Connecticut Cottage Bakers & Makers: Small Food Businesses You'll Wanna Know
You drive through your town and notice bakeries and specialty food shops here and there. One on this corner, another on that one. Now we’d like to introduce you to a plethora of cottage bakers and makers who are flying right below our radar, creating delicious delights, yet they aren’t in plain sight because they are baking out of their homes or commercial kitchens. Have you heard of many of them? How do you find out about them? Word of mouth, usually. Consider us your word-of-mouth and then please, spread the word about these delightful, delicious, de-groovy custom cottage bakers and makers. Everything starts small, after all…
If you know of a cottage food business that is not on this list, please contact us such that we can add them to the directory.
Sweet Brioche Artisan Pastries, Trumbull
@pastrychefberne
Sweet Brioche Artisan Pastries is a cottage bakery that emerged from a lifelong love of Brioche dough. Born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, Chef Susanne Berne’s culinary adventure has always been about dessert. Susanne has received numerous accolades and culinary recognition throughout the years. Their unique signature items include Cinnamon Sweet Buns & Decadent Chocolate Babka Buns, but it does not stop there, offering a full, special catering menu to fulfill all of your holiday needs. With products that combine the highest quality ingredients with old world techniques, a truly unrivaled bakery experience is created. At Sweet Brioche everything is baked to order in small batches, just like it has been done for generations. They are located in Trumbull, CT and regular bakery pickup hours are Saturdays from 12pm-2pm. Also find them at various pop-ups and Famers’ Markets throughout the spring and summer; announcements will be listed on the website home page. Or purchase their treats online!
Pams Jams, Westport
@cook.up.a.storm
Pam Storm Lillis is a Master Preserver who makes small-batch jams and teaches culinary workshops with artisan and farm partners across Connecticut. Pam infuses her 30 years of canning, preserving, and cooking experience with training as an educator and health coach to promote seasonal, local, and DIY cooking. Find Pam's upcoming classes, make online orders, and locate her limited-release low-sugar jams at pop-up shops and farmers markets on her website and @cook.up.a.storm on Instagram.
Ivy’s Gourmet Granola, Greens Farms
Photo: Danielle Evita
@ivysgourmetgranola
Looking to amp up your morning breakfast of yogurt and fruit? Ivy’s Granola offers 11 flavors with heaping amounts of nuts, fruits, spices and specialty extracts using gluten free oats, baked weekly in small batches. Choose from combinations such as Toasted Coconut with buttery macadamia nuts, or Pear Ginger, for the ginger lover in you. Their Lemon Lavender is bursting with lemon and subtle hints of lavender (they like to call it ‘summer in a bag’), or Hazelnut Coffee with dark chocolate chunks (need we say more)? For the traditionalists, there are classic combinations of Cinnamon Raisin or Honey Vanilla (nut free), which are perfect to pair with your favorite smoothie bowl. However, the best way to eat Ivy’s is to snack on those clusters straight from the bag! Look for them at both the Westport and New Canaan farmers markets, your favorite local specialty store or simply order online.
Crazy Confections
www.crazyconfectionsbyandrena.com
@crazyconfections
Crazy Confections, LLC is a made-to-order cottage food establishment owned and operated by Andrena of Stamford, CT. Andrena happily creates little and big works of art for customers from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Crazy Confections is best known for its specialty sugar cookies and DIY cookie kits, but also offers custom cakes, cakepops, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels and cereal treats. During the holidays, be sure to look out for preorder sales of the cutest creations that you can enjoy yourself or gift to someone special. Take a look at Crazy Confection's website and social pages to view all the Crazy Confections made for a wide variety of events. You can submit an inquiry form to receive a custom quote from either location today! Now accepting inquiries into the summer.
Holly B Merry
Holly B. Merry, Weston
@hollybmerry
Holly B Merry is a cake artist in Weston, CT who aims to create and deliver show-stopping, one-of-a-kind cakes that taste as good as they look! Specializing in beautiful hand-piped Italian Meringue buttercream flower cakes and sculpted custom themed special event cakes, Holly works with each client to ensure they are getting exactly what they have envisioned and then some. With a degree from Rhode Island School of Design and a career in textile design, Holly has an eye for color and composition and will create something uniquely special for your event. Having an ever-expanding selection of delicious cake and filling flavors, everything (cupcakes and cake pops too!) is baked using only the freshest and highest-quality ingredients. Whether it be for a kid's birthday, a wedding or, you name it!, every cake is created completely by hand and taken on as if it were a piece of art. To view Holly's cakes, please go to her Instagram page @Hollybmerry. To place an order one can either Direct Message a request through Instagram or email a request at hollybmerry@gmail.com.
