From breads, biscuits, and bagels to cakes, chocolates, and other confections, Huntsville bakeries will satisfy both your hunger and sweet tooth. Several also operate cafes with sandwiches, salads—and even Puerto Rican food. Here is a baker’s dozen from the Rocket City:
The Best Bakeries in Huntsville
Canadian Bakin
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Owner Matt Johnson, who isn’t Canadian (the moniker refers to a strange nickname bestowed on the north Alabama native), has built a loyal following since he started selling bread and other carb-celebrating products at a local farmers market in 2017. The store opened last year. Handmade from dough that cold-rises for 24 hours, its bread, bagels, and pretzels also play starring rolls—I mean roles—on a menu of sandwiches and toasts, some with punny names like Lox and Loaded.
Dolce Pan Bakery
Dolce Pan Bakery/Facebook
Pastries and other desserts are just the beginning at Dolce Pan Bakery. It’s a one-stop shop for Puerto Rican food, including a Saturday special of the meat-and-plantain soup, Sancocho. On the sweet side, enjoy delights like custardy flan, wobbly tembleque coconut pudding, budin de pan (bread pudding), and milk-soaked tres leches cake. Wash it down with espresso and other coffee drinks, Caribbean-style juice, or a chilled drink like a cinnamon bun-flavored frappe.
Edgar’s Bakery
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The seasonal King Cake at this Alabama franchise has been dubbed as one of the nation’s best, but many fans also know Edgar’s Bakery for its decadent strawberry cake. The Huntsville store, which opened in 2018, creates dozens of different cakes for any occasion, along with cookies, rugelach, shortcakes, and trifles. Also find breads, rolls and savory noshes like chicken salad. The hydrangea cupcake is almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Great Harvest Bread Co.
Great Harvest Bread Co./Facebook
Part of a 30-year-old national franchise (in addition to Huntsville, there’s a Great Harvest bakery in Trussville too), its signature product is honey whole wheat bread, scratch-made from freshly milled wheat. The bakery café showcases Great Harvest’s cookies, scones, sweet breads, teacake, biscuits, and sandwiches. Also available for purchase are jams, jellies, seasoning mixes, seasoned oils, deli meats and cheeses, and a sourdough starter.
Batter Up Cakes
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This bakery specializes in custom-made cakes, cookies, pies, and cupcakes for weddings, birthdays, graduations, or just everyday enjoyment. In addition to traditional styles, the shop’s clever and colorful cake designs include unicorn and sports themes. Huntsville native Alyson Pomeroy, who played softball (and basketball) in college, opened Batter Up Cakes in 2015, turning a hobby into a thriving business.
JJ’s Treats
JJ’s Treats/Facebook
JJ’s Treats scratch-makes gourmet Southern-style cakes, pies, cookies, and sweet breads. Customers love her cheesecakes, fruit pies, pound cakes, and mini pineapple upside down cakes. The selection includes low-fat and sugar-free desserts. On the savory side, options include sandwiches, soups and chilies. But what sets Janis Hatcher’s emporium apart is the diverse array of Hawaiian shaved ice sno cones—some 40 flavors. JJ’s even has a sno cone-dispensing trailer for events.
Le Macaron French Pastries
Le Macaron/Facebook
Huntsville is the only Alabama location for this franchise, which sells French pastries across the United States. As the name suggests, pastel-colored macaron cookies are the draw. Some 20 regular macarons—including lavender white chocolate and orange Grand Marnier—are complemented by seasonal versions. Pastries and other desserts include croissants, eclairs, and napoleons, plus gelato-and-coffee affogatos. Don’t overlook the beautiful artisan chocolates.
Mason Dixon Bakery and Bistro
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Mason Dixon bills itself as Alabama’s first gluten-free bakery, making its breads, bagels, biscuits, pies, cakes, rolls, and pizza dough with allergen-free flour ground from millet, cassava, and sorghum. Mason Dixon also offers catering for weddings, as well as corporate and private events. Its bistro includes salads and sandwiches using grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and eggs from local farms. Everything, including cured meats, is made in-house.
Nava’s Bakery
Nava’s Bakery/Facebook
This panaderia, specializing in pastries and other Mexican baked goods, produces striking sweets like fruit-filled empanadas, bunuelos fritters, and elephant ear-shaped orejas pastries. Cinnamon-spiced conchas, which look like striped sea shells, have a sweet baked bread base with a crunchy top. Formerly known as La Michoacana Bakery, Nava’s colorful custom cakes are customer favorites, too.
Peggy Ann Bakery
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Open since 1953, this stalwart has hit Huntsville’s sweet spot for generations. Its petit fours are especially beloved and its specialty desserts are simply stunning. Start your day with a danish pastry or reward yourself with fresh-baked cookies and other sweets from the display case. Of course, Peggy Ann makes custom cakes for every special occasion, from weddings to birthdays to baby showers.
Pizzelle’s Confections
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Pizzelle’s Confections creates satisfying sweets, mostly chocolates but also cakes and other desserts. Run by two sisters, Michelle Novosel and Caitlin Lyon, Pizzelle’s artistic multi-layered chocolates are feasts for the eyes, as well. Novosel and Lyon, who opened their shop in 2013, are both certified chocolatiers. In fact, the entire staff at this all-woman confectionary are certified in chocolate-making. Vegetarians and vegans, fear not: the pyramid-shaped Green Dragon is dairy-free.
Rockabilly Bakery
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Rockabilly Bakery, formerly Cakes etc, will custom-build you a cake with creativity and artistry. Desserts (cookies, sugar tarts, cakes) rule on the menu; savory food (wraps, croissant sandwiches) includes numerous vegetarian and vegan options. Choose among the cupcakes, muffins, fruit turnovers, or squares of cake from the display case to take home or to share with co-workers.
The Moon Bakeshop
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The Moon Bakeshop, from owners Thom and Maddie Watkins, is the conceptual marriage between a European bakery and an Alabama grandma’s kitchen, with wares including house-made croissants that take three days to prepare, frosted cupcakes, and cinnamon buns. Handmade cakes, sweet and savory pastries and breads, muffins, cookies, and breakfast sandwiches also are the order of the day at this downtown bakery, which makes gluten-free and vegan offerings. Watch the baking process through a window in the retail area.
