Guide · Madison, WI
5 Bakeries I'd Drive Across Madison For
My current top five bakeries around Madison, after thousands of calories in pastries.
Read the newsletter versionThere are two types of people in this world: people who kinda like bakeries, and people who will absolutely ruin their entire day's eating plans because they saw a laminated pastry behind glass. I am unfortunately the second one.
So here are my current top five bakeries around Madison. No ranking, no politics, no bakery wars. Just places that have made me sit in my car afterward thinking, yeah, that was worth it.
Bri's Fresh Bakes
Bri's Fresh Bakes· 1225 W Main St, Sun Prairie
Controlled chaos, and I mean that as a compliment. They sell out constantly, there is almost always a line, and somebody is always walking out holding a box like they just won the lottery. The croissants are the star: savory, pistachio, carrot cake inspired. Get the pistachio croissant, the savory croissants, or honestly whatever is left. Limited hours and frequent sellouts, so this is not a show up whenever situation.
Andi's Bakes
Andi's Bakes· Waunakee, WI
Smaller and more personal than the rest, and it feels like discovering somebody right before they blow up. The cookies are my favorite around Madison: soft, not crunchy, dangerously good, and actually homemade tasting instead of an Instagram cookie that weighs four pounds. Everything feels intentional here. Online orders only.
Read Troy's full take on Andi's BakesFosdal Home Bakery
Fosdal Home Bakery· Downtown Stoughton, Stoughton
A tiny bakery in downtown Stoughton with big donut energy. It feels like stepping into the kind of place your grandparents swear used to be everywhere. Not trendy, not loaded with cereal and candy, just insanely good classic donuts done perfectly. Some of the best in Wisconsin. Good luck buying only one on a weekend morning.
Read Troy's full take on Fosdal Home BakeryBloom Bake Shop
Bloom Bake Shop· Monroe Street, Madison
Parking on Monroe Street is a competitive sport, but it is worth the headache. The sweet potato donut is one of my favorite donuts in the area, maybe my favorite: soft, not overly sweet, tastes like fall and happiness. The ham and gruyere croissant explains why people are obsessed. They also do gluten free and vegan pastries really well.
Read Troy's full take on Bloom Bake ShopBatch Bakehouse
Batch Bakehouse· 1402 Williamson St, Madison
Everything here is consistently absurdly good. I think they have the best ham and gruyere croissant around Madison, and the chocolate cream cheese croissant made me question every lesser pastry I have eaten. Even the cookies are elite, and the French bread has become a full on family addiction for my in-laws. Around since 2009, everything made from scratch before dawn.