If we were inclined to create a bucket list, one item that might be on there would be a cross-country tour spent sampling all the best bakeries to appear on every “best bakery” list. Since the term “best” is so subjective, relying on one person’s tastebuds isn’t really a fair way to determine if a bakery is, truly, the best.
As such, to ensure that we have at least a largely accurate account of the best bakeries in every state, we have turned to multiple sources to see who’s the cream of the crop. Posted reviews online from websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, and Facebook offer a grassroots idea of how much regular customers enjoy a bakery, while local news coverage, esteemed foodie publications, and awards help round things out.
These 50 bakeries vary in quite a lot of ways. Some are nearly a century old, while others have only had a handful of years to make a big impact. Some have had their success grow to such an extent that there was a need for multiple locations, while others have opted to keep things small — often, deliberately so. Regardless of size, each bakery has made a name for itself by creating something delicious, something iconic, and something worth taking that cross-country trip for.
Alabama: Hello Bakery in Birmingham
A small shop specializing in muffins, croissants, cookies, cakes, and even ice cream, Hello Bakery’s most notable offering may be Marie’s Fig Cookies. Named for veteran pastry chef Wim Miree’s 90-year-old neighbor, the best-seller has quickly become a favourite among customers. Everything here is made in small batches, and Hello Bakery is frequently mentioned as one of the best bakeries in Birmingham…