Well, it is no secret that I have mad love for Cincinnati. Unfortunately..Cincinnati does not have mad love for cupcakes. sigh. How is it that I, cupcake lover and connoisseur, came from a city without a phenomenal cupcake? I started asking myself how I even fell into this addiction hobby. I traced it back to Chicago. On a trip to the windy city to visit my friend Katie, she took me to Sweet Mandy B's. Those cupcakes are the only reason I even moved here. Kidding! kind of...I do keep moving closer and closer to the shop. Anyway, I have always had a sweet tooth, and that my friends began in Cincinnati. While they may not do cupcakes well, they have some stellar bakeries. I have favorite treats at each one and not a single one is a cupcake. On that note, I will give you a brief tour of Cincinnati's best.
First, The BonBonerie (bonbonerie.com). This is a cute little shop located in Oakley. You can smell the sugar when pulling into the parking lot. It is small and always crowded, so if you are impatient like me it is best to get there early. Especially if you are visiting near a holiday. Madness
The cases are packed with some of the most beautiful and delicious sweets I have ever had. My go-to...
Sugar Cookies! I never pick sugar cookies...EVER. If faced with a cookie decision the absolute last choice would be a sugar cookie. The only place that rule doesn't apply is The Bon Bonerie. These cookies are a-ma-zing! not only are they beautiful, but they are so good. I usually think if a dessert is pretty it wont be good. Not here. Aren't they so cute? They change them up for every holiday/season, but you can also get custom cookies. They make such a perfect gift
No one is ever mad about getting a little pink box!
Next...Busken! (busken.com) There is more than one Busken location throughout the city, but the one pictured below - open 24 hours!
Busken also has cases packed with treats, but they are most well known for their smiley face cookies. As you can see they also make them in support of the Reds (love).
They created "the skinny cookie" - the healthier version on the smiley cookie. One word - gross. Don't waste your time on these. Like eating chalk. Just get the original cookie and try to have some self control to not eat the entire box in one sitting.
They are a very creative bakery - hence the "boosken" onesie. They have clever billboards all throughout the city which are too funny. I think there is even a book of all the billboards.
Always love canine support!
I have 2 favorites at Busken. The first...
Chocolate tea cookies! They have other iced ones, but the chocolate are the best. My friend Erin got me hooked on these bad boys. When I lived with her she would always come home with a bag of fresh cookies and we would just sit there and snack away. Now I crave them and have to get some every time I go back to Cincinnati. My other favorite at Busken is Schnecken. If you are not familiar, Schnecken is a german type cinnamon bun. You can only get it around the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays, so yes, I am waiting patiently for Schnecken season.
Lastly, Servatii (servati.com) Also, multiple locations.
Servatii's is bringing out all the German we have in Cincinnati. When I think of this bakery I think of coffee cakes more than actual cakes. My mom would pick one up from here each weekend. Two of my best friends worked at Servatii's in high school. I also blame them for my sweet tooth since I had cakes, cookies, and anything else they offered right at my fingertips! Those were the days...
My favorite...not even a sweet! I am obsessed with their pretzel bread. I would always pop in and pick up a couple of the pretzel bagels for sandwiches, or to snack on plain.
They also make the best rolls.
So Cincinnati, I forgive you! You may not have any outstanding cupcakes, but you have the best bakeries. I will now be counting down the days til Christmas as this post has made me super homesick.
enjoy!
j
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