Restaurants: Too rushed to bake Christmas treats? Let the pros do it

August 17, 2012 at 8:56PM

From top, L to R: 3 Tiers, Patisserie 46, A Piece of Cake, Cake Eater Bakery, Patisserie Margo, Turtle Bread, Finnish Bistro, It Takes the Cake, The Avalon Teashop, Butter Bakery, Bars BakeryPositive thinking guru Norman Vincent Peale once famously intoned that, "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

Rev. Peale obviously never saw the wreckage that is my kitchen after several rounds of Christmas cookie baking. Which is why I was so relieved to discover that plenty of Twin Cities bakeries stand ready to take the heat off frazzled December bakers, stocking their cases with all manner of holiday favorites.

At 3 Tiers the case is filled with a variety of holiday lovelies. But it's the chocolate crinkles (No. 1, $1) that really impress. While they're gooey inside, they've got that hard-to-achieve crisp shell on the outside, with all that chocolate-y goodness buried under a powdered-sugar blizzard. 5011 34th Av. S., Mpls., 612-746-1767.

The classic diamants at Patisserie 46 are a year-round staple, yet they seem so Christmas-y that they practically go caroling themselves. The coin-shaped chocolate cookies (No. 2, 95 cents) are utter simplicity, each sinfully buttery treat glistening with coarse sugar. Is it possible to sneak just one? Doubtful. 4552 Grand Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-3257.

The grandmotherly Christmas cookie selection at A Piece of Cake is not only heartwarming, it's priced to sell. The don't-miss goodie is definitely the star-shaped sandwich cookie (No. 3, $1) built with that can't-miss combination of chocolate and mint. 485 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-846-0016.

The folks at Cake Eater Bakery and Cafe aren't exactly slouches in the cookie-making department. Witness their crisp, golden, melt-in-your mouth sugar cookies (No. 4, $1), iced with a pretty snowflake and sparkling with ice crystal-like sugar. 2929 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-354-7178.

Patisserie Margo's No. 1 eye-catcher is what has to be the Twin Cities' prettiest sugar cookie cutout (No. 5, $2), a gigantic, intricate snowflake that will put a smile on even the most blizzard-weary Minnesotan. 5133 Gus Young Lane, Edina, 952-926-0548, and 284 Water St., Excelsior, 952-746-2232.

The talented bakers at the Turtle Bread Co. turn out a tender, star-shaped almond-cinnamon cutout, finished with tangy apricot filling and criss-crossed with a grid of vanilla icing (No. 6, $1.50). 4762 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., 612-823-7333; 3421 W. 44th St., Mpls., 612-924-6013; and 120 S. 6th St., Mpls., 612-455-2552.

I haven't encountered a homemade rosette since my great-aunt Marian Moe hung up her irons for good in the 1980s. Fortunately, Soile Anderson of the Finnish Bistro maintains the tradition of these delicate, sculptural beauties (No. 7, $2.50). And yes, they taste as good as they look. God jul! 2264 Como Av., St. Paul, 651-645-9181.

Speaking of tradition, many bakeries feature Russian tea cakes, but the plump, golf ball-sized shortbreads at It Takes the Cake (No. 8, $10 per dozen) sport just the right crumbly-nutty bite. 10902 Greenbriar Rd., Minnetonka, 952-544-0303.

The nostalgia-tinged sweets in the case at the Avalon Tearoom & Pastry Shoppe never disappoint, particularly the iced cake cookies (No. 9, 80 cents). The cashew version, with a brown sugar icing, earns high marks, but my appetite always goes for its chocolate sibling, finished with a fat swipe of vanilla butter-cream frosting and a cute Santa candy. 2179 4th St., White Bear Lake, 651-653-3822.

The big Christmas tree cutouts (No. 10, $1.50) from Butter Bakery Cafe also radiate made-at-home loveliness with a thin, crisp, buttery rolled cookie perfection. 3544 Grand Av. S., Mpls., 612-521-7401.

Bars Bakery doesn't sell individual Christmas cookies, but that's OK, because for $10 the bakery will assemble a veritable cookie exchange in a box. My favorite? The tiny, melt-in-your-mouth butter cookie sandwiches filled with raspberry or apricot jam and a thin layer of deliriously delicious caramel (No. 11). 612 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-224-8300.

about the writer

about the writer

Rick Nelson

Reporter

Rick Nelson joined the staff of the Star Tribune in 1998. He is a Twin Cities native, a University of Minnesota graduate and a James Beard Award winner. 

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