Seasalt Baking Co.
Seasalt Baking Co. was created during the Pandemic as a simple way to bring joy during such an uncertain time. It's hard not to smile when a batch of fresh baked cookies arrive at your doorstep. The cookies are made to order using only the best ingredients including Nielsen-Massy Vanilla and Ghirardelli chocolate. A portion of sales is donated to local charities as a way to support our community. Choose from 6 flavors - Classic Chocolate Chip, Toffee Chip, Double Chocolate, White Chocolate Churro, Oatmeal Raisin, or our signature “Halfie” which is half chocolate chip cookie and half double chocolate. We also recently introduced the Cookie Cake, which is a 10-inch round totally customizable giant cookie perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because. Free deliveries made to doorsteps in Fairfield, Westport and Southport. Please contact seasaltbaking@gmail.com if you are outside that delivery area, pick up is available in Fairfield. Order by emailing seasaltbaking@gmail.com or by going to www.seasaltbaking.com. Follow us on instagram @seasaltbakingco
Amazing Ackee, Manchester
Facebook: Amazing Ackee
@amazingackee
Vegan Jamaican patties, sweet and savory Caribbean treats, gluten-free patties and coffee cake
ANR Cookies, Collinsville
@anrcookies
Highly personalized sugar cookies and celebration cakes made from scratch and decorated to complement your special event
A Piece of Cake by Michelle, Norwalk
@apieceofcake_bymichelle
Custom decorated cakes (Cannoli Cake is a specialty), pies, cheesecakes, cookies, cupcakes, cookie trays for your special days. And did we mention Cream Puffs the likes of which you have never seen?
Bear and Buby’s, Avon
@bearandbubysbakery
Breads, muffins, scones, waffle sticks, danishes, cookies, chocolates, pies, cakes, as well as novelty desserts like giant cupcakes and gingerbread house kits during the holiday season.
Bees Knees Ice Pops, Litchfield County
www.beeskneesicepops.com
@beeskneesicepops
Micro-batch made pops made with only fresh fruit, herbs, veggies and natural sweeteners in flavors such as Cucumber Mint Lime, Spicy Blueberry Lemonade and Pineapple Ginger Cilantro.
Board Mama, Fairfield County
@the_board_mama
Customized Charcuterie Boards, holiday themed boards to feed yourself or up to 20 people overflowing with sweets and savories. They even have boards for your pet-Barkcuterie boards.
Brown Butter Creations, Glastonbury
@brownbutter_creations
Cakes, cupcakes and cookie platters (even for virtual events!) in a variety of sizes and flavors. Choose your cake flavor, choose your frosting! For Easter, check out their “Easter Charcuterie Platter” that includes a 6” layer cake and over 2 dozen baked treats.
Butter Cake Blondie, Bethel
Facebook: Butter Cake Blondie
@buttercakeblondie
Southern butter cakes in such flavors as Original (yellow cake bottom, vanilla on top), Chocolate Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, Lemon Blueberry, Snickerdoodle, Funfetti. BlondieRoo Cookie Boxes available too, which have Cinnamon Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Bean icing for dunking.
Cloudy Lane Bakery, Norwalk
@cloudylanebakery
Gluten, dairy and grain free confections such as cookies, muffins and Keto cupcakes. You can also add custom additions such as collagen and chaga extract to these goodies to give them an even healthier boost.
Devil’s Den Confections, Weston
@devilsdenconfections
70% dark chocolate with such accompanying flavors as housemate candied ginger, candied jalapeno, black garlic and roasted squash seeds from local farms.
Disheveled Diva, Hartford
@disheveleddiva
Fudge, marshmallow treats, hot chocolate bombs, cakes, meringues, as well as subscription kits for cakes, treat boxes, DIY cake kits.
