What oil does Smallcakes fry in?
Smallcakes most likely cooks with butter and palm oil, but the chain has not confirmed it.
In detail: Butter and palm/soybean-based vegetable shortening blend in cake batter and buttercream frosting; no official nutrition data published by corporate — inferred from allergen disclosure and standard franchise bakery practice.
Ordering at Smallcakes? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderSmallcakes at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Butter and palm oil (estimated) |
| Seed oils | In some items |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | A (3.6 g average per item, 49 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Butter: No · Palm oil: No |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Smallcakes
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Mini Cupcake (2-pack) | 1.0g |
| Classic Vanilla Cupcake | 2.0g |
| Classic Chocolate Cupcake | 2.0g |
| Lemon Cupcake | 2.0g |
| Salted Caramel Cupcake | 2.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Smallcakes order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhy the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Smallcakes report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Smallcakes fry in?
Smallcakes most likely cooks with butter and palm oil, but the chain has not confirmed it. In detail: Butter and palm/soybean-based vegetable shortening blend in cake batter and buttercream frosting; no official nutrition data published by corporate — inferred from allergen disclosure and standard franchise bakery practice.
Does Smallcakes use seed oils?
Yes, in some items. Our notes: Butter and palm/soybean-based vegetable shortening blend in cake batter and buttercream frosting; no official nutrition data published by corporate — inferred from allergen disclosure and standard franchise bakery practice.
Does Smallcakes use beef tallow?
No. Smallcakes most likely cooks with butter and palm oil, not beef tallow. The chain has not confirmed it.
Does Smallcakes use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Smallcakes most likely cooks with butter and palm oil. The chain has not confirmed it. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Smallcakes?
Mini Cupcake (2-pack) (1.0 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Classic Vanilla Cupcake (2.0 g) and Classic Chocolate Cupcake (2.0 g).
Which Smallcakes item has the most seed oil?
Dozen Cupcakes - Assorted, at about 24.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.