From donuts, to sweet rolls, to cupcakes and cookies, bakeries having some of the best things to eat and the best smells. In an attempt to show some love for small businesses, let’s take a look at some of the best bakeries across the United States.
Are you looking for some local bakeries to love? Do you want to show support to the small business owners who are struggling to stay open right now? Then now is the perfect time to show some love to any number of local bakeries across the country.
Here are seven local bakeries that we think really take the cake.
California
Nomad Donuts, San Diego
This donut shop is a bit unique. It has globally inspired donuts on their menu each day that are perfectly and specifically paired with their own artisanal coffees. They make their donuts from ingredients that are made in small batches from freshly grown products from local farmers markets.
They also serve and bake wood-fired bagels, which sound just as delicious, if not more, than all of their donuts.
Some of their unique flavors of donuts include:
- Raspberry Lavender
- Blackberry Peach Jam Mojito
- Coconut Coffee Cake
- Brown Butter Popcorn Salted Caramel Pecan
- Maple
Two cool things: they deliver through Door Dash as well (looks like bagels, sandwiches, and coffee only) and they also carry a variety of Vegan flavors and other donut holes as well.
Check them out here: Nomad Donuts
Florida
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop, Miami
This is known as Miami’s original pie shop; however, pie definitely isn’t the only thing they sell. Among the baked goodies they offer are pie, cake, cheesecake, coffee, cookies, savory options, other baked goods, and pie and cake shakes. OMG.
Everything on their menu can be sold by the slice (perfect for yourself) or whole (perfect for parties, holidays, and other get-togethers).
Some of their flavors of pastries include:
- Key Lime Pie
- Guava Coconut Rum Cake
- Cappuccino
- Cookies and Cream Cheesecake
- Sprinkled Sugar Cookie
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Beef Empanada
Hint: ANY of their cakes or pies can be made into a shake that is blended with ice cream and topped with a mound of whipped cream!
In addition to their Miami location, Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop also has two other locations to support.
Check them out here: Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop
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Gideon’s Bakehouse, Orlando
This business has been around since 1898, and they’ve been named the Best Cookie in Florida, Best Cookie in the United States, and the Best Cookie on Planet Earth!
While they serve mainly cookies (seasonal and regular), they also serve cakes, pies, and cookie cakes, as well as some dessert coffees that are (very unfortunately) unavailable.
Their cookies are advertised as being $5 each and just shy of a half a pound!
Some of their available cookies include:
- Pistachio Toffee Dark Chocolate
- Cookies and Cream
- Classic Chocolate Chip
- Peanut Butter Espresso (April exclusive)
- Cookie Bites
Some of their seasonal cookies include:
- Mexican Chocolate (Random)
- Triple Chocolate Salted Andes Mint (December)
- Eternal Flame (February) – made with Cayenne pepper
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut with Homemade Salted Caramel (November)
- The Frankenstein (October) – cookies and cream covered in M&M’s
Two of their cake flavors include:
- Cookies and Cream
- Peanut Butter Cup
They have two types of pie/cookie cakes that include:
- Peanut Butter Apple Pie
- Giant Gideon’s Cookie
They also have two types of dessert coffees that include:
- The Original Peanut Butter Coffee
- Fire and Iced Coffee
Check them out here: Gideon’s Bakehouse
Illinois
Something’s Brewing, Grayslake
What doesn’t this place serve?! They serve, sandwiches, labrettis, breakfast dishes, cookies, cakes, coffee drinks, muffins, chocolates, and literally so much more!!
They have two convenient locations: one right across from the local community college and one right in the heart of downtown Grayslake. They have daily soup and coffee specials; they also have a chalkboard menu that almost goes the entire length of the store: HOW COOL!
Some of my personal favorites here include:
- Literally ANY of their house-made muffins
- Country Club Labretti
- Breakfast Quesadillas
- ALL of their salads
- Chicken Parmesan Sub – lighter, grilled version
Please go show them some love if you live near by, or if you have a family member or friend who does, send them a gift card! The best thing we can be doing now is giving back.
