No Work Holiday Desserts Your Guests Will Rave About

Too busy wrapping gifts, dragging out decorations, or finalizing holiday travel plans to bake homemade cookies or pies for family events during the holidays? Using fresh and festive ingredients, a slew of local from-scratch bakeries have you covered. From cupcakes to gingerbread, plan to pre-order kid-approved seasonal sweet nothings that are sure to make your holiday happenings even more memorable.

North Hill Bakery
Located on Capitol Hill, the small and mighty North Hill bakery churns out classic comfort desserts with old-fashioned flavors adults crave as much as kids. Little ones can try European holiday favorites like julekake, a Norwegian-style Christmas bread, and buche de noel, a rich chocolate and raspberry jam cake dressed up with marzipan holly leaves. Sweets, including homemade coconut cake, persimmon pudding, and peppermint cake, are available for preorder. A full list of offerings is found on the North Hill’s website.

518 15th Avenue E
Seattle, Wa 98112
206-325-9007

Three Girls Bakery
For a fun family weekend activity, head to the heart of all-things-festive, Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Thanks to Three Girls Bakery, you can wander through the market’s flower and produce stalls while popping rum chocolate balls and nibbling on ooh-la-las (shortbread with pistachios and cranberries) with kids-in-tow. While you’re at Three Girls, remember to pick up some earl grey cookies with red and green sprinkles—they make delicious party snacks.

1514 Pike Place
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-622-1045

Dahlia Bakery
Tom Douglas’ Dahlia Bakery is another downtown haven for sweet treats. Wee ones will jump for the Dahlia’s gingerbread men, krispi caramels, and pumpkin whoopees. Our vote for the grown-up table is for the Mexican hot chocolate cake with cloves, cinnamon, and a kick of chili. Pick up holiday breads, including pecan flax whole wheat or pear walnut sourdough. If you’re feeling inspired, take home a couple of house-made ready-to-fill pie shells to bake with your kids. Order ahead on the bakery’s website, and remind guests to save room for dessert!

2001 4th Avenue
Seattle, Wa 98121
206-441-4540

Trophy Cupcakes and Party
Beloved local bakery Trophy offers a bright assortment of festive goodies, including candied yam with toasted marshmallow and bourbon eggnog cupcakes. Trophy’s Wallingford location recently opened a big, cherry party room that’s ideal for family holiday soirees. If you’re a cupcake purist, don’t fret. Trophy frosts classic chocolate and vanilla varieties dressed up as snowmen and ornaments.

Wallingford
1815 N 45th Street, Suite 209
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-632-7020

University Village
2612 NE Village Lane
Seattle, Wa 98105
206-632-7020

Bellevue
700 110th Avenue NE, Suite 260
Bellevue, Wa 98004
425-361-0033

Bakery Nouveau
West Seattle’s venerable Bakery Nouveau serves up a series of festive treats. Inventive twists on classics like peppermint cheesecake and lemon tart in a gingerbread shell are matched with traditional desserts like Christmas Stollen, an almond bread with candied and dried fruit that’s polished with a rich, rummy butter. Many menu items are offered in a range of sizes, making it easy to offer several desserts that can please little picky eaters and grown-up palates. Be sure to preorder sweets for Christmas Eve by December 21.

4737 California Avenue SW
Seattle, Wa 98116
206-923-0534

Flying Apron
Adults and kids with gluten sensitivities and vegan diets swoon over the Flying Apron’s seasonal offerings. Now is the time to order homemade pies, including pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato. The Flying Apron substitutes traditional pie crust for ingredients including brown rice flour and arrowroot. Your guests will never miss wheat flour or butter. Honest. And there’s great news for families living on the Eastside—a second Flying Apron location is now open in Redmond.

Fremont
3510 Fremont Avenue N
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-442-1115

Redmond
16541 Redmond Way
Redmond, Wa 98052
206-442-1115

What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you make them yourself or do you have a favorite local bakery that prepares it just how you like it? 

–Sara Billups

Photo credit: Tim Lewis via Wikimedia Commons, Michelle B. via yelp, Aaron J. via yelp, Ron M. via yelp, Esther S. via yelp, Ken L. via yelp