If there’s one irrefutable good about the holidays, it’s the dessert. Presents can disappoint, family can be a nuisance, and travel can be a pain. Even the meal itself – at least in the weird pot-luck mish-mash of my family – is sometimes bad: dried out turkey, stale rolls, soft stuffing, plain and lumpy mashed potatoes. But dessert can be decadent and wondrous – it’s supposed to be – and purchased. For reasons beyond my comprehension it’s practically a mortal sin to buy an already cooked turkey, but buy a pie and everyone loves you. If you’re looking to purchase a little sugar love for the holidays, try one of these local bakeries:
Puffs and Pastries in Hampden (830 W. 36th Street) does not use butter substitutes and good for them. The demonization of butter is one of the great culinary shames of post-war America; shortening and margarine don’t cook the same and they don’t taste the same. And butter might be the secret to Puffs and Pastries’ tasty cream puffs, their sweet tarts and their cakes. Or they might just be delicious, just listen to this description of their pumpkin crème cake, “fresh pumpkin spice cake filled with sultana cream cheese mousse, covered in cinnamon cream.” Yum, right? We can also vouch for the Earl Grey Tea Cake…
As their pie and crossbones logo would suggest, Dangerously Delicious Pies in Federal Hill (1036 Light Street) is the punk rocker of local bakeries. But don’t let the rocker aesthetic fool you; with a selection of sweet and savory pies ranging from blueberry to sausage tomato fennel, these guys know their way around a rolling pin. We’re fans of the quiches too, especially the crab and cheddar. Most of their daily business is by the slice, so if you’re looking to order a whole pie they recommend doing so in advance.
Lastly, as Marylanders, it is our duty to consume the state dessert, the Smith Island cake. Consisting of anywhere from six to twelve thin layers of cake, each separated by a thin layer of icing, Smith Island cake is a dense, moist slice of heaven. Made on Smith Island (imagine!), a tiny community in the Chesapeake, the traditional cake is yellow cake with chocolate frosting, but is now available in any number of styles. If you’d like to support small island towns while eating delicious baked goods, give either Classic Cakes, the Original Smith Island Cake Company, or the Smith Island Sweet Shoppe a try. Trust us, they’re amazing.
Posted in: Baltimore User's Guide1 Comment
i beg to differ on the Dangerously Delicious Pies recommendation. i’ve had equally good pies from Graul’s market…