DIY gingerbread houses, dreidel-topped doughnuts and yummy yule logs are all in the offing at local bakeshops this holiday season. Get your orders in ASAP and maybe have your dentist on speed dial for next month. #worthit
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Get Holiday Mini Boxes filled with Hanukkah and Christmas mini doughnuts for $35. Available for preorder only, the Hanukkah boxes come with jelly doughnuts topped with powdered sugar, dreidels and gold coins. The Christmas option has red velvet, s’mores, jelly-filled and Christmas cookie doughnuts decorated with trees, ornaments and Santa. // 4001 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Baked by Yael
Lawyer-turned-baker Yael Krigman specializes in bagels, black-and-white cookies, cake pops, rugelach and more at her nut-free, kosher bakery. Hanukkah treats include cake pops with Hanukkah-themed decorations ($3.25 each or $47.95 for a gift box). Jumbo menorah-decorated cake pops ($74.40 for a dozen) are also available in vegan or gluten-free options ($80.40 for a dozen). Also on the menu are black-and-white cookies sporting menorah designs ($78 for a dozen) and a gift set containing hot chocolate on a spoon (starting at $23.45). Note that the bakery will be open on Christmas Day for any bagel or sugar fixes. // 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
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Bakeshop
Through Dec. 24 (Falls Church) and Dec. 25 (Arlington)
Find a variety of festive treats, including vegan options, at the Arlington and Falls Church locations of Justin Stegall’s beloved sweets emporium. Prefer something traditional for your holiday spread? A pecan (with or without bourbon chocolate) and apple streusel pie ($38 each) might be for you. Or an iced gingerbread, banana pecan or vegan banana loaf ($26 each). For a seasonal cake, try Candy Cane Whipped Cream or Gingerbread Whipped Cream ($70 each). Or chill out with ice box pies in flavors such as coconut cream, frozen hot chocolate, key lime and Nutella ($36 each). // 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington, and 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Through Dec. 24
The Christmas Corner Store inside the bakery has a limited daily supply of goodies available for grab-and-go. Items include Peppermint Bark ($9), morning loaves of pumpkin chai and banana chocolate chip breads ($17), and a Trio of Pralines in traditional, café au lait or chocolate ($12). Find savory snacks, too, such as mini or full-size buttermilk biscuits with Virginia ham ($28 or $40) and petite blackened turkey meatballs ($40). Craving a Creole Kringle Cake, the
Best Buns Bakery & Burgers
Ordering starts Dec. 12 for pickup between Dec. 19-24
All three locations—Shirlington, Tysons and Springfield—of this scratch bakery will offer sugar cookies in snowflake and Christmas tree shapes ($4.25), vanilla cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting and Christmas sprinkles ($4.25), gingerbread people ($4.25), traditional pumpkin pie ($32) and a chocolate bourbon pecan pie ($47). // 4010 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington), and 8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Bisnonna Bakeshop
Pre-orders only (no walk-ins) now through Dec. 24.
What started as a holiday pop-up at Tysons Galleria is now a bustling Fairfax business turning out scratch-made biscotti, pizzelle, Sicilian fig cuccidati, cream-filled sugarplums, gingerbread-eggnog tiramisu and other Italian goodies. Inspired by family recipes passed down through generations, the bakery is a love letter to pastry chef Nicole Liberatore’s great-grandmother and her husband Dominick’s grandmother. Don’t skip the bestselling hand-rolled cannoli ($10-$15 for three), available this season in flavors such as sticky toffee, peppermint bark, Nutella, pistachio and classic chocolate chip. //10782-D Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
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Good Company Doughnuts & Café
Through Dec. 24
For treats that are almost too cute to eat, check out the Rudolph holiday character doughnut ($4.50) and the Christmas Half-Dozen ($26), which includes Rudolph plus a Christmas tree-shaped doughnut, a Boston cream square gift box doughnut, Ginger Bread Molasses Cake and Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Downsize to bite-size with a tray of Christmas Minis Doughnuts ($49), which feeds eight to 10 people. Prefer a cookie? The Christmas Minis Cookie Tray ($49) has 36 pieces of holiday cheer. // 672 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston), and 1350 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing)
The Happy Tart
Order at least four days ahead and note the shortened holiday hours at this gluten-free bakery in Falls Church. Seasonal offerings include a box of three sugar cookies decorated in royal icing and colored sugar for $18. The Christmas assortment comes in fun star, tree, mitten and gingerbread man shapes, while Hanukkah options are Star of David, menorah and dreidel cookies. Other ideas: holiday cake pops in chocolate, red velvet or coconut (six for $18); a Buche de Noel sponge cake filled with raspberry jam and cream, covered with chocolate buttercream (also available dairy-free, $48-$90); and a gingerbread house kit that comes with baked gingerbread pieces, candy and icing ($48). // 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Order online with 72 hours’ notice
