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The winter holidays are fast approaching, which in many kitchens means the sweetest time of the year when home bakers whip up batches of sugary cookies, festive cakes and pies of all flavors. However, for those who aren’t natural-born bakers or just would rather leave the work to someone else, several Indianapolis-area bakeries are up to the task.
Here are spots where you can get treats for whatever snowy holiday occasion you celebrate.
Amelia’s
658 Virginia Ave., (317) 686-1583, ameliasbread.com
One of Indy’s biggest names in bread will announce the beginning of its holiday orders on its social media pages soon. The last few years Amelia’s holiday selections, which tend to hit social for preorders in mid-December, have included Christmas- and winter-themed cookies, tarts and pastries. Check the bakery’s Facebook page or visit ameliasbread.com/seasonal-orders/holiday-orders/ to place your order; this year, pick-up will only be available at the flagship Fletcher Place location.
Artisan Bakery and Pastries
7341 Rockville Road, (317) 292-9324, artisanbakeryinc.com
This westside Hispanic bakery offers a variety of cakes, cookies and sweet breads including seasonal specialties like apple tarts and rosca de reyes (Three Kings Cake) for Epiphany celebrations in early January. Seasonal orders can be placed online or by calling (317) 292-9324.
Heidelberg Haus
7625 Pendleton Pike, (317) 547-1230, heidelberghaus.com
It’s springerle season again at this decades-old German-style bakery and café in Lawrence. Customers can now pre-order the locally famed biscuits ($31.60 for 2 pounds) in traditional anise or cherry flavor as well as pfeffernüsse spice cookies ($31.60 for 2 pounds) or a combination of cookies. Heidelberg Haus also serves its customary rotation of cakes, pretzels and other baked goods throughout the year.
Kim’s Kakery, Bakery and Café
5452 Madison Ave., (317) 784-5253, kimskbc.com
The southside bakery is currently accepting Thanksgiving orders for confections like pies and pumpkin rolls. Once the turkey is cleared from the table, Kim’s will transition to Christmas-centric goods like cookies and sweet breads. Orders can be placed at kimskbc.com/delivery.html or by calling (317) 784-5253.
Kuacha and Me(h)
kuachameh.com
Kuacha and Me(h) offers a variety of home-baked Austrian flavors, including apfelstrudel ($20) and gedeckter apfelkuchen (apple pie, $25 to $50), plus an assortment of jam-filled sugar cookies ($18 per half dozen). Pickup and delivery orders can be placed online. Kuacha and Me(h) owner Tina Weselý also sells her goods at the Broad Ripple Winter Farmer’s Market at 1115 Broad Ripple Ave. every second and fourth Saturday of the month.
Leviathan Bakehouse
1101 N. College Ave., (317) 493-1879, leviathanbakehouse.com
Leviathan is currently accepting Thanksgiving preorders for items such as apple crumble pie ($39 for 8-inch pie), dinner rolls ($12.50 per dozen), spiced pumpkin Basque cheesecake ($36 for 8-inch cake) and pumpkin bread ($32 for 5-pound loaf). Thanksgiving orders can be placed at .leviathanbakehouse.com/holiday-menu through Nov. 22 for pickup from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 26 and 27. Leviathan will also offer a Christmas-themed holiday menu for pickup from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve Day, Dec. 24; preorders open Dec. 1.
Mamá Ines
2001 W. Washington St., (317) 955-7399 and 3822 Georgetown Road, (317) 744-8111
Throughout winter, Mamá Ines sells traditional Mexican wintry baked goods like pig-shaped molasses cookies fittingly dubbed puerquitos (little pigs), billed as gingerbread-like molasses cookies with a Mexican twist, as well as a variety of pan dulce (pastries, literally meaning “sweet bread”).
Pots and Pans Pie Co.
4915 N. College Ave., (317) 600-3475, potsandpansindy.com
The SoBro staple for all things round and hot offers a range of traditional and atypical seasonal pies ranging from sweet potato ($39.50 whole, $7.25 slice) to caramel pumpkin ($34.50, $6.25). Orders can be placed through Nov. 28 at potsandpansindy.com/november-pies-1 or by calling (317) 600-4375. Once Thanksgiving passes, December will bring a new roster of pies.
Rise’n Roll
Various Central Indiana locations, risenroll.com
The popular Amish bakery is now accepting Thanksgiving and Christmas orders for goods like pie, sweet breads and sugar cookies. Orders can be placed by calling or visiting your nearest Rise’n Roll location. You can view items available for preorder such as cinnamon rolls, fruit pies and dinner rolls on this order form posted to Rise’n Roll’s Facebook page.
Shapiro’s Delicatessen
808 S. Meridian St., (317) 631-4041, shapiros.com
The seasonal dessert selection at Shapiro’s ranges far and wide, from slices of fruit and pecan pie to Mexican wedding cakes ($1.95 for four).
Taylor’s Bakery
6216 Allisonville Road, (317) 251-9575, 8395 E. 116th St., Fishers, (317) 596-2253, taylorsbakery.bakesmart.com
Indy’s oldest bakery offers special Thanksgiving and Christmas menus with items like 9-inch Dutch apple and pumpkin pies ($24), decorated Christmas cookies ($3.75 per cookie or $26.75 for a dozen mixed) and gingerbread houses ($75 for a one-story ranch with icing front lawn). A minimum of 24 hours advance is required for all pickup orders.
Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin.