There is something incredible about the smell of fresh baked goods. From the crisp, yet chewy baguettes and buttery, flaky croissants to the cookies, cakes, and pastries redolent with yeast, vanilla, chocolate, and more, that tantalize the nose and tastebuds, beckoning all who sniff to enter. Baked goods are revered in many parts of the world, like France, where they are often a cultural significance of a nation (the baguette was even awarded UNESCO status as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.) But in the U.S., bakeries are a bit different, and the ultimate bakery bucket list: top spot in every state lets you discover treats all across the nation.
In the U.S. we tend to meld our baking establishments into one, where consumers can buy everything at once. A one-stop-shop approach that combines a wide range of flour-based baked goods including pastries, cakes and pies, breads, doughnuts, and more. Other parts of the world have stand-alone locations, like France, which have distinctively separate places to buy them. Treats like croissants, pain au chocolate, and madeleines, are purchased at a pâtisserie, or pastry shop, and bread items like baguettes (where you can choose amongst four different types) are purchased at a boulangerie, or bread bakery.
To determine the ultimate bakery bucket list: top spot in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed articles and rankings on a variety of sites including Eater, Taste of Home, Love Food, and Business Insider, as well as local and regional sources, basing our final choices on editorial discretion. Certain examples feature baked goods native to Latin America or Central Europe, while others offer specialties popular in their corners of the country – like klobásníky (stuffed rolls) in Texas or mochi donuts in Hawaii. (This is the most iconic dessert in every state.)
Here is the ultimate bakery bucket list: top spot in every state.
Alabama: The Continental Bakery
- Founded: 1985
- Location: Birmingham
- Signature item (s): Wild yeast sourdough bread
Alaska: Marlo’s Bakery
- Founded:
- Location: Fairbanks
- Signature item (s): Pecan sticky bun
Arizona: Squarz Bakery & Café
- Founded: 2011
- Location: Tempe & Scottsdale
- Signature item (s): Kouign amann
Arkansas: Dempsey Bakery
- Founded: 2008
- Location: Little Rock
- Signature item (s): Hit milk cake
California: Acme Bread Company
- Founded: 1983
- Location: Berkeley & San Francisco
- Signature item (s): Jalapeno cheese bread
Colorado: Babette’s Bakery
- Founded: 2013
- Location: Longmont
- Signature item (s): Oatmeal porridge loaf
Connecticut: Nana’s Bakery & Pizza
- Founded: 2020
- Location: Mystic
- Signature item (s): Cacio e pepe sourdoughnut (made to order)
Delaware: Sweet Somethings
- Founded: 1997
- Location: Wilmington
- Signature item (s): Chocolate espresso cake
Florida: Yalaha Bakery
- Founded: 1995
- Location: Yalaha
- Signature item (s): Pretzel roll with cheese
Georgia: The Buttery ATL
- Founded: 2018
- Location: Atlanta
- Signature item (s): Jen Yee’s dream cookie
Hawaii: Liliha Bakery
- Founded: 1950
- Location: Honolulu
- Signature item (s): Pot mochi donut
Idaho: Flight of Fancy Bakery
- Founded: 1994
- Location: Donnelly
- Signature item (s): Huckleberry cream cheese danish
Illinois: Weber’s Bakery
- Founded: 1930
- Location: Chicago
- Signature item (s): Cinnamon raisin cylinder
Indiana: Amelia’s Bread
- Founded: 2015
- Location: Indianapolis
- Signature item (s): Pullman sandwich loaf
Iowa: Deluxe Cakes and Pastries
- Founded: 2003
- Location: Iowa City
- Signature item (s): Ham and gruyere baguette
Kansas: Augustine’s Bakery
- Founded: Unknown
- Location: Hays
- Signature item (s): Black Forest cheesecake
Kentucky: Bluegrass Baking Company
- Founded: 1991
- Location: Lexington
- Signature item (s): Bohemian beer bread
Louisiana: La Boulangerie
- Founded: 2000
- Location: New Orleans
- Signature item (s): Cinnamon walnut churro
Maine: Standard Baking Co.