About to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, this European bakery and deli has a long list of holiday goodies. Indulge in Christmas-y tiny treats such as petit fours (yellow cake with orange buttercream filling, a layer of marzipan, all dipped in fondant, $16.50 for six), marzipan holiday figures and large gingerbread houses ($75), yule logs ($44.95-$59.95) and tree cakes (buttercream cake decorated with sugary Christmas trees and snow, $41.50-$99.95). For Hanukkah, pick up some Berliners, aka sufganiyot, aka jelly doughnuts ($9.60 for six, $19.20 for 12). // 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington (Langston Boulevard)
Northside Social
Executive Pastry Chef Bridie McCulla and Bakery Manager Nicole Rodriguez are checking their ingredients list twice as they prepares gingerbread roulade with whipped cream cheese frosting, orange blossom kumquats and spiced crumble ($90). Their repertoire also includes a brownie tart with coffee and caramel ($65), cookie platters ($30-$45) and a gingerbread house kit with baked cookie pieces, royal icing and candies ($50). Place orders here. // 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn
Get freshly popped popcorn in festive flavors including candy cane, eggnog, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pomegranate, gingerbread or apple cider. Shareable bags and tins are available for gifting. // 6328 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church
Jake’s Ice Cream
This ice cream parlor, a sister store to Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn, has some sweet options, too. Check the website for seasonal ice cream flavors such as Boozy Eggnog (made with rum and brandy), Mexican Hot Chocolate (made with toasted cayenne pepper, cinnamon and marshmallows for a kick), Peppermint Stick, and Caramel Apple with toasted spiced walnuts. Too cold to think about frozen dessert? Get hot cocoa bombs in assorted flavors, such as caramel, Oreo and berry; holiday-themed cookies, brownies, cake pops and Rice Krispies Treats. // 6353 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
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Livin’ the Pie Life
The beloved Arlington bakery offers new things each week on its December menu. Look for sweet pies such as the Brown Butter Coconut Chess, Mom’s Apple Flaky and Southern Pumpkin Praline (winner of a Sports Illustrated pie-tasting contest); cookies in flavors such as ginger molasses and chocolate chip; peppermint brownies; and maple cinnamon rolls. // 2166 N. Glebe Road, Arlington
Paris Baguette
Guests will say, “Oooh la la,” when you set out one of the holiday cakes from this McLean bakery. The picture-perfect options include the Winter Village Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Nutella (layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with Nutella and chocolate hazelnut cream), Penguin Pond Chocolate Cake (three layers of chocolate cake filled with chocolate buttercream and coated in chocolate), Buche de Noel (mocha roll cake iced with chocolate buttercream) and Blueberry Chiffon Home for the Holidays (blueberry chiffon cake filled with cream). Prices vary. // 8344 Broad St., McLean
Pastries by Randolph
Order by Dec. 19, 4:45 p.m.
Open from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for pickups on Dec. 24, this bakery has a long menu of holiday and wintry treats. In addition to Christmas cookie platters, you can get gingerbread men ($3.50 each), a decorated gingerbread house ($88), poinsettia or Santa yule logs (chocolate cake filled with vanilla buttercream and covered in chocolate buttercream, $48-$58), peppermint cake bites ($3.25) or cupcakes ($6.50), and a gingerbread house decorating kit ($59) for DIY fun. // 4500 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington (Waverly Hills)
Pastry Xpo
Christmas yule logs in four flavors—chocolate hazelnut, mocha, vanilla Grand-Marnier and chocolate walnut dacquoise—come in three sizes to serve anywhere from eight to 24 people ($54.95-$135). Prefer single portions? The café has five macaron flavors, a chocolate and pistachio cookie (perhaps reminiscent of the viral Dubai chocolate?), cupcakes and eclairs. The yule logs are also available at sister bakery Eclairons (1737 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) in Rosslyn. // 8190 Strawberry Lane, Falls Church (Mosaic District)
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Surreal
Pastry chef Barbara Whetell is offering almost-too-pretty-to-eat hanging ornament-shaped croissants ($10.99) at this National Landing restaurant. Filled with eggnog cream and decorated a bow, they come ready to hang—or devour. Whichever comes first. // 2117 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Tatte Bakery
Order by Dec. 22, 8 p.m.
The decadent holiday menu at this popular chain includes a Sour Cherry Black Forest Cake ($44), stollen (a traditional German holiday bread, $30) and a signature gift box with an assortment of favorites ($54) for when you can’t decide. Sweet tooth tapped out? Grab a Savory Wreath ($20) made with bread layered with pecorino cheese, garlic and rosemary. // 2805 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 269 19th Court, Arlington (National Landing)
Village Sweet
Order by Dec. 19, midnight
All you need to know about the holiday offerings at Dawn Hart’s Westover bakery is right here. Six bread loaves in flavors such as chocolate peppermint and eggnog latte ($25), place card snowman cookies for edible seating arrangements ($5), and Irish Coffee Cheesecake with Chocolate Cookie Crust and Espresso Whip are all up for grabs. // 5872 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover)