So Much Better than Fruitcake: 5 Yummy Gifts that Make Spirits Bright

Need a holiday gift for teachers, babysitters and all the rest who give your kiddos such sweet, loving care throughout the year? How about something they can sink their teeth into? Here’s a list of local bakeries that whip up unique treats that will warm hearts, and fill bellies.   

Southern Sweets Bakery
Southern Sweets Bakery makes desserts that taste like home. They make the sweets you would if only you could. In our weaker moments, we may have been tempted to pass one of their insanely good Boston crème or cherry pies off as one of our own!

Know Before You Go: The caramel cake is always a big hit. We love the rustic fruit pies or the gingerbread pound cake for seasonal gifts! Go hungry; Southern Sweets Bakery also serves up a yummy lunch. The Grilled Cheese for Grown Ups and the pimento cheese are among our favorites.

186 Rio Circle Decatur, 404-373-875

Dough
Looking for a tasty treat for someone with dietary restrictions? Look no further than Dough Bakery in Inman Park.  This 100% vegan bakery & deli makes everything in house. This independent neighborhood bakery pastries pumps out dessert so decadent, you forget they are healthy too! Dough gets extra brownie points for its friendly employees and extra kid friendly atmosphere- check out the stash of retro toys while you wait.

Know Before You Go: The German Chocolate Brownies are perfection. Grab yourself a container of the delicious and somewhat addicting Banh Mi pasta for tomorrow’s lunch.   100 Hurt Street Atlanta, GA 30307 404.380.1400

Pie Shop
When looking for a sweet gift, you can’t go wrong with a pie shop whose slogan is “Pie is Love.” There is so much to love about this darling Buckhead pie shop! The staff is warm and friendly and the shop always seems to be full of regulars. And it does not hurt that the pies are downright delicious! The owner has true passion for pie making and you can taste it in every bite.

Know Before You Go: More into savory than sweet?  They also have creamy chicken pot pie and an assortment of quiches. Know someone that is really passionate about pie? Consider giving them a pie making class taught by the experts at the Pie Shop!

3210 Roswell Road, 404-841-4512

Rhodes Family Bakery
Steeped in tradition, this place has been in business since 1930 when it was originally run out of Mrs. Rhodes home. Now two locations, one on Cheshire Bridge road and one in Alpharetta, serve Atlanta families timeless recipes for special occasions and sweet-tooth treats.

Know Before You Go: If you were going to purchase a red velvet cake, a classic Southern dessert, why not buy it from one of Atlanta’s oldest bakeries? Call us old fashioned, but something about knowing that generations of Atlanta families have had this same cake just makes it that much more of a special gift!

1783 Cheshire Bridge Road, 404-876-3783

Sublime Donuts
We know what you might be thinking, donuts equal boring morning meetings, powdered sugar and bad coffee. Not anymore. With fun flavors like, sweet potato cake, white chocolate peach and A-Town cream, Sublime Donuts has changed all that.

Know Before You Go:  Sublime Donuts is closed on Monday, so plan your trip accordantly. You wouldn’t guess it from the nondescript strip mall location, but the shop is really quite cute. Take a break from your holiday errands and grab a cup of coffee, and maybe an extra donut too!

535 Tenth Street, 404-897-1801

Piece of Cake
This legendary local bakery now has six locations citywide (Camp Creek Parkway, Buckhead, Decatur, Dunwoody, Roswell, Vinings) which means you can be virtually anywhere in Atlanta and still score one of the shop’s coveted cakes or cupcakes. Grab a tin of cheese straws or a cake in flavors like peppermint, red velvet or pumpkin spice for a delicious way to say “thanks.”

Multiple locations, 800-922-5390 

What about you? What are your favorite spots for sweet gift giving? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

—Candice Rose

Photos courtesy of Creative Commons via Flickr, Southern Sweets Bakery via Facebook, Dough via Facebook, Pie Shop via Facebook, Rhodes Family Bakery via Facebook and Piece of Cake via Facebook 

For other local Christmas events, activities, and shops click here!