Unearth The Voyage
Pennsylvania is home to some of the most authentic Amish-style bakeries in the country, where generations-old recipes meet simple ingredients to create treats that taste like comfort itself. From hand-rolled doughnuts at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market to the famous shoofly pies of Lancaster County, these bakeries prove that you don’t need fancy techniques to make something unforgettable. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, these spots offer a delicious glimpse into Pennsylvania Dutch baking traditions that have stood the test of time.
1. Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe (Bird-in-Hand)
Sometimes you want more than just a bag of pastries to go. Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe gives you the full experience with scratch-made baked goods and a menu that covers breakfast, lunch, and plenty of dessert.
The shoofly pie here is a star, with that signature gooey bottom layer and crumb topping that defines Pennsylvania Dutch baking. You can enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee while sitting down, or grab an extra slice wrapped up for later. Everything is made fresh daily, from the bread to the pies.
It’s the kind of place where you linger a little longer than planned. The cafe atmosphere makes it easy to settle in and enjoy the slower pace of Amish Country life.
2. Beiler’s Doughnuts (Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia)
Walk into Reading Terminal Market and follow the sugar-scented trail straight to Beiler’s Doughnuts, a Philadelphia icon that’s been run by the same Pennsylvania Dutch family for decades. These aren’t your chain-store doughnuts. Each one is hand-rolled with care and fried to golden perfection.
The classic glazed is simple but addictive. Seasonal flavors rotate throughout the year, so there’s always something new to try alongside the favorites. Beyond doughnuts, you’ll find other Pennsylvania Dutch baked classics that remind you why this stand has such a loyal following.
Locals know to arrive early for the best selection. Grab a mixed box and share them, or keep them all to yourself. No judgment here.
3. Achenbach’s Pastries (Leola)
Achenbach’s Pastries has been a Lancaster County favorite for years, and their reputation rests on one simple promise: everything is made from scratch. No shortcuts, no mixes, just real ingredients and time-tested recipes.
Their Long Johns are legendary. Soft, pillowy dough filled with sweet cream and topped with icing that doesn’t quit. People drive out of their way just for these. But don’t sleep on the rest of the case, because everything here gets the same careful treatment.
This is the kind of bakery where you smell the butter and sugar before you even open the door. It’s old-fashioned in the best way, proving that simple done right beats fancy every single time.
4. Shady Maple Farm Market Bakery (East Earl)
Shady Maple is more farm market than tiny corner bakery, but the bakery department alone is worth the trip. Rows of fresh doughnuts greet you first, followed by cakes, pies, and seasonal specials that change with the calendar.
Custom cake orders are a big deal here, with designs ranging from simple and elegant to wildly creative. But even if you’re just stopping by for a quick treat, the daily doughnut selection won’t disappoint. Grab whatever seasonal baked special is sitting in the case that day.
It’s a bustling spot, especially on weekends. Come hungry and leave with way more than you planned. That’s just how Shady Maple works.
5. Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies (Ronks)
Not every great bakery focuses on sweets. Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies proves that simple and perfect can also mean savory, hearty, and absolutely satisfying.
Their from-scratch meat pies are packed with tender chicken, vegetables, and a flaky crust that holds everything together beautifully. It’s comfort food at its finest, the kind of meal that sticks with you long after the last bite. If you’re lucky enough to catch them when apple dumplings are available, grab one. They’re the perfect sweet finish to a savory stop.
This isn’t a place you stumble upon by accident. You have to seek it out, and that’s part of the charm. Real Amish Country baking, no frills, all flavor.
6. Dutch Haven Shoo-Fly Pie Bakery & Gift Shop (Ronks)
You can’t miss Dutch Haven. The windmill on Route 30 practically waves you down, and once you’re inside, the smell of fresh shoofly pie takes over.
This bakery has built its reputation on one thing: shoofly pie done right. The molasses filling is rich without being too sweet, and the crumb topping adds just enough texture to balance every bite. You can buy it fresh to enjoy right away, or take advantage of their shipping options if you’re traveling and need to bring a taste of Pennsylvania home.
It’s a Route 30 landmark for a reason. Generations of families have stopped here, and the tradition continues because the pie never disappoints.
7. Immergut Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels (Intercourse)
If your definition of perfection involves warm, hand-rolled soft pretzels with just the right amount of salt and butter, then Immergut is your new favorite stop. This Amish-run bakery in Intercourse specializes in pretzels that taste like they were made in someone’s home kitchen, because basically, they were.
Each pretzel is rolled by hand, which means they have that authentic texture and chewiness you just can’t get from a machine. The classic soft pretzel is where it’s at, but if you’re hungry, the pretzel wraps are a solid lunch option.
