guides

Decadent Delights: A Guide to Find the Perfect Local Baker

Crafting Memories, One Delectable Confection at a Time

By Nicole S, publisher of Macaroni KID Cecil - NE Harford, MD April 16, 2024

Hey there, fellow sweet lovers! Whether it's birthdays, holidays, or just cozy family moments, nothing adds joy like delicious sweets! From mouthwatering cakes to tempting treats, finding the perfect baker is key to sweetening our celebrations. But with so many options, how do we find the one who can whip up our sugary dreams? Fear not, friends! This guide is here to help us discover the ultimate bakers in our area for all our family festivities. Let's dive in and find the sugary superstar who'll make our gatherings extra special!

Assess Your Needs: Before embarking on your quest for the perfect baker, take a moment to consider the unique requirements of your event. From the theme and ambiance to dietary restrictions and budget constraints, understanding your needs will serve as a compass in your search.

Research Local Bakers: Having a list of local bakers is important. I compiled THAT LIST IS BELOW!

Check Portfolios: Dive into the portfolios and galleries of these prospective bakers to gain insight into their style, creativity, and craftsmanship. Look at their previous creations and find one that matches the vibe you are hoping for. 

Dietary Considerations: In today's diverse culinary landscape, accommodating dietary preferences and restrictions is paramount. Ensure that your chosen baker can cater to any special requirements, whether it's gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or nut-free options.

Customization Options: Every celebration is as unique as the individuals it honors, and your cake should reflect that individuality. Engage in open dialogue with your baker to explore customization options, from design and decoration to personalization and theme integration.

Budget: While quality and craftsmanship are non-negotiables, it's essential to find a baker whose pricing aligns with your budgetary constraints. Request quotes from multiple bakers and weigh the value proposition against the cost to make an informed decision.

Book Early: Once you've found the perfect match for your celebration, don't delay in securing their services. Bakers often have limited availability, especially during peak seasons, so lock in your date well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Provide Feedback: Your feedback is invaluable in helping bakers refine their craft and enhance their services. Whether it's praise for a job well done or constructive criticism for areas of improvement, share your thoughts openly to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

With our handpicked list of bakers below, you're well-equipped to choose the sugary superhero who'll make your family celebrations unforgettable. Each one brings their unique blend of talent, creativity, and passion to the table, ensuring that every bite is a taste of pure delight. So go ahead, explore your options, and let the magic of sweet moments begin!


Batter Up Bakes 

Meet Shelby! When she first started her business in 2020 in the middle of a pandemic, she had no idea it would flourish the way it did. Fast forward, four years later and now she has her best employee yet with her; her 11 month old.  She was known primarily for her cupcakes and cakes when she first started. She is the sole person behind the scenes of baking, packaging, shipping, deliveries, labeling, social media updates, and market managing. She branched off with other products on her menu such as cake pops, cake jars, and cakesicles. Once winter arrived, she saw a trend for hot cocoa bombs she had to try out. Needless to say, she is now known for her infamous hot cocoa bombs. What sets her hot cocoa bombs apart from others-is the flavors and size. Over the last four years, she participated in numerous events and even sells her products to local stores. You can find her sweets at The Southern Sol Shoppe or if you’re interested in a custom order please feel free to reach out on her website! 

            Website                                         Facebook                              Instagram                          Email            


Cakes By Meg



Cakes By Meg is a cottage home bakery located in North East, MD that specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other sweets! She is a stay at home mom to 3 little ones and a full-time baker. She loves to bake for any occasion and create something memorable and unique for birthdays, weddings, showers, bachelorettes, and more! Head over to her Facebook page to inquire about a custom order! There's no event too big or too small, and never forget- you don't need a reason to have cake.

                                  Facebook                                   Instagram                                   Email


Cakes By Mimi



Meet Melissa! She is a Delaware native but currently reside in Elkton, MD and works full time as a special needs paraprofessional. Since an early age, she quickly realized her passion for baking and also for art - remember the Easy Bake ovens we had as kids? That's where it all started! She is completely self-taught and has learned primarily from trial & error, YouTube videos and baking shows. She wanted to learn how to create cakes that her family would enjoy during birthdays and other special occasions. Once the orders started coming in, they never stopped and that's how Cakes by Mimi was born. Specifically, she enjoys creating kids' birthday cakes especially when she gets to see their reactions when she delivers it, also when customers send her pictures and she gets to see the smiles with their cake. She also really enjoys making wedding cakes too. She really enjoys taking the ideas of the couples and bringing them to life for their special day.

