Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Bel Air

"By now, the historic Lexington Market has already been awake and open for three hours and that means — it’s time to get going!. Established in 1782, this historic marketplace is as old as America itself. Start your day with a sugar rush and make your way over to Buttercup Bakery, a Baltimore favorite and must-visit featuring unforgettable cakes, pies nutrolls, and glazed doughnuts. Trust us when we say the build-up to this Buttercup is no letdown!"

"236-year-old Lexington Market houses more than 100 vendors selling everything from seafood to corned beef and fried chicken. Feast on Maryland-style crab cakes at Faidley’s Seafood or a box of fried chicken and waffles from Connie’s Chicken and Waffles. Save room for the cake-like cookies topped with a thick slab of fudge at Berger’s Bakery."

"400 W Lexington StCurrently undergoing major renovations, Historic Lexington Market is a taste of Baltimore you can’t find anywhere else. It’s local people making local food, incorporating local favorites with flavors from all around the world. It’s diverse, it’s unique, it’s Baltimore."

"In reality, it’s something much more: Vaccaro’s is a testament to the institution that is dessert. Perfect as a date spot but just as viable for a late night dessert binge, the glass case is stacked with a whole variety of options, the most notable of which being the cannoli cake. The alternating layers of the richest cannoli cream and ethereally light cake will bring a single tear to your eye as you stare, dumbfounded, across the still waters of the Inner Harbor."

"Vaccaro’s isn’t my favorite dessert place in Baltimore anymore, but I still have a soft spot for them because they were one of the first places I visited when I moved to Charm City. As a college student, I often came here to indulge my sweet tooth, and I found a lot of comfort in their food. They do everything from pastries to paninis, but my favorite thing to get here is their chocolate dipped cannoli."

"With a long legacy of treating the nation, you can be sure to find a dessert at Vaccaro’s that'll satisfy your sweet tooth. Yep, we're talking indulgent snickers volcanos, death by chocolate, mouthwatering slices of cannoli cake and even cheesecake topped with gelato, hot fudge and whipped topping. Looking for a signature?"

"While cafes half as popular as this Reservoir Hill fixture discourage lingering in hopes of turning your table, the Dovecote crew goes out of its way to make sure you don't skedaddle. But the warm family vibe extends well past the hospitality into the eats. The baked goods are especially appealing, including all manner of sticky buns and muffins and the sought-after peach upside-down cake (co-owner Gilda Pew's secret recipe)."

"Located in the historically Black neighborhood of Reservoir Hill, this shop runs itself as a community-focused third space first and a cafe second. A standout in the local coffee scene, Dovecote Cafe is high-energy, one of the great cultural hub cafes in America today. From the outside the space is instantly striking, with former display windows from the building’s pharmacy days now forming an alcove entryway."

"Discover local personalities, learn from in-house workshops and taste hand-crafted food and drink offerings at Dovecote Café. This Black-owned business near Druid Hill Park typically serves as a gathering place for creatives and makers alike. Sit down, try upside down cake or a breakfast burger and endure the welcoming space full of colorful murals made by Baltimoreans."

"Known for its breads, soups and salads, local fast-casual chain Atwater’s began in Catonsville and now has five locations. It’s is no slouch in the dessert department, either. The Pimlico cake — fluffy chiffon cake layered with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate ganache and walnuts — is pretty much perfect."

"With multiple locations and a wide variety of items, there’s no excuse not to go. One of Atwater’s best sellers is the chicken salad made with raisins, apples, cranberries, and basil mayo. Oh yeah and it’s served on their house made bread."

"Sometimes you just want to roll out of bed and go somewhere easy. If that’s your jam, head to Atwater’s. There’s rarely a wait, the menu isn’t overwhelming, the pricing is reasonable, and the food is quality you can count on."

"Diablo Doughnuts, a breakfast and brunch spot that offers doughnuts and more in Federal Hill, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 196 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1035 Light St. to see for yourself. Doughnuts in a variety of flavors and colors include blackberry lime, blueberry basil, creme brûlée and bacon-topped maple-glazed."

"Located at 1035 Light Street, Diablo Doughnut’s always on point, and their creativity’s second to none. You can tell they put a lot of love into their food, and their desserts are always fresh and fluffy. With fun flavors like Unicorn Farts and Panty Dropper, you know you’re in for a treat!"

"Absolutely one of the most unique donut shops you will ever come across. Love the variety as well, so everyone can have something delicious as well as di..."

"A single food has been known to change the course of a person’s life. For Dane Thibodeaux, co-owner of Sacre Sucre in Fells Point, it was a fig macaron he ate in Paris while on vacation. He still remembers biting into the seed of the fig jam in the middle."

"Sacre Sucre’s one of THE most amazing dessert shops I’ve ever been to, like in the world. Their work is edible art, and you absolutely need to experience their sweets firsthand. They started off with macarons, but I personally like their pastries best."

"This Fell’s Point shop offers a variety of seasonal pastries, from classics like eclairs and croissants, to special stylized apple tarts and caneles. They even offer monthly classes for you to learn how to make French macarons."

"Baltimoreans understandably take pride in our homegrown celebrities: among them, Duff Goldman, the rock ‘n’ roll chef behind Charm City Cakes. Goldman, a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his staff of confectioners became famous overnight after starring in The Food Network TV show “Ace of Cakes.” Their sculptural creations have recreated everything from airplanes to Ozzy Osbourne in cake form, and were present at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. For those curious to learn how the cakes are made, the bakery’s Remington studio offers weekly classes to teach beginners and experienced bakers alike how to decorate cakes and cupcakes with things like unicorns and succulents made of fondant."

"Once you've finished shopping, sit down for a sandwich at Atwater's, or buy a quart of soup and a loaf of bread and eat it at home. Photo courtesy of DataAngel via Flickr"

"Based out of Mindgrub, Codetta Bake Shop offers everything from cupcakes to lemon squares to elaborate cakes. I recently had the pleasure of trying their Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, and it was literally heaven in cake form. Think layers of decadent chocolate cake filled with Nutella and chopped hazelnuts, then covered in Nutella buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache drip, whole Ferrero Rocher chocolates, chopped hazelnuts and gold leaf."

"Codetta Bake Shop is a bakery that has combined 15 years of baking experience with truly quality ingredients, perfect execution, and endless creativity. This has left them with a line of products that is unmatched and ever-changing. Its menu is constantly growing and adapting to the needs of its customers and the interests and desires of its baking team."

"Batch Bake Shop, a bakery that offers cupcakes and custom cakes in Harford-Echodale - Perring Parkway, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 42 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5414 Harford Road to see for yourself."

"Simple Wellness strives to help you enhance your inner and outer beauty through various massage and wellness services. In a relaxing environment, they offer massages like deep tissue, sports, Swedish, lymph, acupressure, cranial sacral etc. They last between 30 and 120 minutes and begin at USD 65."

"Massage Envy specializes in massage therapy with several enhancements available, including an exfoliating foot treatment, aromatherapy, and enhanced muscle therapy. Massage Envy has numerous locations throughout Baltimore and the USA. The spa also performs facial treatments that promote healthy skin maintenance and offers membership services that allow you to receive discounts per treatment."

"Massage Envy provides massage, skin care and total body stretch services which are an integral part of total body wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Keep your body working with Massage Envy. Schedule an appointment today!"

"Ojas Wellness Center offers specialized custom massage treatments that fit your body’s needs. Whether you decide to try a Reiki Energy Healing treatment or experience a Cupping massage, you can’t go wrong. Any massage treatment that you choose is performed by a professional therapist who focuses on maintaining their educational needs."