Build your day around this stop. It’s worth it. Fresh pretzels like these don’t come around often.
8. Dutch Country Soft Pretzels (New Holland)
Just off Route 322 in New Holland, Dutch Country Soft Pretzels keeps things beautifully simple. Handmade pretzels in Amish Country, no gimmicks, no unnecessary flavors, just warm dough, salt, and butter working together in perfect harmony.
The pretzels here are soft, slightly chewy, and best enjoyed within minutes of purchase. That’s when the butter is still melting and the salt crystals haven’t fully dissolved yet. It’s a small moment of pure happiness that doesn’t cost much or require a fancy setting.
This is Lancaster-area pretzel baking at its most straightforward. Sometimes the best treats are the ones that don’t try too hard. Grab one warm, enjoy it slowly, and understand why people keep coming back.
9. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery (Lititz)
Founded in 1861, Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery holds a special place in American food history as the first commercial pretzel bakery in the country. Walking into this Lititz landmark feels like stepping back in time, and that’s exactly the point.
The bakery store sells fresh soft pretzels that honor the original recipes and techniques. If you have time, the tour is a fun way to learn about pretzel-making traditions and even try your hand at twisting dough. But even if you’re just passing through, grab a soft pretzel from the store and taste a piece of Pennsylvania Dutch history.
It’s a charming stop that blends education with deliciousness, and the pretzels speak for themselves.
10. The Pennsylvania Bakery (Camp Hill)
The Pennsylvania Bakery in Camp Hill doesn’t need gimmicks or trendy flavors to win people over. This scratch-baking shop focuses on old-fashioned favorites that remind you why classic treats became classics in the first place.
Their doughnuts are light and flavorful, never greasy. Cream puffs and eclairs are filled generously and topped with just the right amount of icing. Celebration cakes are simple, beautiful, and taste as good as they look. Everything here feels like it was made with care, not mass-produced for quick turnover.
It’s a great stop when you’re in central Pennsylvania and craving something sweet without all the fuss. Good baking doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to taste right.
11. Haegele’s Bakery (Philadelphia)
Operating since 1930, Haegele’s Bakery is a Philadelphia institution with deep Pennsylvania Dutch roots. This family-owned bakery has been serving the same neighborhood for generations, and locals know exactly when to show up: Fat Tuesday, when the fastnachts are fresh.
Fastnachts are traditional Pennsylvania Dutch doughnuts, and Haegele’s makes them the old-fashioned way. Soft, slightly sweet, and absolutely addictive. Even when fastnacht season is over, the bakery offers plenty of traditional pastries worth your time.
It’s the kind of place where the recipes haven’t changed in decades, and that’s a good thing. Consistency, quality, and tradition keep people coming back year after year.
12. Fritz’s Bakery (Langhorne)
Fritz’s Bakery in Langhorne has earned a reputation for one thing above all else: sticky buns that ruin you for every other sticky bun you’ll ever try. These aren’t just good. They’re the kind of treat that makes you rethink your entire relationship with baked goods.
Handmade with care, each sticky bun is gooey, sweet, and perfectly balanced. The caramel clings to every bite, and the dough is soft without being too heavy. It’s a simple treat executed flawlessly, which is exactly what Amish-style baking is all about.
This family-owned bakery knows its strength and leans into it. Go for the sticky buns. Stay because you can’t stop eating them.
13. Sanitary Bakery (Nanticoke)
Up in northeastern Pennsylvania, Sanitary Bakery has built a loyal local following over the years by doing exactly what a good neighborhood bakery should do: show up every day with fresh, delicious treats that people can count on.
This is a grab-a-box kind of place. The doughnuts are classic and satisfying, the pastries are generously sized, and everything tastes like it was made that morning because it was. There’s nothing fancy or fussy here, just solid baking that hits the spot every single time.
If you’re in the area, stop by and see why locals keep coming back. Sometimes the best bakeries are the ones that don’t need to prove anything. They just bake well and let the treats speak for themselves.
14. Dietrich’s Meats & Country Store (Krumsville)
Yes, Dietrich’s is a meat market and country store, but don’t overlook the bakery counter. They proudly advertise mouth-watering desserts made right on the premises, and those desserts hold their own alongside the Pennsylvania Dutch specialties and quality meats.
This is a follow-your-nose kind of stop. Whatever is freshest that day is what you should grab. The baked goods change with the season and the week, so there’s always something worth trying. It’s the kind of place where you come in for one thing and leave with three others you didn’t plan on.
Dietrich’s proves that Amish-style baking can thrive anywhere, even when it shares space with sausages and country hams. Good baking is good baking, no matter where it happens.
