America's Best Bakeries

By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti

Theresa Velazquez's D.C. bakery business is thriving, yet she has no interest in expansion. "We own this one place, and we really make ourselves part of the neighborhood," says the co-owner of Baked & Wired in Georgetown, where hazelnut ganache cupcakes are playfully displayed in upside-down coffee beakers.

Many of America's best bakeries are family-run establishments that take a similar approach and pride in their community. They're appealing, one-of-a-kind spots where travelers can break to enjoy made-from-scratch pastries that often highlight local ingredients.

At Standard Baking Co. in Portland, ME, Alison Pray recently debuted Maine miche, an organic whole-wheat bread made with 100 percent single varietal wheat grown by a local farmer. "You couldn't have imagined this 18 years ago when we started," she says.

Check out the slideshow above for America's best bakeries.

America's Best Bakeries 2
America's Favorite Towns
America's Best Donuts
America's Best Sandwiches
America's Best Chicken And Waffles

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