Bakeries in Durham NC


There is something about baked goods that is comforting, especially during hard times. So lately, I have been craving cake or some type of baked good.  When I was growing up, my mom would make a made-from-scratch chocolate cake with homemade icing, and then we would watch a family show.  If it was a Sunday night, we would watch The Wonderful World of Disney movie or older shows that some of you probably never heard of.  This became a family tradition, for my mom to make a cake and for the family to watch a family show together.

Mom’s Sunday Night Chocolate Cake

Funny Story

I will never forget when my mom would try to get my brothers to come in the kitchen to do a chore; she would call them in, and if they didn’t come to the kitchen, my mom would whip out the hand mixer and the boys would come running.  The first one to get there would get to lick the beaters; many times there was nothing to lick, yet it would get them to that kitchen.  It was always a good laugh for me…still is when I think back on those times.

Bakeries in Durham

If you are visiting or live in Durham, North Carolina and you are looking for a great place to pick up some baked goods, then here is a list of a few of my favorite places to go.

Loaf

The Loft is a small bakery with a twist on traditional baked goods.  Some of my favorites are the Hazelnut Chocolate Croissant, Twice Baked Almond Croissant, the Asparagus with Ham and Gruyere Croissant.

Do you love pecan cookies? Then try theirs. You can purchase them individually or get them in a pack of eight. Their artisan bread is one of our favorites, too.  Another one of my family’s favorites is their Rosemary Focaccia Bread that they make on Wednesdays and Saturdays; sometimes they switch up the days, so call them or just swing by and pick up some of their other baked goods. They are ALL delicious! Below is their Hazelnut Chocolate Croissant.

Loft bakery also carries locally made brands such as Counter Culture Coffee & Big Spoon who make a variety of artisan Nut Butters.

Monuts

Lindsay and her husband Rob own and run the Monut shop, and they have much more than just doughnuts; they have soups, sandwiches, great coffee drinks, and more!  Fun fact, Mo was Lindsay’s nickname, so she named her place MOnuts.

I love everything they make; all are fresh and full of flavor, every last bite or sip!

If you are looking for NY bagels, Lindsay makes these like New York bakeries make them.  Their soups and sandwiches are very tasty and, of course, their donuts….awh their donuts!!!

Their donuts have unique flavors! Two of my many faves are Chocolate Cake donut with Chai Glaze and Maple Bacon Rise Donut!

Their bagel sandwiches are excellent too!  Just ask my friend Al from Knoxville, TN.

Roses Noodles, Dumplings, and Sweets! 

Katie and her husband Justin own and work at their restaurant and bakery.  It’s a restaurant that serves dumplings and ramen, and it’s a bakery with wonderful baked goods and sweets.  Katie is the main baker, and she is as sweet as her baked goods! I finally had their ramen and it was simply delicious, full of flavor and freshness!

Some of my favorite baked goods at Roses are, but not limited to:  Cream Puffs, Chocolate Wafer Cookies (great to make s’ mores with), Salted Caramels, Dark Chocolate Ganache Macrons, Creme Brulee, Macarons, and so many others!

Rise Biscuits Chicken

Rise is known for its award-winning biscuits; they are large and fluffy and perfect for an egg sandwich, which they will make for you there. You can also get a few biscuits and make your own egg sandwiches at home.

They have around 10 varieties of donuts per day. Some of their most popular are Crème Brule (MY FAVE), Raspberry Croissant Donuts, Apple Fritter, Maple Bacon Glazed, and so many others! Call ahead to see what donuts are available or to pre-order them.

The first Rise shop began at the South Durham location from where they started their franchising business.  They now have one Downtown Durham and several others in the Triangle, as well as in other Southern cities and states, like Nashville, Tennessee, and Savannah, Georgia.

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Ninth Street Bakery

Ninth Street Bakery is located at Five Points in Downtown Durham or you can find them at the Durham Farmers Market.  Our son would stop by there after school when he was in high school to grab a baguette.  After he graduated, we stopped in when we were taking some friends on a food tour; the staff congratulated him on graduating and handed him a baguette! Our son said it was better than getting his diploma. Great staff as you can tell!

Some of our favorites they make are the Popovers with Bavarian Creme which they make on Saturdays for the local farmers market, and of course, their baguettes, their coconut layer cake, and their 9 Grain Loaf (below)!

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Nothing Bundt Cakes has a variety of cakes, They are simple cakes, but simply delicious. They are topped with a cream cheese frosting, and they are very moist bundt cakes! This is a chain franchise and lucky for me, there is one down the street from where I live. This has become one of my family’s go to’s for birthday cakes for the past few years.

You can get as little as a bite-sized one or ones that are around the size of a jumbo muffin called bundtlets.  They also have two full size 8″ or 10″ cakes for celebrations; try one of their bundtlet towers, which can be two or three layers. They have many regular flavors; some of our favorites are Red Velvet, Praline Pecan, Lemon Raspberry, White Chocolate Raspberry, Carrot, Vanilla Bean (my fave), and Chocolate Chocolate Chip cake.  All have the same Vanilla Cream Cheese icing which adds just the perfect amount of sweetness with a bite of tart that comes from the cream cheese. 

There are many other great bakeries in Durham, and someday I will get to them all!  For now, let me know what your favorite bakeries are, and when I am in your area, I will make every effort to stop in.

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