For Madisonians with a sweet tooth, the holidays are an excellent time to indulge.
This season, find cinnamon stars and stollen at European-style bakeries and peppermint bark at local chocolate shops, plus cut-out cookies, kringle, candy cane-flavored marshmallows, orange ginger macarons, buche de Noel and more, all around the Madison area.
Need an idea for what to take to that next holiday party or Christmas-themed dinner? We’ve gathered some ideas. And for a fun hands-on holiday, Miggy’s Bakes offers a 2-hour, family-friendly class on how to make a Christmas cake.
Meghan Hile prepares chocolate at Madison Chocolate Company, which has two locations in the city (on Odana Road and Glenway Street, off Monroe). Stop by for peppermint bark, kringle and drinking chocolate, among other confections.
MARY BOSCH
Madison Chocolate Company
5521 Odana Road and 729 Glenway St.
madisonchocolatecompany.com
Madison Chocolate Company opened in 2017 as an independent, woman-owned chocolate shop and cafe. It now has two locations serving gluten-free house bakes, caramels and chocolate truffles.
The shop has substantial menu of festive baked goods, from gluten-free pecan and raspberry cheesecake kringles ($48 for a batch) to classic sugar cookies ($5).
“The bakery is like my second home and we bakers are a community,” owner Meghan Hile wrote in an email. Pain au chocolat ($6) pastries join the company’s holiday treats menu alongside peppermint bark ($7), gingerbread people ($4) and, of course, drinking chocolate ($10).
To pair with the chocolate, try hot drinks for cold, winter days: Turkish coffee ($6.50-$7), London fog ($6-$6.50), spicy hot chocolate ($4-$6), and much more.
In Sun Prairie, Macarons Boutique by Sim makes festive flavors like candy cane, ginger bread and hot chocolate.
COURTESY OF MACARONS BY SIM
Macarons Boutique by Sim
instagram.com/macaronsbysim
Macarons, made with almond flour, egg whites and powdered sugar, are an excellent light treat for after a hearty Christmas dinner and, boxed by the dozen, make for pretty gifts. And one can’t go wrong with the festive macarons from self-taught Sun Prairie baker Simona Fabian.
“You can’t compare store macarons with homemade ones,” Fabian told Cap Times during 2021’s roundup of 6 Madison-area bakers to satisfy a sweet tooth. “They’re not even close.”
Fabian’s macarons are naturally gluten-free with flavors that change by the season. Special holiday flavors include gingerbread, peppermint chocolate, red velvet, cookies and cream, as well as some dairy free options like brandy old fashioned, orange ginger (Fabian’s favorite) and cinnamon apple.
Christmas macaron boxes cost $25 for a dozen, available to order online, free for delivery in Sun Prairie.
Jazzed-Up Marshmallows, based in Lake Mills, has several holiday flavors, including candy cane (shown here) and egg nog.
COURTESY OF JAZZED-UP MARSHMALLOWS
Jazzed-Up Marshmallows
jazzedupmarshmallows.com
Speaking of light and airy holiday treats, the Lake Mills-based business Jazzed-Up Marshmallows has a wide range of festive marshmallow flavors that can either be eaten as is or roasted on an open fire.
“The holidays have many signature sights, flavors and feelings which we really want to pop with our marshmallows,” wrote Jason Quednow, who owns the 15-year-old business with his wife Michelle. “People think, at this time of the year, the only thing to do with marshmallows is to put them in hot chocolate. There are some missed opportunities with these flavors.”
The Quednows’ candy cane-flavored marshmallows pack a punch of peppermint, accompanied by a crunch or two of chopped up candy cane. The dark chocolate peppermint is particularly good, Jason wrote, with a hot coffee, heavy cream, and a splash of schnapps. A creamy eggnog flavor is delightful mushed between graham crackers, warmed up with a side of tea.
Small packages start at $3 per bag and go up to a whole pound ($18). Order online, or visit facebook.com/jazzedupmarshmallows to find out which markets the business is vending at.
Heirloom Bakery & Kitchen’s “Melting Moment” cookies are vegan.
COURTESY OF HEIRLOOM BAKERY & KITCHEN
Heirloom Bakery & Kitchen
instagram.com/heirloombakeryandkitchen
For vegan friends, Heirloom Bakery & Kitchen’s “Melting Moment” cookies are a sweet treat with an even sweeter sentiment. Heirloom’s bakes are often available at local coffee shops, like Forward Craft & Coffee and Ledger Coffee Roasters, as well as the deli Alimentari.
