1. The Baking Grounds
4360 South Lee Street
Buford
Featuring a full breakfast and lunch menu, this family-owned bakery and cafe highlights an endless array of desserts to choose from, along with a great selection of coffees. Stop in for lunch and be sure to try the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich on Jalapeno Cheddar (and save room for dessert!).
Try: The Chocolate Perfection Petit Four… A dark chocolate cake with fresh cocoa buttercreme, then glazed in cocoa.
2. Mac Lab
2131 Pleasant Hill Rd #135
Duluth
A beautifully decorated interior and big smiles greet you when you walk into this “cookie laboratory” in Duluth. Each of the unique flavors are the product of months of practice and experimental baking to produce the best macarons possible. According to Mac Lab, a macaron shell only has four main ingredients, making proper technique crucial. And that’s not even considering the environments, moisture content of each ingredient, humidity, and barometric pressure in Georgia. They truly have their baking down to a science!
Try: The Unicorn, Rose Lychee, Raspberry, Salted Caramel and Black Sesame macarons.
3. Special Kneads & Treats
156 Scenic Highway South
Lawrenceville
It just does’t get any sweeter than this! Special Kneads and Treats, Inc. is a nonprofit specialty goods company focused on providing special needs adults within the surrounding community a place to learn a skill and develop a sense of accountability and pride. Profits from standard sales are injected back into community programs to further assist special needs awareness, research and many other areas of need. While cakes are their primary focus, Special Kneads and Treats, Inc. also produces various other items such as cupcakes, cake-pops, cookies and Choc-Corn. Other items can be ordered on special request, like the world-renowned pumpkin bread, candies, dry mixes and other delights that will keep you coming back for more.
Try: The Chocolate Decadence cupcake… A chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate ganache, topped with chocolate buttercream frosting, chocolate drizzle and chocolate chips.
4. Crave Pie Studio
3107 Main Street
Duluth
For such a small store front, this lil’ pie shop has gigantic flavor. Try the apple pie with cheddar cheese crust and bacon streusel or the tequila key lime with salted pretzel crust. And we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t mention the savory pies… Their chicken pot pie is loaded with chicken, vegetables and the ideal creamy gravy. That crust though! Flaky, buttery perfection. With new recipes every week, you’ll be a regular in no time. And, if you’re feeling ambitious and want to make your own, they sell just the crusts!
Try: The Chocolate Chess pie is decadent and delicious!
5. Gingerspice
62 College Street (inside the market) norcross
Gingerspice is a bakery and catering service right in the heart of historic Norcross. They specialize in French and Southern style sweets—especially cakes and macarons! Gingerspice is also a full service wedding bakery and offers all manner of sweets and dessert styling. Every Monday through Friday, they offer a delicious assortment of treats including cookies, French macarons, bars and brownies, cakelets, pies and locally roasted coffee. They sell the pastries until they run out, so it’s best to stop by as soon as the shop opens.
Try: The small pies are the perfect size! We loved the peach/caramel. Also be sure to try one of the cinnamon rolls!