            Website                                Facebook                                  Instagram                             Email          


Flourish Bakery 



Meet Halley, the owner and operator of Flourish Bakery LLC based out of Chesapeake City, MD. She started Flourish Bakery out of her home in May of 2023. She specializes in cupcakes and cakes with unique flavor combinations and loves putting new twists on traditional recipes. She also offers a gluten-free version of almost everything on her menu, she promises you won’t be able to tell the difference! Her inspiration and love for baking came from her mom, as she would always come up with creative recipes and fun cakes every birthday for her and her brothers growing up. Seeing how happy people get when gifted a beautiful and creative, handmade dessert never gets old! Visit her website to place your custom order and check out her Facebook and Instagram to see her latest offerings and local events.

              Website                                 Facebook                                        Instagram                          Email


Havre de Bakes 


Havre de Bakes is a cottage bakery based in Havre de Grace, MD specializing in Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Keto baked goods. Cottage bakery means that all of their treats are baked in a home kitchen, and while you won't find them in a shop downtown, you can find them at the Havre de Grace Farmer's Market every Saturday, or on their website. They are passionate about creating gourmet baked goods that are allergen friendly, delicious, and affordable! They offer a wide variety of sweet and savory treats, such as: cinnamon rolls, donuts, cookies, brownies, croissants, low-carb breads, and desserts, etc. There truly is something that everyone in your family can enjoy! Custom cakes and cupcakes are also available upon request through their order inquiry form or via email.

         Website                                  Facebook                                     Instagram                               Email


Nonnie’s Cookie Jar



Meet Emily, the proud owner of Nonnie’s Cookie Jar in Havre de Grace, MD. She has been baking for almost 1.5 years. She was the least likely person to be a baker in the family; but after her Nonna passed away, she felt the need to carry on her Italian cookie legacy. They started in March 2023 and hope to keep going for many years. They are currently a residential Italian bakery with the hopes of growing. Fresh pizzelles, biscotti and more! They look forward to baking for you!

            Website                                    Facebook                                   Instagram                               Email


Pastries By Penny



Pastries by Penny is a home-based cottage baker. After having a storefront for 3 1/2 years, she decided to go back to where she started, baking from home. She does business Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays, typically between 11-5 through the week and 9-2 on Saturdays. Pick up location is conveniently located minutes from the town of Elkton. She has been baking for 20+ years, and in that time, she has baked a large variety of different thing. Her claim to fame are her scones, cupcakes and cakes. She also bakes many flavors of cookies and brownies. In the last few years, she has started to decorate cakes for birthdays and special occasions. She has found that she now really enjoys that part of her business. Feel free to follow her on Facebook to see all the new sweets she has done or is working on. You can also see where she will be for events so that you can swing by for some sweets from her set up. To place an order, you can contact her through Facebook messenger or call her directly.  

                                   Facebook                              Instagram                                     Email


The Old Measuring Cup - Elkton, MD



The Old Measuring Cup is a new and upcoming cottage bakery in the Elkton, MD area that specializes in fresh baked artisan breads, drop cookies, decorated sugar cookies and other tasty treats to suit your needs! Rather for your kid’s birthday, a holiday party, wedding or you just want a nice loaf of bread for dinner, they have something for everyone. They pride themselves on using quality ingredients and they even source some of ingredients from their local community, such as our eggs! They believe it is important to support their local community as they have supported them in the short time, they have been open. Erin, owner and baker, at The Old Measuring Cup has always been a baker at heart and started her baking journey when she could barely stand in the kitchen chair to reach the counter to mix chocolate chip cookies with her grandma. The name “The Old Measuring Cup” even originated from her grandma’s old orange set of Tupperware measuring cups that are still used to this day!

                                Facebook                                    Instagram                                        Email