Best of NH 2013 Desserts, Ice Cream Stands and Bakeries

Did you save room for dessert? We sure hope so since this list is filled with tempting treats from brownies to gelato.

June 14, 2013

Site Staff,

Ice cream from Editor's Pick Jay Gee’s Ice Cream in Salem.

Photo by Susan Laughlin.

*Editor's Pick
Readers' Poll

Bakery Bread
Bread &Chocolate
Concord
(603) 228-3330

Bakery Bread (Local Chain)
Me & Ollie’s Bakery
Multiple Locations
meandollies.com

Bakery Bread (Regional Chain)
When Pigs Fly
Portsmouth
sendbread.com

Bakery Bread (National Chain)
Panera Bread
Multiple Locations
panerabread.com

*Best Nostalgic Candy: Remember that light-as-air angel food candy back in the day when you didn’t know about the evils of sugar? Find it house-made at Granite State Candy Shoppe in Concord and Manchester. Now all they have to do is dip it in their own chocolate. Maybe start a viral demand on their Facebook page.

Brownies
Popovers on the Square
Portsmouth
popoversonthesquare.com

Cakes
Jacques Fine European Pastries
Suncook
jacquespastries.com

From Wild Orchid Baking Company.

Photo by Susan Laughlin.

Cakes (Local Chain)
Frederick’s Pastries
Bedford, Amherst and N. Andover, Mass.
pastry.net

*Chic Cakery: Erin Gardner at Wild Orchid Baking Company in Dover spins artwork from sugar and creates edible masterpieces that are, while delicious, a shame to hack to pieces. Her modern design sensibilities are a perfect match for today’s couples and anyone looking for the perfect cake to celebrate a special occasion. It’s no wonder she took home top prize on the Food Network’s “Sweet Genius” show.

Chocolatier
Van Otis Chocolates
Manchester
vanotischocolates.com

Cookies
Popovers on the Square
Portsmouth
popoversonthesquare.com

From the White Mountain Cupcakery in North Conway.

Cupcakes
White Mountain Cupcakery
North Conway
wmcupcakery.com

*Cupcake with Character: Biker chicks and, well, everyone can appreciate the cupcakes at Who You Callin’ Cupcake in Salem. A subtle Harley theme to the room brings a smile and before you can say road rash you have picked up a half-dozen creatively decorated, totally delectable cupcakes for the ride.

Dessert Cafe
Popovers on the Square
Portsmouth
popoversonthesquare.com

*Flavored Popcorn: Sure, you can find grape purple, black licorice and blue raspberry glazed popcorn from Armstrong’s Gourmet Popcorn of Hampstead, but forget the sweet and dig into the bacon flavor.

Frozen Yogurt Shop
Yogurt-licious
Portsmouth
yo-licious.com

Frozen Yogurt Shop (National Chain)
TCBY
Multiple Locations
tcby.com

Gelato
The Tuscan Market
Salem
tuscanbrands.com

*Local Ice Cream: With two new scoop shops, one in Keene and the original in Walpole, plus distribution at fine grocery stores across the state, there is no reason not to run out now for a scoop — or better yet a whole carton — of rich Walpole Creamery ginger ice cream. It’s sublime. In fact one fan said, "It's so good, it's therapeutic."

*New Ice Cream Shop: Whether it’s cones, shakes or sundaes, you can be sure it’s made with delicious handmade ice cream (60 flavors!) at Jay Gee’s Ice Cream in Salem. They might be the (just-opening) new guy on the block but they draw on the 31 years of experience of the mothership shop in Methuen. There’s also a fun center for kids.

Petit fours from Harvey’s Bakery in Dover.

Pastries
Popovers on the Square
Portsmouth
popoversonthesquare.com

*Petit Fours: A sweet finale to any special occasion meal, the petit fours made by Harvey’s Bakery in Dover are standouts. And no wonder, this family-owned business has been baking for 80 years.

Pies
The Pie Guy
Salem
pieguy.com

*Snappin' Turtle Popcorn: Who doesn’t love the chocolate “turtle”? Well, The Chocolatier in Exeter has taken the turtle ingredients — chocolate, caramel and almonds — and added popcorn, marshmallows (and some “secret ingredients”), giving everyone even more to love.