All You Knead
Try: Pretzels
Bread lovers will flip when they step inside this yeasty mecca. A true artisan bakeshop, All You Knead utilizes locally milled flours made from non-GMO unbleached wheat. The higher gluten protein level in the flour means the baked bread has a hearty taste and a soft, chewy interior. Although the tangy sourdough is a house favorite, feel free to branch out and sample the olive or autumn harvest loaves too. The handmade lineup also includes bagels, bialys, croissants, empanadas, and potpies. Ask for a recommendation from the staff, and you just may get directed to the hand-rolled pretzels, which are dusted with sea salt and butter.
308 Main St, Beacon, 845.440.8530
Annabelle’s Village Bake Shop
Try: Lemon bars
Since September 2017, Annabelle’s has worked its way into the hearts, and stomachs, of the local community. One step inside the shop and it’s easy to see why. Whimsical cakes, themed around Dr. Seuss, dinosaurs, and unicorns, are a dream for easy birthday party planning, while the gooey lemon bars, sweet tooth macaroons, and flaky fruit tarts are just the thing for an afternoon pick-me-up. As for the ambiance, the interior is welcoming, warm, and the perfect place to spend a cozy day in town.
7501 N Broadway, Red Hook, 845.835.6071
Apple Pie Bakery Café
Try: Garlic and rosemary sourdough
When you’re in the mood for a true artisanal experience, the award-winning restaurants at the Culinary Institute of America are the way to go. Yet when it comes to tracking down the perfect crusty loaf, few consider the campus as a shoppable spot. They’d be wrong, of course. When school is in session, the Apple Pie Bakery Café prepares baked goods and breads to delight every sort of carb lover. Breakfast goers can drool over the doughnuts of the week while lunch visitors snack on seasonal muffins and cakes. For dinner, take home a homemade loaf of garlic and rosemary sourdough. It has the power to make even the simplest of meals feel special.
The Culinary Institute of America, 1946 Campus Dr, Route 9, Hyde Park, 845.905.4500
The Bakery at Adams Fairacre Farms
Full description on Ulster County page.
Beacon Bread Company
Try: The Classic (a homemade take on peanut butter and jelly)
We’re not exaggerating when we say that everything is homemade at Beacon Bread Company. The bakery and bistro has quite the local reputation for its plush loaves and light-as-air pastries. Yet it also whips up wonders in its scratch kitchen, preparing everything from spinach artichoke dip and brioche croutons to cilantro tortillas and truffle cheese spread by hand. Even the humble PB&J gets a gourmet upgrade with in-house peanut butter and grape jelly layered on top of hearty slices of fresh brioche.
193 Main St, Beacon, 845.838.2867
Bread Alone Bakery
Full description on Ulster County page.
Caffe Aurora
Try: Sfogliatelle
In the heart of Poughkeepsie’s Little Italy community, Caffe Aurora is a family-owned bakery and pastry shop that has been churning out traditional Italian confections since 1941. Indulge on dreamy almond rainbow cookies, decadent baba al rhum pastries, or miniature lemon tarts. For an update on the classic croissant, sample the sfogliatelle, the clam-shaped flaky treats that are stuffed with ricotta and flavored with vanilla, orange, and cinnamon. Pair one with a shot of espresso for breakfast and you’ll think you hopped the Atlantic straight to Italy.
145 Mill St, Poughkeepsie, 845.454.1900
The Corner Bakery
Try: Muffins
It’s no secret that bakers are early risers. At McKinney and Doyle’s Corner Café bakery, the talented team is up and at ‘em at 5 a.m. to prepare the eatery’s mouthwatering ensemble of danishes, muffins, pies, and scones. That means it’s the place to be for morning commuters who want something a cut above their daily coffee and donut pairing. If you need a centerpiece for a dinner party later on in the day, The Corner Bakery has you covered too. Pick up a fruit pie or a tiered chocolate cake for a show-stopping way to end the meal.
