12 Minnesota Bakeries Locals Say Are Worth The Drive For Their Pastries

Minnesota might be known for its lakes, but its bakeries deserve just as much fame. Hidden in small towns and cozy corners, these spots fill the air with the smell of butter, sugar, and pure happiness.

From flaky croissants that melt in your mouth to cream-filled pastries that practically sparkle with sweetness, each bakery is worth every mile.

Locals swear by them, and once you’ve tasted their treats, you’ll understand exactly why.

1. Patisserie 46 (Minneapolis)

Walking into this place feels like teleporting straight to Paris, minus the jet lag and questionable exchange rates.

Owner John Kraus trained at some of France’s most prestigious culinary schools, and boy, does it show in every perfectly laminated layer.

Their almond croissants are legendary among locals, stuffed with frangipane that’s neither too sweet nor too subtle.

The seasonal fruit tarts rotate based on what’s fresh, so you’re always getting peak flavor. Pro tip: arrive early on weekends because these beauties sell out faster than concert tickets.

2. Rustica Bakery (Minneapolis)

Forget everything you thought you knew about sandwich bread.

Rustica takes the European approach seriously, using natural starters and long fermentation times that create depth most commercial bakeries can’t touch.

Their morning buns have achieved cult status, featuring a perfect cinnamon-sugar coating that caramelizes into crunchy perfection.

The focaccia sandwiches at lunch are equally mind-blowing, piled high with quality ingredients. Multiple Twin Cities locations mean you’re never too far from carb heaven.

3. Isles Bun & Coffee (Minneapolis)

Tucked into a charming neighborhood spot, this bakery proves that sometimes simple done right beats fancy every time.

Their cardamom buns are a love letter to Minnesota’s Scandinavian heritage, fragrant and not overly sweet.

The cinnamon rolls here are massive, gooey, and worth every calorie you’ll pretend not to count.

Pair one with their excellent coffee, and you’ve got the perfect lazy Sunday morning sorted. Locals treat this place like their living room, so expect a friendly, laid-back vibe.

4. Thirsty Whale Bakery (Minneapolis)

Donuts, but make them interesting. This bakery throws tradition out the window and experiments with flavors that sound weird until you taste them and realize they’re genius.

Think lavender-honey glazes, bourbon-bacon combinations, and seasonal specials that change faster than Minnesota weather.

The texture hits that sweet spot between cake and yeast donuts, creating something entirely their own.

They sell out ridiculously fast, so either pre-order or show up when they open. Your snooze button is not your friend here.

5. Sarah Jane’s Bakery (Minneapolis)

Gluten-free baking often tastes like cardboard trying to cosplay as cake. Sarah Jane’s completely destroys that stereotype with pastries so good that wheat-eaters regularly choose them anyway.

Their chocolate chip cookies are dangerously addictive, with crispy edges and chewy centers that rival any traditional bakery.

The sandwich bread actually makes decent toast, which feels like a minor miracle in the gluten-free world.

Celiacs and gluten-sensitive folks finally have a place where they don’t feel like second-class pastry citizens.

6. Aki’s BreadHaus (Minneapolis)

Japanese precision meets German baking traditions in this wildly unique bakery that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Owner Aki Sugiyama trained in both countries, and the results are spectacular.

Their shokupan (Japanese milk bread) is impossibly soft and slightly sweet, perfect for toast or eating straight from the bag like a heathen.

The pretzels are equally authentic, with that perfect chewy-crispy contrast.

This place represents what makes America’s food scene exciting: talented immigrants bringing their heritage and making something new.

7. Dorothy Ann Bakery (Woodbury)

Sometimes you don’t want trendy or experimental. Sometimes you want a bakery that reminds you of childhood birthdays and grandma’s kitchen, and Dorothy Ann delivers that nostalgia in spades.

Their decorated sugar cookies are works of art, almost too pretty to eat (but you definitely will). The custom cakes handle everything from weddings to weird requests with equal professionalism and creativity.

Woodbury residents consider this place a community treasure, and after one visit, you’ll understand why.

8. Honey & Rye Bakehouse (St. Louis Park)

Sourdough enthusiasts, this is your temple. Honey & Rye obsesses over fermentation times, flour sources, and baking temperatures in ways that border on scientific research.

The result? Bread with complex flavor profiles that evolve as you chew, plus a crust that crackles like a campfire.

Their pastries use the same naturally leavened dough, creating croissants with an almost savory depth.

Fair warning: once you experience real sourdough, grocery store bread tastes like disappointment wrapped in plastic.

9. Brake Bread (St. Paul)

Named after the Scandinavian word for good bread, this St. Paul gem takes its etymology seriously. Everything bakes in a wood-fired oven, which adds subtle smoky notes you didn’t know bread needed.

Their kanelbulle (Swedish cinnamon buns) are less sweet than American versions but somehow more satisfying, with cardamom adding complexity.

The seeded rye bread makes sandwiches that actually taste like something. Parking can be tricky, but that’s never stopped anyone from getting good pastries.

10. La Boulangerie Marguerite (St. Paul)

Owner Marguerite Duval grew up in Brittany, and she’s not about to let Minnesota’s version of French baking slide into mediocrity.

Every recipe follows traditional methods her grandmother used, because some things shouldn’t change.

The pain au chocolat features actual French chocolate, not the weird candy bar substitute some places use. Baguettes come out multiple times daily, still warm and crackling.

She’ll correct your French pronunciation with a smile, which somehow makes the pastries taste even better.

11. Nelson Bros. Bakery (Clearwater)

Operating since 1935, this family bakery has perfected the art of not changing what already works. Four generations of Nelsons have made the same donut recipe, and locals would riot if they tried updating it.

Their long johns are legendary, filled generously and topped with chocolate frosting that doesn’t taste waxy. Everything costs less than you’d pay in the Cities, because Clearwater hasn’t gotten that memo yet.

Worth the drive? Absolutely, especially if you appreciate bakeries with actual history.

12. Hanisch Bakery & Coffee Shop (Red Wing)

Red Wing’s German heritage lives on in this bakery that’s been serving strudel and kuchen since 1949. The recipes haven’t changed because, frankly, they don’t need to.

Their apple strudel features paper-thin pastry wrapped around spiced apples that taste like autumn. The German chocolate cake is the real deal, with that distinctive coconut-pecan frosting done right.

Combine your bakery visit with Red Wing’s antique shops, and you’ve got a perfect day trip that’ll impress out-of-town visitors.