Della Dolce Bakery

Today's guest post is by my friend Christie who knows a good cookie when she tastes one!  Check out her experience at this brand new bakery and make plans to attend the Grand Opening for some samples!

I had the chance to be one of the first customers at Della Dolce Bakery on their opening day yesterday!

This is the most beautiful bakery I’ve ever been in.  No surface was left untouched when turning this space into a cozy bakery.

Stop in the morning for a cup of tea or coffee and a scone, cinnamon roll, caramel roll, quiche, or turnover.  By afternoon they have dessert favorites such as cookies, cupcakes, pies, and tarts.  I had one of the chocolate chip cookies and it was DELICIOUS.  Crunchy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside.

Owner, Catherine, also makes wedding cakes and caters other beautiful desserts for events. 

Catherine is hosting her Grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, November 2 from 5-8pm with the ribbon cutting at 6pm.  She will have light appetizers and samples sizes of menu items for everyone to try.

You can find Della Dolce Bakery at 13435, Suite 300 University Ave, Clive  IA 50325.  Phone: 515-330-2848.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DellaDulceBakery

Hiland Bakery

If you live in a 20 mile radius of the East Side of Des Moines, you have got to get your butt over to the Hiland Bakery.  This place is the real deal.  It's not a huge place as most of the bakery is kitchen with a little store-front area.  But the products make a big impression.  Freshly made donuts for under a buck.  Pecan rolls, for $1.25, Dutch letter for $2. And my favorite item, the Cream Puff (OMG the Cream Puff), for $2.50, look at this fine specimen of a Cream Puff!  It was perfect. Light and fluffy pastry dusted with powdered sugar and a rich filling which was more vanilla-pudding-y than cream-like, but that's exactly how I used to get them from the Italian bakeries in Boston when I was little.  It was perfect.

My son was a fan of the soft and chewy decorated sugar cookies and I was too.  The hubby had some sticky buns and said they were very good.

The bakery is small, but if you come in early, you can catch them fully stocked with some of the most wonderful baked goods in town.
I'm not sure you could go wrong with anything you get here.  I had to contain my self and not try the mini champagne cakes or petite fours that looked so delectable.  Next time...

They also take custom orders for weddings, birthdays and other events.

The staff was friendly, the baked goods were great and the prices were right.  Whether you are looking to make a good impression at the office, have a party coming up and you need a cake, or just need to satisfy a sweet craving, Hiland Bakery is worth the drive from every corner of the suburbs.  Check it out!

My Favorite Muffin

In West Des Moines, in a plaza off of 50th street near the Lowe's, lives the cutest little muffins you'll ever see.  A display case full of the yummiest flavors of muffins large and small capture your attention as you enter.

Our favorites are the Boston Creme and Cinnamon Cheesecake.  You can buy as many or as little as you wish and pair it with a coffee, or my favorite drink there, the Chai Tea Latte.  They make the best and will make it iced if you ask nicely. 


There are a lot of places that do donuts well in the area, but not too many that specialize in muffins.  Especially mini-muffins where you can try so many different flavors without having to buy full-sized muffins.

While fresh is the best way to eat them, these muffins actual freeze really well, not that I've tried that a couple hundred times or anything....You know so you can just defrost one at a time when you need to fulfill a muffin craving emergency.

They also have breakfast and lunch sandwiches and cozy seating in the restaurant.   If you are looking for something different for a quick breakfast, or to stock up for a late afternoon snack, check out My Favorite Muffin for a treat. You'll like it!