By Abby Balter By Abby Balter | November 11, 2021 | Food & Drink,
Leave dessert to the experts this year and wow your guests with flaky apple pies, rich pumpkin treats and autumnal galettes.
Beiler’s Bakery
Since 1984, the Beiler family has been bringing Dutch and Amish baked goods to Reading Terminal Market. Beiler’s Bakery is known for its delectable doughnuts and pies, which are available in flavors from apple to sweet potato, peach and shoofly (molasses). It also serves a host of fall-themed desserts that make perfect additions to Thanksgiving dinner, including apple dumplings, pumpkin rolls with cream cheese frosting and cinnamon twists. 51 N. 12th St., beilersdoughnuts.com
Dulce Artisanal Pastry
This bakery and pastry shop just across the Delaware River in Collingswood, N.J., is a labor of love from chef Josue Santiago Negrón. Choose an item off its autumn menu, like the bourbon pecan bread pudding, salted caramel pumpkin bar, pumpkin milk chocolate spice cake or maple walnut madeleines. 740A Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ, 856.942.0254, dulcecollingswood.com
Fitz and Starts
Using locally sourced ingredients from farms around Philadelphia, Fitz and Starts is a bakery and restaurant in Queen Village. Try the apple pie, maple pecan pie and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dessert. 743 S. Fourth St., 215.278.2736, fitzandstartsphilly.com
Flying Monkey
Another must-try spot in Reading Terminal Market is Flying Monkey bakeshop. Opened by Elizabeth Halen, this spot prides itself on made-from-scratch and made-to-order baked goods. This holiday, get the best of both worlds with the pumpple cake, a vanilla cake filled with apple and pumpkin pie filling, or choose from one of its pies, cookies or cupcakes for a treat guaranteed to impress your guests. 51 N. 12th St., flyingmonkeyphilly.com
The Frosted Fox Cake Shop
Born from a chance encounter in culinary school, Mt. Airy’s The Frosted Fox Cake Shop was opened by Jennifer Low and Sean Williams, who met at the Culinary Institute of America. This autumn, their pies will be a hit at any event, with flavors such as pear ginger and apple crumble, as well as holiday-themed cakes and cookies. 6511 Germantown Ave., 267.900.5453, frostedfoxcakeshop.com
Haegele’s Bakery
For four generations, Haegele’s Bakery has been serving up traditional German baked goods in the Mayfair neighborhood of Philly. While its expertise is in German desserts, such as kirschstrudel and butterkuchen, its various holiday-themed confections are just as tasty. Stop by and try the apple strudel or pumpkin bread, and pick up its coconut custard pie and apple cake for any dinner party this season. 4164 Barnett St., 215.624.0117, haegelesbakery.com
Isgro Pasticceria
A centurylong family tradition, Isgro Pasticceria is the ultimate Italian bakery. Located in the Bella Vista neighborhood, this spot makes custom cakes for weddings and events, award-winning cannoli and special desserts for each holiday. This Thanksgiving, choose from one of its exclusive treats like the cherry crumb pie or apple pie with butter crumb topping. 1009 Christian St., 215.923.3092, bestcannoli.com
Second Daughter Baking Co.
This creative artisan bakery, which was founded by two Philadelphia-native sisters, produces intricately decorated cakes and pastries for all events. Its bourbon-soaked apple butter Bundt cake or caramel corn fair cake with salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream would make the perfect centerpiece for any dinner table this holiday season. 1901 S. Ninth St., 215.964.7849, seconddaughterbakingco.com
Stargazy
For those hoping to keep calm and carry on this Thanksgiving, pick up dessert from Stargazy, a British pie shop in East Passyunk. Chef Sam Jacobson delivers a host of pastries, pies and sweet treats, such as the banoffee tart, Eccles cakes filled with currants, fruit pies, caramelized banoffee cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding. 1838 E. Passyunk Ave., 215.309.2761, stargazy-477061.square.site
The Sweet Life Bakeshop
Known for its vast homemade pudding selection, The Sweet Life Bakeshop is a bakery in Bella Vista serving takeout desserts and special-order cakes. To satisfy fall cravings, it added sweet potato cupcakes, pumpkin spice cake with cinnamon frosting and salted caramel banana pudding to the menu. 740 South St., 215.717.7770, sweetlifephilly.com
Photography by: Kasumi Loffler/Pexels