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Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth! Bakeries on an All American Road
With miles of road that take you through charming river road communities, the Wisconsin All American and Great River Road is a great place to find your new favorite bakery. Stopping in for a treat can sweeten up any day on the road, and is a great way to catch a glimpse of the many communities along the way. Here are some of the best bakeries along the Great River Road, where the shops are often family-owned, the ingredients are fresh and local, and a variety of pastries, pies, cookies, and desserts await your arrival.
The Local Oven – Prairie du Chien
Family owned and operated, the Local Oven is one of the leading local food stores in Crawford County. Boasting one of a kind homegrown goodness and gifts, this bakery has something for everyone, even gluten-free products. Along with other locally sourced items and foods, you can stop in for fresh coffee, breads, ice cream, and desserts, including their infamous Bacon Maple donut. With street parking and the nostalgic downtown District of Prairie du Chien, you’ll find tasty treats and river town charm with your stop at this bakery on the Wisconsin All American Road.
Meringue Bakery – La Crosse
Meringue Bakery, located in La Crosse, WI, is known for its special event cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes, wedding favors, and other fine baked goods. The bakery is also well known for its head pastry chef and owner, Jen Barney. Barney’s career as a pastry chef launched to fame when she won two Food Network Baking Championship Titles, including her Champion title in the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship. You can stop into Meringue for some of Barney’s tasty creations and see her compete on Food Network’s The Big Bake later this year.
Smiling Pelican Bakeshop – Maiden Rock
Open only on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm, the Smiling Pelican Bakeshop is the place to be on a Saturday morning in Maiden Rock. This popular little shop draws a crowd of locals and visitors alike, but you’ll want to arrive before opening time to get a good spot in line. The line outside will only grow longer as the shop opens, as lots of people show up every weekend. A must-try treat is their Cranberry Wild Rice Sourdough, so try to snag some if you can, but other sweets include specialty breads, cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, scones, and more. For a full list of the available treats each weekend, you can check out their Facebook page.
Stockholm Pie Company – Stockholm
The Stockholm Pie Company is a very well known bakery along the river road, receiving the Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award in 2020. One of their specialties is creating and baking delicious pies, as they feature over 40 different types and flavors throughout the year. Their pies are handcrafted from scratch and made with the highest quality fruits and nuts, often from locally based sources. To some, this shop offers the best pie in Wisconsin, so buy a slice or a whole pie, and maybe even a few to bring home.
The Alma Bakery – Alma
This little bakery can be found in downtown Alma along Mainstreet and the Mississippi River. Open Thursday through Sunday, the Alma Bakery is the perfect place to try a variety of treats and sweets. They specialize in pies, cookies, homemade bread, doughnuts, scones and other pastries in a variety of flavors. Since it is a small bakery, the baked treats and breads will often sell out, so be sure to get there early. After buying your favorites you can enjoy them while exploring downtown Alma, or bring some home to enjoy a second time.