10 Charles Colman Blvd, Pawling, 845.855.3875
La Deliziosa
Try: Cannoli chips and dip
Just up the street from the Poughkeepsie train station, La Deliziosa is the understated Italian pastry shop that puts innovative adaptations on old-world recipes. Think light-as-air éclairs and cream-filled French horns alongside crunchy biscotti and powdery amaretti. The true scene-stealer, however, is the highly addictive cannoli dip, which tastes exactly like the coveted sweet ricotta stuffing. The “chips,” meanwhile are made in the same manner as cannoli shells. Altogether, it’s just as delicious as the original and so much easier to eat.
10 Mt Carmel Pl, Poughkeepsie, 845.471.3636
Dolce Italian Bakery
Try: Cannoli donuts
Dolce may be unimposing from the outside (it’s housed in a strip plaza on Route 82), but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a trip. If you love Italian treats, you’ll be head over heels for the panettone, multicolored cookies, and tiered cakes. Don’t miss out on the cannoli donuts, an American riff on the ricotta-filled confection.
1610 Route 82, Lagrangeville, 845.227.4422
Ella’s Bellas
Try: Quiche
Ella’s Bellas is the gluten-free bakery in the Hudson Valley. The quaint Beacon shop churns out a rainbow of celiac compliant goodies, from signature chocolate chip cookies and scones to crumb cakes, pies, and sourdough bread. If you stop by around lunchtime, order a slice of mushroom cheddar quiche or apple Brie multigrain bread pudding to go, since finding a table in the small storefront is about as probable as stumbling upon a four-leaf clover in your backyard.
418 Main St, Beacon, 845.765.8502
Los Hornitos Bakery
Try: Tres leches cake
Hidden in a strip mall in Wappingers Falls, Los Hornitos is one of the Hudson Valley’s hidden gems. It won our 2017 Best of Hudson Valley Readers’ Pick for Best Latin Restaurant, which says a lot. Although you can get the standard club rolls and croissants here, try out the authentic Latin cuisine instead. The crunchy dobladitas and sweeter-than-sugar tres leches cake will send you straight to cloud nine.
1582 Route 9, Wappingers Falls, 845.298.8683
Fresh-baked loaves from Mario’s Brick Oven Bread in Hopewell Junction
Mario’s Brick Oven Bread
Try: Italian loaf
If a long stretch of a line greets you as you pull into the parking lot outside of Mario’s, don’t be surprised. Don’t turn around, either. The crowd is part of the deal with this local establishment, which prides itself on honest-to-goodness bread that fresh and delicious day in and day out. If you can, pick up a few loaves all at once. Eat an Italian loaf for dinner, freeze a few French baguettes for later, or give hard rolls out to friends. They work well with everything from bruschetta toasts and turkey sandwiches to grilled cheese and meatball subs.
855 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, 845.226.3782
The Pastry Garden
Try: Mini cupcakes
Poughkeepsie’s beloved bakery and confectionery might be known for its custom wedding and event cakes, but it does pastries and other sweet treats just as well. Your best bet is to get a sampler platter filled with a smattering of the colorful bite-sized treats that line the shelves. The bitty fruit tarts, cookies, and cupcakes are small enough that snacking on one or two doesn’t feel like (too) much of an indulgence.
Poughkeepsie Plaza, 2600 South Rd, Ste 5, Poughkeepsie, 845.473.5220
Pawling Bread Co.
Try: Country sourdough
Pawling Bread Co. may not have a storefront (for now), but it has quickly garnered a major presence in the Valley. The micro-bakery, which specializes in naturally leavened sourdough, sells its loaves at shops like McEnroe Organic Farm Store in Millerton and Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie. If you can, stop by The Blue Olive in Pawling for the classic country loaf, which is perfect for dunking in olive oil. For a bit more flavor, head to McKinney & Doyle Fine Foods for the store’s exclusive roasted garlic sourdough. With hints of rosemary and black pepper, it is an excellent addition to any cheese board.