all made by hand.
Kiev cake, $5 per slice: A Ukrainian classic with hazelnut and buttercream. Ask for both the Ukrainian and Lithuanian versions to compare.
Oreshki walnut cookies, $1.25 each: Nostalgic sandwich cookies filled with caramel — made in-house.
Coffee bean dessert, $8: Coffee mousse with a coffee soufflé in a vanilla tart, another trompe-l’œil — a playful nod to café culture.
Rum cake, $5 per slice, and pavlova, $6.25: Imported and house-made favorites for those who love traditional European sweets.
Cream cheese dessert, $5 each: Cream cheese and whipped topping come together in this pastry wrapped in dough for a light morsel in each bite
Where to find European Taste Bakery
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: European Taste brings Ukrainian bakery flavors to Grimes
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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