- Founded: 1995
- Location: Portland
- Signature item (s): Pistachio shortbread
Maryland: The Breadery
- Founded: 1996
- Location: Catonsville
- Signature item (s): French baguette
Massachusetts: Berkshire Mountain Bakery
- Founded: 1985
- Location: Housatonic & Pittsfield
- Signature item (s):Jalapeño and cheese mini ciabatta
Michigan: Zingerman’s Bakehouse
- Founded: 1992
- Location: Ann Arbor
- Signature item (s): Jewish rye bread
Minnesota: Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris
- Founded: 2019
- Location: St. Paul
- Signature item (s): Paris Brest
Mississippi: The Bottletree Bakery
- Founded: 1995
- Location: Oxford
- Signature item (s): Monkey bread
Missouri: Nathaniel Reid Bakery
- Founded: 2016
- Location: Kirkwood
- Signature item (s): Four cheese and honey focaccia
Montana: Black Cat Bake Shop
- Founded: 2010
- Location: Missoula
- Signature item (s): Pecan sticky bun
Nevada: Patisserie Manon
- Founded: 2010
- Location: Las Vegas
- Signature item (s): Lemon tartlette
Nebraska: Olsen Bake Shop
- Founded: 1984
- Location: Omaha
- Signature item (s): Houska bread
New Hampshire: Polish Princess
- Founded: 2008
- Location: Lancaster
- Signature item (s): Vollkornbrot (sourdough rye bread with sunflower seeds)
New Jersey: Balthazar Bakery
- Founded: 1997
- Location: Englewood
- Signature item (s): Chocolate truffles
New Mexico: Golden Crown Panaderia
- Founded: 1972
- Location: Albuquerque
- Signature item (s): Original New Mexico green chile bread
New York: Sullivan Street Bakery
- Founded: 1994
- Location: New York City
- Signature item (s): Pizza Bianca (flatbread)
North Carolina: Amélie’s French Bakery and Café
- Founded: 2008
- Location: Charlotte
- Signature item (s): Croque monsieur
North Dakota: Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
- Founded: 2003
- Location: Fargo
- Signature item (s): Pecan sticky roll
Ohio: Blackbird Baking Company
- Founded: 2009
- Location: Lakewood
- Signature item (s): Cherry almond scone
Oklahoma: Front Porch Bakery
- Founded: Unknown
- Location: Claremore
- Signature item (s): Lemon poppy seed muffin
Oregon: Ken’s Artisan Bakery
- Founded: 2001
- Location: Portland
- Signature item (s): Hazelnut butter cookie
Pennsylvania: La Gourmandine
- Founded: 2010
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Signature item (s): Macaron au chocolat
Rhode Island: Pastiche Fine Desserts
- Founded: 1983
- Location: Providence
- Signature item (s): Passion coconut cake
South Carolina: Sugar Bake Shop
- Founded: 2007
- Location: Charleston
- Signature item (s): Red velvet cupcake
South Dakota: CH Pâtisserie
- Founded: 2013
- Location: Sioux Falls
- Signature item (s): Classic croissant
Tennessee: Muddy’s Bake Shop
- Founded: 2008
- Location: Memphis
- Signature item (s): Chocolate peanut butter bar
Texas: Original Kountry Bakery
- Founded: 1979
- Locations: Schulenburg and Hallettsville
- Signature item (s):Jalapeño & sausage & cheese klobásníky
Utah: Eva’s Bakery
- Founded: 2008
- Location: Salt Lake City
- Signature item (s): Date cake with buttercream
Vermont: King Arthur Café, Bakery & Store
- Founded: The company dates back to 1790; the store opened in 2000
- Location: Norwich
- Signature item (s): Rye sea salt brownie
Virginia: Sub Rosa Bakery
- Founded: 2012
- Location: Richmond
- Signature item (s): Fig and cheese croissant
Washington: Bakery Nouveau
- Founded: 2006
- Location: Seattle
- Signature item (s): Olive fougasse
West Virginia: Shepherdstown Sweet Shop
- Founded: 1982
- Location: Shepherdstown
- Signature item (s): Pepperoni roll
Wisconsin: Peter Sciortino Bakery
- Founded: 1947
- Location: Milwaukee
- Signature item (s): Mini cream puff
Wyoming: Persephone Bakery
- Founded: 2011
- Location: Jackson Hole & Wilson
- Signature item (s): Bread pudding French toast