Best of NH 2024 Desserts, Ice Cream Stands, Coffee & Bakeries
Craving something sweet? Maybe a big scoop of creamy ice cream or a delicious pastries? Here's where to indulge your sweet tooth, from baked goods to cupcakes, plus where to find coffee to wash it all down
Editor’s Picks
Fresh AF Bakeshop
Sassy Sweets
Previously located in Kingston, Fresh AF Bakeshop is moving to a new location in Plaistow (at a site still under construction). The bakeshop uses their big dessert energy to serve up sweets with a side of sass and a selection of rotating cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, macarons, tarts and more (including gluten and dairy-free options). Coming soon will be the addition of take-out options like breakfast sandwiches, lunch specials and chicken pot pies. www.freshafbakeshop.com
Prodigious Pastries
Tarts, croissants and doughnuts — oh my! Kaye Place in Concord offers a rotating menu of delectable hand-crafted pastries, cakes, macarons and breads that are made fresh daily. Kaye bakes each item with an abundance of flavor and fun like her raspberry cheesecake, pain au chocolat, pecan sticky croissant bun and more. Facebook
Inclusive Café
Potter’s House Bakery and Café
Potter’s House Bakery and Café serves a higher purpose beyond making great food: The Rochester business has made it their mission to provide on-the-job work experience for people with special needs. Each staff member is given opportunities to learn valuable skills that can be applied to future careers. Stop by and grab some doughnuts, bagels and sandwiches (and maybe a cake for the road, just because). www.pottershousebakeryandcafe.com
Inspired Cakes
Looking for a Harry Potter cake for a birthday party? Or a food-themed cake just because, or a Winnie the Pooh cake for a baby shower? The team at Sweetened Memories Bakery in Durham can do it all and more. Known for their delicious flavors, cupcakes, cookies and inspired custom cakes, they are here to bring their creative joy to you and make your memories even sweeter. Check out their weekly cake menu for quick in-person grabs as well as their gluten-free menu for cookies, cakes and cupcakes. www.sweetenedmemories.com
Blooms & Brews Cafe
Coffee & Houseplants
Coffee and houseplants. Do you need anything more? Blooms & Brews Cafe in Deerfield offers takeout and online ordering with a full in-house espresso bar complete with homemade syrups, and other beverages like house lemonade and London fog. They also have a full breakfast and lunch menu along with their houseplants and goods made by local artisans. www.bloomsandbrewscafe.com
Readers’ Poll Winners
Bakery
Overall winner
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst
www.pastry.net
Bakery Concord Area
The Crust and Crumb Baking Co.
Concord
www.thecrustandcrumb.com
Bakery Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
Blue Loon Bakery
New London
www.blueloonbakery.com
Bakery Great North Woods Region
Polish Princess Bakery
Lancaster
www.polishprincessbakery.com
Bakery Lakes Region
Yum Yum Shop
Wolfeboro
www.yumyumshop.com
Bakery Manchester Area
Bearded Baking Co.
Manchester
www.beardedbaking.com
Bakery Monadnock Region
Flag Leaf Bakery
Antrim
www.flagleafbakery.com
Bakery Nashua Area
Crosby Bakery
Nashua
www.crosbybakerynh.com
Bakery Salem Area
Klemm’s Bakery
Windham
www.klemmsbakery.com
Bakery Seacoast Region
Bearded Baking Co.
Manchester
www.beardedbaking.com
Bakery White Mountains Region
Mystic Sugar Bakery
North Conway
www.mysticsugarbakery.com
★★★★★★★
Coffee Roaster
Rare Breed
Manchester
www.rarebreedcoffee.com
★★★★★★★
Coffee Shop
Overall winner
Union Coffee Company
Milford
www.unioncoffee.co
Coffee Shop Concord Area
Revelstoke Coffee
Concord
www.revelstokecoffee.com
Coffee Shop Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
Cafe One East
Warner
www.cafeoneeast.com
Coffee Shop Great North Woods Region
The Granite Grind
Lancaster
www.facebook.com/thegranitegrind
Coffee Shop Lakes Region
Wayfarer Coffee Roasters
Laconia
www.wayfarerroasters.com
Coffee Shop Manchester Area
Hometown Coffee Roasters
Manchester
www.hometownroasters.com
Coffee Shop Monadnock Region
Prime Roast
Keene
www.primeroastcoffee.com
Coffee Shop Nashua Area
Bonhoeffer’s Cafe & Espresso
Nashua
www.bonhoefferscafe.com
Coffee Shop Salem Area
O’Shea’s Caife & Tae
Londonderry
www.osheasnh.com
Coffee Shop Seacoast Region
Blue Harbor Coffee Co.
Hampton
www.blueharborcoffee.com
Coffee Shop White Mountains Region
Mad River Coffee House
Campton
www.madrivercoffeeroasters.com
★★★★★★★
Chocolatier
Van Otis Chocolates
Manchester
www.vanotis.com
★★★★★★★
Cakes
Bearded Baking Co.
Manchester
www.beardedbaking.com
Cakes Multilocation Regional
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst
www.pastry.net
★★★★★★★
Cupcakes
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst
www.pastry.net
★★★★★★★
Doughnuts
NH Doughnut Co.
Bedford
www.nhdoughnutco.com
Ice Cream
Overall winner
Lago’s Ice Cream
Rye
www.lagosicecream.com
Ice Cream Overall Multilocation
Hayward’s Ice Cream
Nashua
www.haywardsicecream.com
Ice Cream Concord Area
Johnson’s Dairy Bar
Northwood
Facebook
Ice Cream Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
Sanctuary Dairy Farm Ice Cream
Sunapee
www.sanctuarydairyfarmicecream.com
Ice Cream Great North Woods Region
Moose Alley Cones
Pittsburg
www.partridgecabins.com
Ice Cream Lakes Region
Jordan’s Ice Creamery
Gilford
Facebook
Ice Cream Manchester Area
Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream
Derry
www.moosplace.com
Ice Cream Monadnock Region
Sundae Drive
Brookline
Facebook
Ice Cream Monadnock Region Multilocation Local
Kimball Farm
Jaffrey
www.kimballfarm.com
Ice Cream Nashua Area
King Kone
Merrimack
www.kingkonenh.com
Ice Cream Salem Area
Peach Tree Farm
Salem
Instagram
Ice Cream Salem Area Multilocation
Jay Gee’s Ice Cream
Salem
www.jaygees.com
Ice Cream Seacoast Region
Memories Ice Cream
Kingston
www.memoriesicecream.com
Ice Cream White Mountains Region
Super Secret Ice Cream
Bethlehem
www.supersecreticecream.com
