What is the best Duluth-area bakery?
The decline of the corner bakery in modern America could be considered one of the greatest food-related tragedies of our time. An 85 percent decrease in standalone retail bakeries occurred in the United States over the past 40 years, according to Retail Bakers of America.
With this in mind, it seems important to show our local bakeries some love. That’s why our latest poll will decide the perfect Duluth bakery.
Nominate your favorite by commenting on this post. It will be a purely subjective poll, of course. Comparing an old-school institution stocked with traditional sweets like Long Johns and Bismarcks and a newfangled shop specializing in artisan breads and delicate pastries is a bit like comparing apples to oranges, but the idea is to choose an overall favorite.
Feel free to nominate bakeries that double as coffee shops and serve food or the supermarket variety, if you’re so inclined.
After much geographical consideration, we’ve determined any bakery within 16 miles of the Aerial Lift Bridge is eligible for nomination. That means establishments in Superior, Hermantown, Proctor and the many bordering townships qualify for nomination, but more distant places like Two Harbors and Cloquet do not.
Once we have a good pool of nominees, the poll will commence.
By virtue of donuts, A Dozen Excuses Donuts. By virture of cookies, Positively 3rd Street Bakery.
I was going to say the same thing. Donuts- definitely A Dozen Excuses, creative and delicious. Bread-Positively 3rd Street and runner up cookie, thunder cookie imo. My favorite cookie is actually the seven layer cookie from the Greenery. It is ridiculous. I have never tried Duluth’s Best Bread but have heard many good things.
Wednesday Bakery (Rich Cuisine & Wednesday Bakery) on Ogden in Superior. I’ve had and enjoyed their cinnamon rolls on more than one occasion.
Lake Superior Bakehouse has some impressive goodies – great Cinnamon Rolls as well as their Savory Roll and plenty of other good stuff that they bake themselves. Red Mug is my other nominee – there Cinnamon Rolls are pretty darn goods as well as their scones and small, single serving crustless quiches. Not sure which of the two I would vote for.
Zenith Bread Project (although it’s not a physical shop) and Duluth Best Breads.
House of Donuts!
Duluth News Tribune: Cookies and kindness: A memory of Johnson’s Bakery in Duluth
I LOVE the 7 Layer Cookies at the Greenery!!! Best cookie I have ever had
How Sweet it is Cakes makes a decadent chocolate cake with chocolate/raspberry filling that is to die for! Harbor City Sweets’ cupcakes are also outstanding.
While not as flashy or hip as some other bakeries, I love Great Harvest. They have a steam oven that makes authentic baguettes. If you have ever been to Germany and ate their bread you know that there is nothing else like it. The slightly hard crust, but soft inside is very hard to replicate. Great Harvest is the only place I have found that has the authentic taste and texture. Their gigantic chocolate chip cookies and apple crumble bread are amazing as well.
Cookie Temptations cookies are purely addictive. And beautiful.
… and we’d be remiss not to include Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe.
I’m shocked that people like a dozen excuses, which taste just like superone donuts with extra toppings. I’m not the only one who thinks this.
Zenith Bread Project has great donuts, but they are very hard to find. Where do they sell them other than at the Snooty Fox from about 11am-1pm on Saturdays? I’d buy them if I could find them.
I buy Zenith Bread Project doughnuts at Duluth Coffee downtown! But you’re right…you have to get lucky and buy in the brief window they’re available on a given day.
Zenith Bread Project.
I’m a big fan of Lake Superior Bakehouse!
Duluth’s Best Bread, far and away! Such a quality product and always looking to expand their repertoire, but they will not sell a product that hasn’t been perfected. I hear they’re opening a kiosk in the mall for cinnamon rolls–MUST GO!
How Sweet it is Cakes has the best Macaroons and stuffed cupcakes hands down!!!
Duluth’s best bread!!! Omgoodness amazing pretzels and croissants.
Duluth’s Best Bread FTW!
Anyone who understands true technique and quality is voting ZENITH BREAD PROJECT! Keep your eyes open peeps, it’s to die for!
Very good bakeries in Duluth. The croissants and cinnamon rolls at Duluth Best Bread are wonderful. Bread at Pos 3rd St and Johnsons the best however no makes a bread as good as European Bakery’s rye.
How Sweet It Is Cakes makes everything by scratch and has amazing desserts as well as breads <3
Any bakery that doesn’t substitute buttercream or cream with artificial ingredients. Say no to palm oil, corn syrup and excessive sugar. Is there a contender left standing?
Decades ago, I would have nominated The Patty Cake Shop for confectionery like cookies and cakes . My fav bread was Positively Third Street Bakery.
Zenith Bread Project – their English muffins are THE BEST I’ve had – stocked fresh Tuesday and Friday afternoons at Whole Foods Coop. Their donuts are pretty amazing too – Amity Creek Cafe in Lakeside has them on Saturdays, I believe.