The Melting Moment cookies are “something my mom would make for me,” owner Mickey Walker wrote in an email. “My mom originally got the recipe from my great aunt Angie. … It’s a delicate sugar cookie that’s true to its name. They just melt in your mouth.”
In adapting her family’s recipe, Walker added a little glaze to the top along with some festive sugars. “They’re adorable and, in my opinion, irresistible on any holiday cookie platter,” Walker said.
“Heirloom is based on the traditions and cherished recipes we all have in our families and these cookies are one of many that have been passed on to me that I love making (and eating) every holiday season.”
Find Heirloom bakes in many local coffee shops, or order cookies via Heirloom’s Instagram account. Prices available by request.
Buche de Noel, or yule log cake, at Bloom Bake Shop consists of chocolate sponge cake filled with Chantilly whipped cream, decorated with frosted cranberries and rosemary.
BECK HENRECKSON
Bloom Bake Shop
1851 Monroe St. (Monroe), 557 North St. (Eken)
bloombakeshop.com
Bloom Bake Shop, with locations on Monroe Street and North Street, has added a new holiday item to its menu: rum custard tart ($60).
“The rum custard is inspired by desserts my Aunt Dorothy would bring to our holiday gatherings,” Bloom owner Annemarie Maitri wrote in an email. “I wanted to create something a little boozy, citrusy and creamy. The top is bruleed for a crisp finish. Our bakers pulled together an amazing delight.”
The bake shop also features classic holiday treats like buche de Noel ($65), Maitri’s personal favorite, which consists of chocolate sponge cake filled with Chantilly whipped cream. Maitri’s bakers cover the cake in chocolate bark (thin tempered chocolate, with a snap) and garnished with meringue mushrooms, fresh rosemary and sugared cranberries.
Another classic is stollen ($35), a fruit bread made with marzipan. It’s made by Maitri’s husband Mark Pavlovich, inspired by his time living in Freiburg, Germany.
“Our decadent chocolate fudge peppermint layer cake, filled with one layer of ganache and one layer of peppermint buttercream, has also been on our holiday menu for years,” Maitri wrote. Cost for that layer cake ranges from $55-$88 depending on size. “It’s become a customer favorite.”
Keto gingerbread brown butter cake and and vegan peppermint chocolate pie are among the desserts made with maple syrup and raw sugar at Paleo Mama Bakery on Few Street.
BECK HENRECKSON
Paleo Mama Bakery
409 S. Few St.
paleomamabakery.com
Paleo Mama Bakery, soon to expand to a larger location on Park Street, makes vegan and paleo-friendly desserts sweetened with maple syrup and raw honey. Owner Belle Voell labels her desserts “keto,” for the low-carb, high-fat diet required by people with some medical conditions, and “paleo” for those who have food restrictions around grains.
Voell hopes her products will help people with allergies and other food restrictions celebrate the holidays more easily.
Among the new items on the list this year are a keto-friendly gingerbread brown butter cake ($65) and vegan peppermint chocolate pie ($48 for a full pie). Other Paleo Mama holiday items include lemon blackberry cake ($65), Christmas tree cake ($8) and paleo pecan pie ($45).
Le C’s Patisserie in Middleton makes customized cakes and Basque cheesecake, as well as many other sweets.
MARY BOSCH
Le C’s Patisserie and Tea House
411 State St. and 7601 Elmwood Ave., Middleton
lecstea.com
Le C’s is a bubble tea shop and Asian bakery with locations on State Street and in Middleton. Basque cake, filled with pastry cream, is prized for caramelized exterior and creamy tangy interior. It’s often a go-to for holiday desserts.
“The unique flavor combination sets it apart from traditional cheesecakes and it pairs well with a variety of teas,” wrote Hannah Liu, who co-owns the shop with Joan Cao and Quinny Chen.
“Our chef Quinny discovered Basque cheesecake while exchanging pastries with a Spanish classmate during her bakery class in France,” Liu continued in an email. “Its creamy texture captivated her, and she knew she had to share with her customers.”
Le C’s pastries pay homage to cultures from around the world, from Japanese souffle cheesecake ($12.99) to Mexico milk butter bread ($3.79). For customized cakes, customers can share design ideas or provide inspiration through pictures.
