Baltimore Bakeries for When You’re Craving Something Sweet

Codetta Bake Shop

In addition to cheesecake, Codetta these chocolatey brownie-topped creations! Credit @codettabakeshop on Instagram.

Codetta is widely considered to have some of the best cheesecakes in Charm City. The name is an ode to founder and head baker Sumayyah Bilal’s dual love for music and baking; just as a codetta functions as a concluding exclamation point on a piece of music, no meal is really complete without dessert. Their cheesecakes come in three sizes—6 in, 9 in or 10 in—and many flavors, including their bestselling Oreo.

Charm City Cakes

Since opening Charm City Cakes in 2002, acclaimed pastry chef and Food Network star Duff Goldman has churned out impressive, never-before-seen concoctions. We’re talking cakes with sound, gravity-defying cakes, cakes with motors, life-size cakes and more! His culinary creativity and infectious charm have earned him two James Beard Awards, and his cakes have been featured everywhere from President Barack Obama’s inauguration to Hollywood movie premieres. Visit the store in Remington to shop delicious baked goods, purchase Duff merchandise or take a cake decorating class.

Midnite Confections Cupcakery

This Black-owned family business serves up fresh, made-from-scratch baked goods using home recipes. They feature 12 cupcake flavors each day, including their signature Black Velvet, an even more chocolatey twist on the classic Red Velvet, and Playboy, a carrot cake cupcake with just a hint of pineapple and oh-so-fluffy frosting. For an adults-only event, consider Midnite Confections’ boozy “After Hours” cupcake menu, which includes items like Mojito, a minty cupcake with a hint of white rum and lime frosting, and the Fuzzy Navel, an orange cupcake with a Peach Schnapps buttercream.

Sistah’s Sweets

Having sung for politicians and won national writing competitions, sisters Erin and Lena Bowman are now channeling their creativity into their beloved bakery business, Sistah’s Sweets. The duo grew their brand from a hot pink food truck to a cozy storefront in Charles Village where they sell rich cupcakes with flavors like Strawberry Crunch, Cookie Butter Craze and Red Velvet Cheesecake. Sistah’s Sweets is also known for its innovative matcha flavors, which include creme brulee and mango sticky rice, as well as its savory biscuit breakfast sandwiches.

Woodlea Bakery

John and Dorothy Hergenroede first opened Woodlea Bakery in northeast Baltimore in 1943, and it has remained a neighborhood fixture ever since. Today, John and Dorothy’s grandson Charlie and his wife Concetta run Woodlea with a community-first mentality. They specialize in wedding and event cakes, but you can’t go wrong with any of their baked-from-scratch pies, breads and cookies.

Zoe’s Just Dezzerts

Jennifer Goldszmidt opened this bakery to provide her autistic daughter, Zoe, with a stable and meaningful place of employment. The bakery, which employs other neurodivergent workers, aims to create a safe space for people to express themselves, so don’t be surprised if the staff break into song when you pop in! Must-try treats include the key lime pie, carrot cake and mini chocolate mocha cake, which are currently baked off-site by professional bakers from the Lincoln Culinary Institute of Columbia.

Aunt Kelly’s Cookies

Growing up in Baltimore, Kelly Simmons spent any spare change she had on butter crunch cookies. Eventually, with the help of her grandma, she perfected her own recipe and opened Aunt Kelly’s Cookies to share her love for baking with her hometown. Located on the historic Antique Row of Mount Vernon, this Black-owned business is the only local bakery offering the famous butter crunch cookie, among other flavors, baked fresh daily. Head on over and get ’em while they’re hot!

Market Bakery

Located in historic Lexington Market, the country’s longest continually-operating public market, Market Bakery has been offering comforting baked goods since 1972. They are particularly beloved for their fresh-baked take on the classic Baltimore Berger cookie, a soft cake-like cookie coated in a rich fudge frosting. Grab a glass of milk and dig in!

You can’t come to Charm City without trying the iconic Berger Cookie, a local favorite since 1835!

Vaccaro’s

Known around Baltimore for its selection of fine Italian pastries, Vaccaro’s is as popular today as it was when it first opened in 1956. The robust menu includes cannolis, tiramisu, gelato, cheesecake and rum cake. Then there’s the more than 30 flavors of Italian cookies; fan favorites include Sliced Almond, Pignoli and Amaretti. Enjoy a full sit down service at their Little Italy location, or pick up some pastries to-go from their shop in Canton.

Cafe Dear Leon

The artful bakes from Cafe Dear Leon are in high demand, so be sure to get there early to guarantee you get a taste! Credit @chrisrestndigest on Instagram.