Fatty Cakes by Tracey, Cheshire
Facebook: Fatty Cakes by Tracey
@fattycakesbytracey
Traditional Greek Baklava, cookie boxes, custom cakes and cupcakes
Ginger and Pickles Baking Co, Glastonbury
@gingerandpicklescookies
By the dozen, bake your own with their Baking Kit, send a gift box or get/gift a subscription. From Snickerdoodle to Glazed Coconut, offering 9 varieties of flavors, all made, as they say “with love and butter”.
Haleycakes, South Windsor
Facebook: Haleycakes
@haleycakes1188
Custom cakes and cupcakes for a few or a crowd in flavors such as Maple Bacon French Toast, Pineapple Upside Down, Banana Split and plenty more. All the classics as well.
Hummingbird Bake Shop, Newtown-Coming soon!
@hummingbird_ct
Cream scones, German style soft pretzels, Focaccia, polenta and olive oil cakes, pound cake, shortbread cookies, biscotti even jams and preserves (to go with those scones!)
Lindsay’s Handmade Ice Cream, Norwalk
www.lindsayshandmade.com
@sweettummygoods
Small-batch ice cream and desserts with flavors such as Life Changing Vanilla, Rose Colored Glasses (strawberry with rose and hibiscus), and Yuzu & Creme Fraiche.
Molly’s Artisan Kitchen, Oxford
@mollysartisankitchen
Muffins, cookies, biscuits, scones (including Keto and mini), tray cakes (8 x 8, decorated and serves 9), gluten-free options, sourdough bagels, artisan loaves of bread
Personalized Sugar by Marisa, South Glastonbury
www.personalizedsugarbymarisa.com
@ps_by_marisa
DIY cookie decorating kits, hand-painted sugar cookies for all occasions.
Pilot Who Bakes, Stamford
Facebook: Pilot_who_bakes
Drip cakes, wedding and special occasion cakes, cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats, cookies. Yeah, a *pilot* makes them (not while flying)!
Pop-up Bagels, Westport
@popupbagels
Subscribe for weekly or biweekly dozen along with schmear or check their website for popup sales!
Pour Some Sugar On It, Trumbull
Custom Sugar Cookies
www.poursomesugaronitcookies.com
@poursomesugaronit
Decorated sugar cookies by the dozen, deluxe and premium dozen-all depends on how many colors and designs you choose.
Rebel Daughter Cookies, Wilton
@rebeldaughtercookies
Cookie flavors such as Flutternutter Forever, Churro, S’more Please and Chocolate Covered Strawberry. Frozen dough and lactation cookies, too.
Salty Lilac, East Hartford
FB: Salty Lilac
@saltylilac
Over-the-top celebration cakes brimming with candies, cookies and more. Also, hot chocolate bombs and cupcakes.
Sami’s Sweet Shoppe, Sandy Hook
https://samis-sweet-shoppe.square.site
@samis_sweet_shoppe
Decadent Hot Cocoa bombs, chocolate covered Oreos, seasonal and fun cupcakes
Sassy Birch Vegan Jerky Snacks, Brookfield
Vegan jerky that is made with jackfruit! Use it to snack or for cooking. Sweet and savory flavors or try a sample pack to find one that tickles your taste buds.
Scrapbook Baking Company, Meriden
www.scrapbookbakingcompany.com
Maple candy, brownies, bars, cookies, cakes and pies
Seasalt Baking Co., Fairfield
@seasaltbakingco
Cookies such as Toffee Chip, White Chocolate Churro, Double Chocolate…get a mixed box for those days when you just. need. a. cookie.
Small State Provisions, West Hartford
@smallstate
Various Sourdough breads, Focaccia, granola and a subscription program (fresh bread delivered?! yes, please)
South Pine Pastry, Fairfield
@southpinepastry
Two moms and good friends who had very different career paths, but both share a passion for sharing joy with great food. They make strawberry and chocolate Pop tarts and everything including the jam is homemade.
Sweetness by Saba, Stamford
@sweetness_by_saba
Custom cakes and treats including handmade creations of sugar flowers and figures made petal by petal.
Twisted and Delicious, South Windsor
@twistedanddelicious
Sourdough pretzels and scones, gluten-free options available
Wildwood Granola
@wildwoodgranola
Granola baker with 10 flavors of totally all gluten free granola, vegan and sweetened with only CT maple syrup…no added sugars. You can find out more at www.Wildwoodgranola.com.