The start-to-finish process typically takes a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity. Put in orders sooner rather than later.
Miggy’s Bakes is offering both premade Christmas treats and family-friendly cake decorating classes at its Middleton location.
BECK HENRECKSON
Miggy’s Bakes
6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave., Middleton
miggysbakes.com
Miggy’s Bakes offers cake decorating classes for the whole family. Owner Shelby Olstad leads a two-hour-long session with all the supplies needed for participants to create their own cake masterpieces to take home.
“We have classes where you can make your own tree cake and vintage holiday cake,” Olstad wrote in an email. “People come in saying they’ve never decorated a cake before and they will need my help, but end up leaving saying they’re ready to decorate a cake for their next event coming up.
“We make it super easy to follow along for beginners.”
Miggy’s makes many holiday treats, including sugar cookies and Santa cakes. Mixed dessert platters ($45), according to Olstad, are the best way to try the shop’s offerings with one order.
Holiday classes are filling up fast. They range from $30, where you decorate a cake on your own, to $85-$130 for working on a cake with an instructor from start to finish.
The New Glarus Bakery’s holiday stollen ($39.99) has been a tradition on its menu since the late 1970s, according to owner Angela Neff (pictured on the left).
BECK HENRECKSON
New Glarus Bakery
534 1st St., New Glarus
newglarusbakery.com
The New Glarus Bakery’s holiday stollen ($39.99) has been a tradition on its menu since the late 1970s, according to owner Angela Neff.
The stollen, available to ship or in-store pickup, is made from a classic recipe, with freshly roasted almonds, marzipan an imported European spice blend and two kinds of raisins soaked in dark Meyer’s rum. This 24 ounce German Christmas loaf is then kneaded, cut, fluffed and rolled, creating a moist treat rich with aromatics.
Far Breton Bakery is a French-style bakery on the north side of Madison with a small cafe space. Place orders ahead of the holiday for buche de Noel and Queen of Sheba cakes.
BECK HENRECKSON
Far Breton Bakery
1924 Fordem Ave.
farbretonbakery.com
In addition to northside bakery Far Breton’s buche de Noel ($50), the bakery’s Queen of Sheba cake ($35) is a customer favorite for the holidays. It’s made with flourless almond cake, gingerbread syrup, marmalade and dark chocolate ganache, topped with a housemade candied fruit garnish.
“We’ve been making the buche de Noel and Queen of Sheba for six years now at Far Breton,” owner Marie-Arzel Young wrote in an email. “They’re both inspired by my childhood experiences with the ‘Nutcracker’ ballet, my childhood in France and the flavors I associate with the Yuletide season, such as our triple spiced lime speculaas.”
Young strongly recommends preorders. The bakery will be open Christmas Eve for pickup orders and regular pastry availability.
Order fun holiday cut-outs from Madison-based Martha’s Cookies.
COURTESY OF MARTHA’S COOKIES
Martha’s Cookies
marthascookies.com
For busy would-be bakers, Martha’s Cookies’ custom designs for cookie cut-outs mean no waiting anxiously by the oven. Cute designs like mittens, snowflakes and holiday ornaments are great for gifts or after dinner desserts, all available via online orders.
“I have always loved baking,” owner Martha Czerniakowski wrote in an email. “Nothing brings me more happiness than bringing a treat to the coffee barista on my way to work or to a few of my coworkers.”
Martha’s also makes chocolate chunk, double chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, plus chocolate chip brownies. Cookies cost $3.50-$4 (less per cookie with more ordered).
Dresdener stollen at Clasen’s European Bakery is a signature holiday treat, “a German bread cake filled with rum soaked golden raisins, almonds, orange peel and pure marzipan.”
MARY BOSCH
Clasen’s European Bakery
7610 Donna Drive, Middleton
clasensbakery.com
Clasen’s European Bakery was started in 1959 by Ralph and Ernst Clasen, who left home in Cologne, Germany to “pursue a life in America doing what they knew best: baking.”
Among the holiday treats featured here are almond spice cookies called spekulatius ($14.99), Danish spritz butter cookies ($14.99, 8 ounces), rum fruit cake ($29.99) and cinnamon cookies called zimtsterne. Find cute cut-outs for cookie plates and foil-wrapped jingle bells and Santas, perfect for Christmas stockings.