Great Bakeries Around Michigan
Walking into Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe in DeWitt is like taking a walk back in time.
“When you come into my shop you are going to see things that old bakeries did, and you're going to smell wonderful aromas of molasses cookies, apple pies and grilled cheese sandwiches, all in one,” said owner/baker/best-selling author Linda Hundt. “That’s what is special about Sweetie-licious.”
“Special” is a great way to describe her bakery, which led us to wonder…. “What are other ‘special’ bakeries in Michigan?”
Here’s a look at 13 Great Bakeries in Michigan:
If you want a truly authentic Middle Eastern experience, Shatila has been a top destination in Metro Detroit since opening in 1979. It now ships all over the world. Along with their top-selling baklava, make sure to try knafe, a breakfast pasty made with Spanish and mozzarella cheese and topped with a drizzle of rose water syrup.
Those craving traditional Mexican baked goods can find it here. The pastry case is packed with beautiful slices of cake, cheesecake, tortes, cannolis, fruit pies and more. It’s considered to have some of the best Tres Leches cakes in town. Choose from flavors like vanilla, caramel, chocolate, pina colada and strawberry.
- Crust, Fenton
Crust courtesy John D. Gonzalez
This bakery has made a name for itself with goods made fresh daily with a wide range of styles to meet every palate. Whether artisan breads or flaky croissants, you can’t go wrong with anything. We're still partial to the world's best peanut butter and jelly doughnut! Your taste buds will thank you.
- Buttercrust Bakery, Bridgeport
Buttercrust courtesy John D. Gonzalez
Traveling on I-75 near Frankenmuth? This hidden gem of goodness is known for fresh breads and pastries, as well as mouth-watering glazed doughnuts, creative cupcakes and something called an Ugly, which consists of apple, strawberry and cinnamon mixed with the ends of the dough, rolled out and fried.
Hermann Schwaiger, an award-winning chef from the Grand Hotel relocated to the Bay City area to open this little slice of heaven with many of his great recipes. Here you will find tasty fruit tarts, lemon bars, wedding cakes, pies, pastries and pumpkin rolls beyond belief. Try the take-home mac and cheese. It’s worth it!
- Huron Mountain Bakery, Marquette
Huron Mountain Bakery courtesy John D. Gonzalez
When you’re in the Upper Peninsula and you need a little grab-and-go, this one-stop bakery has it all - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The doughnuts and coffee will fuel you up in the morning, and the deli goods for later in the day. But the cakes are what distinguishes this place above the rest. The Raspberry Bomb chocolate cake alone is worth the drive.
This meat store is known for selling more than 30 flavors of brats - from pork and beef to apple maple and jalapeno, all ready to grill at your delight. But they also make Michigan's biggest doughnuts with a fritter the size of your head and a long john to feed a family of four! Enjoy.
The pride of the west side, this bakery is known for creativity, freshness, a dedicated clientele and the Cannonball - a doughnut stuffed with vanilla custard, deep fried to a golden hue and drenched in a rich chocolate frosting.
Known by the college faithful for decades with a booming drive thru, Sweetwaters is cranking out tasty doughnuts - more than 60 flavors, all day long - and has become a destination bakery. The Boston Cream is the top seller, but get one of those monster fritters, too.
Everything - muffins, pies, doughnuts, breads and pastries - is worth a drive to Louie’s, a third-generation family bakery. But it’s the Nut Roll that makes this the perfect stop. The house-roasted peanuts enhance the vanilla icing on a cinnamon roll for near perfection.
They line up early, and often, at Hinkley Bakery, considered by many as the tops in Michigan. From simple glazed doughnuts to their signature chocolate covered crescent, this family bakery is what makes Jackson special.
Apple fritters and glazed doughnuts are the top sellers here, but if you’re looking for a beautifully decorated cookie that changes with the seasons, you have found just the right place.
Owner and pie maker Linda Hundt has famously said: "We love what we do, and we want to make people happy." That sums up why you need to visit. Not to mention her award winning pies and dedicated crew, Sweetie-licious is one of those places you want to return every weekend. Pick up Tom's Cheery Cherry Berry, which won the Food Network Pie Challenge in 2009.
John Gonzalez is a Michigan journalist with more than 30 years of experience. He is a member of the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame. He is originally from Capac and based in Grand Rapids.