By Olivia Paul | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Dear connoisseur of fall flavors, we invite you to discover a world of seasonal sweetness that will captivate your palate and satisfy all your autumnal cravings. Bakeries and dessert destinations across Durham offer delectable delights utilizing classic fall ingredients like pumpkin, sweet potato, cinnamon, vanilla, apple and more – this is just a sample of the tempting indulgences that this harvest season has to offer.
Ashleigh Bakes Daily
Ashleigh Ratchford launched Ashleigh Bakes Daily as an online enterprise in January 2022, and also sold her cookies at The Dankery. By October 2022, she opened an adorable little shop at 3117 Guess Rd., Ste. E, behind Crafts & Drafts – a move she says was motivated by a desire to show her daughters, Caleigh, 4, and Denver, 8, “what can be achieved when you blend passion, courage and resilience.” She delights in spreading joy with her inventive variety of cookie recipes, including chocolate birthday cake, brown sugar, honeybun and more.
Ashleigh recommends her sweet potato casserole cookie to welcome the arrival of autumn. Ooey-gooey marshmallows permeate the cookie, made from a batter of sautéed sweet potatoes and a medley of warm spices. “This beloved treat captures the essence of comfort and nostalgia in every bite,” she says.
East Durham Sweet Shoppe
East Durham Sweet Shoppe owner Stacy Ramos ran an at-home confectionary business for 10 years before she opened her brick-and-mortar at 2022 Angier Ave. on Dec. 4, 2022. The shop specializes in confectionary products and baked goods, offering chocolate-dipped goodies such as apples, strawberries, pretzels, Oreos and Rice Krispies Treats.
If you’re hosting a small event this fall, the Bull Board is a guaranteed party pleaser. “It’s a one-size box of sweet and salty perfection,” Stacy says. “It’s perfect for dinner parties, brunch, social gatherings or dessert with family.”
Bklyn Bakery
Keyana Bourne started Bklyn Bakery in 2017 and went all in on the venture in September 2019 to pursue her dream of owning bakery that brings delicious vegan treats to the community. The name is an homage to her family roots in Brooklyn, New York City. Bklyn Bakery is a 100% vegan bakery that utilizes local, organic and seasonal ingredients to create its pastries, cakes, desserts and many seasonal desserts. You can order from her menu online, or find her on Saturdays at the Durham Farmers Market.
This apple bourbon vanilla cake it an ideal fall indulgence for guests, vegan or not. The vanilla cake is layered with vanilla frosting and housemade apple-bourbon filling in which the apples are slowly cooked in bourbon, cinnamon, brown sugar and orange zest. The cake is topped with more vanilla frosting and candied pecans.
Bull City Bake Shop
Lydia Ricks began baking wedding and novelty cakes at home eight years ago, growing her business till she was able to open Bull City Bake Shop at 3604 Witherspoon Blvd., Ste. 109 in the Patterson Place shopping center on Sept. 24, 2022. Well-known for its cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip sea salt cookies, the shop specializes in classic desserts such as cookies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, muffins and more. Lydia’s inspiration for the shop stemmed from wanting to reconnect with people from diverse communities using desserts as the vehicle; a counter in the shop gives her a chance to do just that as customers get a front-row seat to the open kitchen.
When it comes to her cinnamon rolls specifically, Lydia says it’s “one of the most popular items from the shop and perfect for the fall season.”
Chez Moi Bakery
Say “Bonjour” to Chez Moi, which translates to “my place” in French. Founded by the Rhonda Jones in 2005, this bakery started as a home-based venture before hitting the streets as a dessert food truck. Now, Rhonda’s treats grace the menus of coffee shops Cocoa Cinnamon and Namu.
Among her lineup of goodies, don’t miss out on the star attraction – the brown sugar vanilla rum cake. Soak in the warm flavors of autumn with this fluffy golden cake, infused with a spiced rum from Muddy River Distillery, which claims to be North Carolina’s oldest rum distillery. If that isn’t impressive enough, you might recognize this gem from its appearance on “A Few Great Bakeries” on PBS.
Smallcakes
Owner Eve Craig‘s journey began in Huntersville, North Carolina, where she opened her first Smallcakes location back in 2016 before purchasing the Cary and Durham locations. Specializing in cupcakes, Smallcakes also offers an array of baked goods such as brownies, cake pops and homemade ice cream. There are 14 signature flavors of cupcakes, with two weekly specials that switch out every Monday, and more than 200 flavors available, so there’s always a variety of mouthwatering options to choose from. Smallcakes has also been featured on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” as well as the talk show “The View.”
The pumpkin spice cake is topped with a heavenly dollop of pumpkin spice cream cheese, drizzled with caramel and finished with a tantalizing pumpkin spice cream cheese-filled cannoli. A sprinkle of powdered sugar adds the final touch to this autumnal delight.
The Mad Hatter’s Café & Bakeshop
Take a whimsical trip down the rabbit hole to The Mad Hatter’s Café & Bakeshop, owned by Fida Ghanem and Robert Ghanem since 2008. This café, steeped in Durham’s history and embraced by the local community, is a welcoming haven near Duke University’s campus. It’s more than just a place to grab a bite; it’s where people come together to share laughter, stories and, of course, scrumptious baked goods. You’ll find everything from brunch to dinner and a delightful assortment of pastries, cakes and cookies.
Indulge this fall in the bakery’s pumpkin cheesecake bar – a creamy pumpkin delight topped with homemade whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon dust that’s “smooth and delicious,” Fida says.
Discover more fall food content in our August/September 2023 issue.