Since opening its doors in August 2020, Cafe Dear Leon has amassed a cult following. The cafe takes fresh-baked to a whole new level by only releasing goods at one of four times throughout the morning: breakfast debuts at 6 a.m., pastries at 7:30, croissants at 9 and lunch items at 11. By noon, they’re almost always sold out—a testament to just how tasty their treats are. Luckily, they recently opened a second location, La Maison in Remington, where the inventory tends to last longer and there’s more room to sit down and savor the flaky, warm danishes, buns, quiches scones and more.

Sacré Sucré

Select from a wide assortment of stunning pastries at Sacre Sucre. Photograph by @mcfleury on Instagram.

It doesn’t get more saccharine than Sacré Sucré, a pastry studio in historic Fell’s Point. Beyond their iconic pink packaging and whimsical decor, this shop is known for their artful presentations and experimental bakes. We’re talking expertly-crafted heart-shaped Valentine’s danishes or egg-shaped macarons at Easter. Plus, Sacré Sucré doubles as a tea and coffee shop, making it the perfect morning pit stop.

Doppio Pasticceria

Located in the heart of Remington near R. House and Greedy Reads bookstore, Doppio Pasticceria is as much a community hub as it is an artisanal bakery. Fresh flour is milled in-house and seasonal Mid-Atlantic produce is incorporated into sourdough bread, New York-style pizza and pastries. Beyond baked goods, Doppio offers a curated beverage menu featuring coffee roasted by Sophomore Coffee and house-made Italian sodas. On a warm day, enjoy your treat at one of the outdoor picnic tables that line the property and take in the bustling neighborhood.

Harmony Bakery

Baking is in the Gormon family’s blood. Husband-wife duo Renee and Don’s first restaurant, Puffins, made waves in Baltimore’s food scene, especially its vegetarian community. Their children Lisa and Kirk learned the ins and outs of the business while working with their parents, and now Lisa’s using that know-how to take the reins of Harmony Bakery (though Renee and Don are still getting their hands dirty in the kitchen!). Together, the family churns out vegan, gluten-free and sustainable sweet and savory baked goods like chickpea tarts, quinoa burgers, bagels and more. You’ll find them on Chestnut Street in Hampden.

Kneads Bakery

Start your day with French toast from Kneads! Photo courtesy of Charlotte Nagey.

From the family behind the famous H&S Bakery, once the largest privately owned bakery in the United States, comes an upscale dine-in concept. With locations in Harbor East, Canton and Cross Keys, Kneads Bakery aims to bring the Paterakis family’s craft to a new generation with a 17,000 square foot cafe, industrial bakery and dining space. It’s a place to work from home away from home, host a meeting, grab a baguette for the week or enjoy a delicious meal courtesy of some of Charm City’s top chefs. Try the JP Mac, a high-end twist on the Big Mac that is an homage to H&S founder Steve Paterakis’ son John, or something sweet like the crème brûlée French toast. In addition to coffee, Kneads also serves beer, wine and specialty cocktails.

Motzi Bread

In Hebrew, Hamotzi is a blessing over bread that, in addition to thanking God for nourishing food to eat, also promises a world in which all people are provided for. Motzi Bread in Charles Village advances this promise by opening its doors to all individuals, regardless of whether or not they can pay full price. Those who can, however, may be inclined to pay double after sampling the Best of Baltimore winner’s prized loaves, which include baguettes, sesame rye, beer rye, focaccia and einkorn. On select days, they also offer sweeter treats such as chocolate chip cookies, granola and cardamom buns.

Pitango Bakery and Cafe

Nestled on a picturesque waterfront side street in Fell’s Point, Pitango Bakery and Café employs the same commitment to honest ingredients and transparency as the nearby Pitango Gelato shop. The menu was inspired by Italian bakeries and sandwich shops, and all their breads are baked daily with natural leavening and a slow-rising process. They also source their prosciutto directly from a family-owned producer in Parma, Italy and make all their coffee syrups in-house, so you’re guaranteed a fresh, flavorful experience from start to finish.

Enjoy your morning pastries and coffee with a scenic view of the Patapsco River.

The Avenue Bakery

Since 2011, The Avenue Bakery has brought owner James Hamlin’s family recipes to his childhood neighborhood along Pennsylvania Avenue. Stop in for the signature “Poppay’s Roll,” an enormous buttery bun so good you won’t be able to stop at just one. You can also pick from a selection of cookies, sweet breads, decorated cakes and pastries. After placing your order, learn about the history of African Americans in Baltimore from plaques and photos hanging on the walls, and check out the murals outside the bakery.

Looking for other sweet treats? Check out Baltimore’s snowball and ice cream shops.