Check them out here: Something’s Brewing
Nevada
Pinkbox Doughnuts, Las Vegas
Currently, there are three locations and they plan on doing some more expansions, so as far as small businesses go, this one’s a little far-fetched but definitely still worth mentioning.
They always have some sort of Limited Edition donut, as well as a donut of the month. This month it’s called the Salted Blonde; it’s a signature glazed salted caramel old-fashioned drizzled with caramel and then sprinkled off with some sea salt. Um…yes please.
Their Limited Edition donut is called Be Safe; it’s a donut filled with whipped cream and decorated to look like a smiley face wearing a mask.
Talk about a donut shop with crazy donuts; Pinkbox definitely doesn’t disappoint, that’s for sure, given that all of their donuts have unique and creative names to them.
To put it into perspective, let’s look at their categories of donuts and some of the donuts that they offer:
- OG Classics
- Suga Daddy – classic ring dusted in vanilla sugar
- Plain N’ Simple – just some plain vanilla cake
- Good Fellas
- The Loopy Captain – long john frosted and topped with half Froot Loops and half Captain Crunch
- Purple Rain – purple ube (sweet potato) cake glazed and topped with ube cake crumble
- Fancy Pancy’s
- Blackjack – vanilla cake, chocolate frosted, filled with cookies and cream whip, and topped with crushed Oreos and a while chocolate drizzle
- Goin’ Bananas – glazed shell donut filled with real mashed bananas, topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle
- DoughCros
- Porky Face – maple frosted croissant donut topped with crumbled bacon
- Chocolate Cherry Face – cherry frosted croissant donut drizzled with chocolate frosting
- Show-Offs
- Baby Got Razz – raspberry cheesecake sandwiched in between two sugared donuts, topped with a dollop of the same cheesecake
- Pee-Weez
- Various donut holes and mini DoughCros
- Campfire Bar
- Apple Pie A-La-Mode Cupcake
- Individual Mini Cheesecakes & Layered Cakes
- Tie Dye Cake
- Puddings: Banana Cream, Chocolate Trifle, Oreo Pudding
- Breakfast Bundt: Blueberry Coffee Cake, Angel Food Cake, Buttermilk Biscuits, etc…
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Ham and Cheese Puffs
- Pulled Pork Puffs
- Maple Twist
- Fruit Kolaches
- Various Sweet Rolls
*Vegan options are only available at their Tropicana and Fort Apache locations.*
When I went to Vegas for the first time back in July 2019, I made it a point to go to Pinkbox. After grazing the strip for a while, at 3 am, my boyfriend and I decided that we needed donuts, so we went and picked up a bunch: Porky (maple-bacon bar), Purple Rain (limited at the time), It’s Ya Birthday, Gimme S’more, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Have a Snickers.
If you’d like to see the most mouth-watering photos of these donuts, drop by my Instagram and check out some pictures I posted (you won’t be sorry).
Check them out here: Pinkbox Doughnuts
Dog-themed cakes (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) New York
Buttercup Bakeshop, New York
This bakery offers so many different things, like cookies, cakes, pies, bars, puddings, and breakfast bundts; there are currently four different locations of Buttercup Bakeshop so go show them some love and support.
To give an idea of why someone should go here, here are some of the things that they serve and offer:
DOUBLE YUM!!
Check them out here: Buttercup Bakeshop
Texas
Czech Stop, West
The quote on their website says it all: “Treat yourself…kolaches, cookies, breads, and more!”
They provide the types of goodies that they serve, as well as their prices for each, for a half-dozen, and for a dozen (should you want to order in bulk or for a party or holiday).
They serve a variety of pastries, such as kolaches, sweet rolls, twists, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies, pies, and a variety of savory pastries as well.
Some of the things (savory and sweet) that they serve include:
This bakery is pretty cool as it offers something other than food; they also offer and provide Shell Gasoline at some great prices to fill up your tank while waiting for your little pieces of heaven.
Check them out here: Czech Stop
While all these big name-brand bakeries and donut shops are all good and fun, please go visit your local bakeries wherever you live! They always taste better and more homemade anyway! With all these places have given us, it’s time that we give back to them and not only buy their goodies and products, but to also to spread the word and get their names out there for everyone to know and love!