Charles E. Hill 
Connecticut bakeries are taking orders for holiday pastries and cakes to celebrate the season, but deadlines are fast approaching. CT Examiner spoke with a number of bakeries about what’s popular this year and when customers should pre-order for pre-Christmas pickup.
Dagmar’s desserts
(860) 661-4661 / 75 Main Street, Old Saybrook
Acceptance of orders until Friday, December 17
Stollen is Dagmar’s specialty, which is available at the bakery and online. It offers varieties of quark, marzipan, cranberry and walnut stollen available in medium and large or family sizes.
“Stollen is very popular. Apple strudel is a constant. The Linzer torte is an Austrian classic. And we make a Buche de Noel, in addition we make beautiful cookie trays, said Karen Gumpel, pastry chef.
The bakery offers “festive pies,” in two sizes, which include buttermilk cake, chocolate or chocolate mousse cake, and carrot cake. On the menu, also a Käsesahne or a lemon cream pie, a prince regent pie and a strawberry cake.
Sift Bake Shop Mystic
https://www.toasttab.com/mix-at-sift-mystic/v3/ [ order form]
(860) 245-0542 / 5 Water Street, mystic
Acceptance of orders until Monday December 20 at 7 p.m.
“This year’s most popular choice is the sleigh-like Buche de Noel chocolate cherry,” said Kaitlyn Seif, Marketing Coordinator for Sift.
La Buche de Noel is one of four iconic holiday desserts, which include a Mont Blanc with chestnuts, a ginger cheesecake and a carrot cake roulade. A special holiday Panettone as well as the usual croissants, cookies, brownies and macaroons from the bakery are available for pre-order.
“Another novelty this year are our take-out cocktails. We have four options out of the box, ”Seif said.
The 32-ounce cocktails include a ‘cocquito’, a dairy-free eggnog made with coconut milk and spiced rum, a holiday punch made with Pinor Noir infused with fruit and spices, a hot toddy. based on Rittenhouse Rye whiskey and apple cider, and mimosas made with fresh juices.
“We’re trying to say, ‘Let’s be your bartender,’” Seif said. “We’ve got all the mimosas and all the juices for you, so you’re kind of ready to get moving for Christmas morning.”
Continuation of the Pastry
https://www.pursuitofpastry.com/christmas
(860) 391-8687 / 719 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook
Acceptance of orders until Saturday December 18 at 2 p.m.
This is the busiest year on vacation ever, said owner Jill Peterson.
“Icing sugar cookies are popular and the assortment of cookies are assorted,” she said. “We introduced hot chocolate bombs last year, and they’re very popular this year as well. We also make handmade chocolates in-house.
The holiday menu includes Buche de Noel, a Winter Wonderland coconut cake, a Christmas funfetti cake and a classic carrot cake.
Litchfield Bakery
https://www.thebakehousect.com/menu
(860) 361-6423 / 7 North Street, Litchfield
Acceptance of holiday orders until Saturday, December 18
The Bake House specializes in French breads and cakes, as well as pies and layered cakes.
“Typical orders are for baguettes and sperlongas, which look like long ciabattas, and sourdoughs,” said Jeremy McKendry, bakery co-owner with Allison Varian since May 2018.
“We are extending orders for baguettes for bread until next week,” McKendry said.
Savor Coffee & Bakery
http://thesavourcafe.com/holiday-menu/
(860) 662-4438 / 90 Main Street, Centerbrook
Acceptance of holiday orders until Saturday, December 18
“This year we are offering a sticky caramel pudding layer cake in addition to the Buche de Noel,” said Owner Kim Thomas.
Other holiday desserts include New York-style cheesecake with a ginger crust, French apple cake, and Saint-Honoré cakes.
The menu also includes appetizers and a la carte entrees with side dishes and salads to create a complete holiday meal. Boxes of holiday cookies and French macarons are also available.
Fresh Zest Pastry
https://zest-orderonline.square.site/holiday-menu-2021
(860) 381-0771 / 22 Bayview Ave 1A, Stonington
Acceptance of orders until Sunday December 19
“Yule logs are popular and we have regular and gluten-free options,” said Gabriella Whitrow, owner and pastry chef. This year the Pavlova is new, it’s a lighter option for after the holiday meal.
Holiday specials include a chocolate mousse tree stump, a spiked eggnog log and a traditional British Christmas cake.
The bakery also has online and in-store retail items that will be available until it closes on Christmas Eve.
Scrape cooking
(203) 301-4396 / 84 Broad Street, Milford
Acceptance of orders for public holidays until Monday, December 20 at 3 p.m.
“We picked the most popular things people lean towards,” said Owner Leslie Flick. “Yule logs are the most popular and people always turn to ciabatta breads – everyone likes them. ”
Flourless chocolate cake, packet of cinnamon bun, and quiches are also popular.
“We also started this cookie tin with more sophisticated style cookies so people could give them as gifts,” she said.
For breakfast options like muffins, scones, and croissants, the bakery will take orders until 5 p.m. on December 23 for a pickup on December 24.
