For the past two years, the James Beard Foundation has clued in to what St. Louisans have known since 2013: Simone Faure is one of the most talented pastry chefs in the country. Her Tower Grove South Bakery, La Pâtisserie Chouquette, has received nominations in both 2023 and 2024 for the foundation’s national Best Bakery award. Once you taste an impeccable macaron, decadent mille cake or Darkness croissant, you understand why. To really treat yourself, order a cake tasting box—no wedding date required. 1626 Tower Grove, 314-932-7935.
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Owner Eddie Strickland honed his craft working for other doughnut shops before branching out on his own with this delightful South City shop. For more than 15 years, he’s been delighting guests with hand-cut classics such as glazed and long johns, though his personal favorite is the toffee doughnut. If you’re extra hungry, you can order a massive, sheet cake-size doughnut covered in chocolate and sprinkles. 4701 S. Kingshighway, 314-832-1200.
After a near-fatal car accident that made her rethink her life’s purpose, owner Natalie DuBose decided to leave her job as a hotel shuttle driver and follow her passion for baking, opening Natalie’s Cakes and More in 2014. DuBose can do it all—cupcakes, custom cakes, cookies—but her signature caramel cake is the must-try dish. 448 Howdershell, Florissant, 314-398-3951.
Northwest Coffee Roasting Co. may be known for its freshly roasted beans and delectable beverages, but it’s also a wonderful spot to grab a pastry or Liege waffle and soak in the sunlight in its beautiful outdoor courtyard. 4251 Laclede, 314-371-4600.
Pat Upchurch began Patty’s Cheesecakes as a way to honor her father and grandmother, the latter who prompted her to begin baking after gifting her with a beloved mixer. It’s a beautiful homage that’s shown in the form of luxuriously creamy petite and whole cakes, offered in flavors ranging from classics such as original and chocolate to more creative offerings such as banana pudding and strawberry champagne. 3730 Foundry Way, 314-541-6411.
More than a bakery and café, SweetArt is a community gathering place, whether that is in its home inside the Coronado Building or its kitchen inside City Foundry’s food hall. This welcoming atmosphere is intentionally created by the talented Reine Keis, whose “love and magic” ethos permeates everything from the food to the design to the service. The menu is completely vegan—and if that raises an eyebrow, try one of the decadent Fauxstess cupcakes. It will make a believer out of you. See website for locations.
Everything your sweet tooth could possibly desire is placed into the assortment Boxx, a package of pure indulgence including a mini chocolate rum cake topped with chocolate ganache and sprinkled pecans. Choose from a variety of fall colors and glitter for the ultimate presentation. For something larger, Sweet Fixx offers custom cakes that are as artistically beautiful as they are delicious. Online only, 314-643-9999.
Owner Amon Aziz and family make some of—if not the best doughnuts in town—a high bar for a metro area with exacting standards on independent doughnut shops. Its classic glazed is perfection: melt-in-the-mouth soft, delicately glazed and subtly yeasty. Those who want to venture out will also be delighted by its apple fritters, strawberry jelly-filled Bismarcks, and cinnamon rolls. Multiple locations including 202 N. 9th Street, 314-351-0285.
While stuck in his home during the early days of the pandemic, Mike Evans had little to do but eat, drink, and doom-scroll social media—something that seemed soul-crushing until he came across an article about Japanese vending machines that could sell just about any sort of food one could imagine. When he found out that no one had yet invented one that sold warm cookies, he took matters into his own hands, launching Alibi Cookies via his vending machine dubbed Cookie Bot, in September 2020. While the bots are still a thing, Evans is known less for the machinery and more for his outstanding cookies, including chocolate chunk, red velvet, s’mores, and apple pie, sold at storefronts across town.
Ari’s Ice Cream Parlor and Café
It’s hard to save room for dessert at this Wells Goodfellow neighborhood spot (the salmon croquettes are particularly hard to resist), but you’ll be glad you did when tucking into one of Ari’s signature cakes, such as the caramel cake, 7-Up poundcake, or pineapple delight. If you’re craving something cold, the café offers several flavors of ice cream and a wide assortment of toppings to concoct the sundae of your dreams. 5572 Natural Bridge, 314-328-2992.
Owner Evelyn Campbell keeps the memory alive of her sister and former My Just Desserts owner, Yvonne, in the best way that she knows how: by spreading joy to others through the delicious brownies, cakes, cobblers, bread pudding, and pies, which are the Alton restaurant’s calling card. 31 E. Broadway, Alton, Illinois, 618-462-5881.
The folks at Royally Baked joke that they don’t tell customers the food is vegan ahead of time—a stunning fact after devouring a slice of the vegan gooey butter cake. Known as Gooey Buttah, this plant-based version of the St. Louis classic can be made in a variety of flavors such as original, strawberry, and pineapple or chocolate chip. It’s the bakery’s signature dish, though its cake jars, cookies, and muffins are equally exceptional. 1211 Jungermann, St. Peters, 636-284-7064.
Jasmine Walker got her start selling cheesecake to classmates and faculty while in high school, so it was only natural that she’d parlay that talent and entrepreneurial spirit into a business venture. Launched in 2018, the delivery and catering company offers a delicious assortment of cheesecakes and cupcakes—many of them vegan—including signature flavors, such as Death by Chocolate, banana pudding, or turtle. Online only.
You can indulge your own inner pastry chef with a cake or cupcake design party at Cake Fusion, or you can let them do the work for you and order a custom confection designed in any color, pattern, and theme you can imagine. 5305 Pershing, 314-900-5515.
Anitress Mohammed’s business is dedicated to a variety of carrot-based desserts, such as carrot cake, carrot pie, and carrot muffins—if you can dream it in carrot, then she can probably make it. Although currently a side venture, Mohammed’s concoctions have already started to catch buzz from those who’ve tried her wares at Taco Drip and City Greens Market. Online only. 314-441-6175.
