Pumpkin spice not just for lattes. 8 Rockford area bake shops serve up fall treats
Nothing says fall like a pumpkin bar or a caramel apple cupcake, and if you're in the Rockford area near a host of specialty bake shops, you're in for a special treat this month.
Here's what some Rockford area bakeries are serving up as part of their fall lineup.
Sugar Jones, Loves Park
This Loves Park bakery is known for its cupcakes, and the owners take it up a notch in October when the shop features pumpkin spice cupcakes with buttercream frosting all month long ($3.19, $4.29 gluten free). In September and October, Sugar Jones also sells Edwards Apple Orchard apple cider cupcakes. Pre-order is highly recommended. (Keep an eye on Sugar Jones' Facebook page for details.)
Location: 6336 E. Riverside Blvd.
For more: 815-708-0801
Halo Bake Shop, Loves Park
Halo also features a pumpkin spice cupcake but they top theirs with cream cheese frosting ($3.03) and also make a popular pumpkin whoopie pie stuffed with cream cheese frosting. Caramel apple cupcakes and apple crisps are big sellers this time of year, as well.
Location: 7969 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park
For more: 815-282-1225
Mac Brothers Cheesecakes, Machesney Park
When the weather outside cools down, Mac Brothers Cheesecakes unleashes a series of fall flavors that have quickly become favorites at this Rockford area cheesecake-by-the-slice shop. ($6) Caramel apple joined the menu in September. Turtle, cinnamon roll, apple cider, s'mores and pumpkin followed.
Location: 7914 Scott Lane, Machesney Park
For more: 815-298-7856
Mrs. Buckbee's Wake & Bakery, Rockford
Mrs. Buckbee's Wake & Bakery sells cannabis-infused ($7.99 or $9.99) and non-cannabis-infused ($3.99) baked goods, and they're celebrating fall's arrival with their caramel apple muffins and cookies made with applie pie filling, caramel bits and pie crust crumbles.
Location: 275 Deane Dr., Rockford
For more: 779-256-2885
Quixotic Bakery, Rockford
Every fall, Quixotic Bakery puts its own spin on apple cider donuts with apple cider cookies. It also makes pumpkin chocolate chip cookies ($4 for 2). The apple cider cookies are soft and chewy with an apple cider glaze. The pumpkin chocolate chip cookie is similar to pumpkin bread with semisweet chocolate chips.
Location: 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
Phone: 815-209-9730
Crust & Crumbles, Rockford
Crust & Crumbles is home to fresh baked sourdough loaves, savory and sweet croissants, and in the fall, the pumpkin cruffin. The cruffin is a light and airy croissant pastry in the shape of a muffin, filled with a jam or a cream, or in some cases both. The popular pumpkin cruffin is filled with a pumpkin pastry cream. The outside is dusted with sugar. ($4.75)
Location: 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
For more: 815-315-0960
The Cookie Jar, Freeport
A visit to the Cookie Jar in the fall would be incomplete without picking up a Halloween-themed sugar cookie. Hungry goblins have their choice of a ghost, pumpkin, bat, witches hat, spooky eyeball or a candy corn. The cookies are the store's signature sugar cookie with buttercream frosting. ($2.95 a piece, $14.95 for six)
Location: 12 E. Stephenson St., Freeport
For more: 815-232-4759
TNT Funnel Cakes, Rockford
TNT Funnel Cake's fried caramel apples are the new fall-on-a-stick dessert. They take seasoned apple wedges, dip them in cinnamon flavored funnel cake batter, deep fry them and then coat with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, vanilla and caramel drizzle and a side of whipped cream. ($7)
Location: 201 W. State St.
For more: 217-441-5452
Mary's Market, Rockford
Fans of Mary's Market know that few can compete with the market's pumpkin cake bars and pumpkin pie bars. Both are popular throughout October and November. ($5.99) Mary's Market has been baking up sweet treats for nearly 40 years in Rockford, using fresh ingredients and tried-and-true recipes.
Locations: 4431 E. State St. and 2636 McFarland Road, Rockford
For more: 815-397-7291
Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Looking for a fall treat? These Rockford area bake shops got the memo
