Fresh Baked Adventures

Big Waters Bakery

12 Main Street East, Athens, Ontario

Artisan breads and pastries are baked fresh daily using simple ingredients and classic techniques. From crusty loaves to sweet treats, everything is made with care and attention to quality. Stop in to experience small-town charm, friendly service, and the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods.

613-897-2249

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 

The Crusty Bakers

16 Prescott Street, Kemptville, Ontario

This British-themed bakeshop is famed for its innovative scones, in flavours like dried cranberry, Black Forest and devilled egg. Other highlights include baguettes, sourdough bread, bacon butter tarts, and seasonal soups and sandwiches. The Crusty Bakers use local fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs, and bakes all of their breads in house daily. Ontario cheeses and savoury frozen pies and quiches (including gluten-free choices) are also available, along with locally made sodas and honey.

Across the street from a quaint creek-side park.

613-215-0347

Hours: Year-round, Wednesday to Saturday

Forno

52B Concession Street, Westport, Ontario

Handcrafted sourdough breads and wood-fired pizzas bring traditional baking methods to life in the village of Westport. Made in small batches using a slow-fermented starter, each product highlights quality ingredients and time-honoured techniques. Take home a loaf or enjoy a ready-to-bake pizza for a taste of something truly local.

613-200-8859

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday

Grahame's Bakery

115 Clothier Street East, Kemptville, Ontario

This heritage bakery dates back to 1885, and at least one member of the Grahame family has been baking here since 1939. Each morning, Rick Grahame arrives early to fry the bakery’s famous doughnuts—they’re usually ready by 5:30 a.m. He also fires up the bakery’s original 18-foot-by-18-foot wood-burning oven to bake wholesome, old-fashioned breads like pumpernickel-light rye throughout the morning, as well as buns and scones. Year-round, find treats like butter tarts. Seasonally, try fruitcake, mincemeat tarts or hot-cross buns.

Two blocks from Rotary Park, in the centre of Old Town Kemptville.

613-258-2317

Hours: Year-round, Tuesday to Saturday

Hall's Apple Market

2930 Concession 2 Road, Brockville, Ontario

Not surprisingly, classic apple pies packed with the farm’s own fruit are the best sellers in this charming country store. However, the busy bakeshop actually makes some 20 types of pies, including—depending on the season—peach, raspberry-rhubarb crumble and blueberry. Old-fashioned treats like apple brown betty squares, butter tarts, oatmeal cookies and buttercream fudge are all made on site, too. Scented with the aromas of cinnamon and pastry, the shop smells like Grandma’s kitchen!

A country bakery and store in a scenic location surrounded by orchards.

613-342-6320

Hours: Year-round, daily

Also a Bottle & Barrel Adventure, and Foodie Shop Adventure!

Katarina's Coffee Shop

513 King Street West, Prescott, Ontario

Display cases filled with fanciful cupcakes, golden butter tarts, oat fudge bars, cinnamon rolls and double-baked croissants are likely the first things you’ll see when you walk into this sunny coffee shop run by mother-daughter team Carla and Nicole Hudson. There’s a different featured scone every week. In summer, you can order a customized ice cream sandwich with your choice of Kawartha Dairy ice cream between two fresh cookies. Enjoy your treats indoors or on the pet-friendly patio.

Steps from Kelly’s Beach and Centennial Park on the St. Lawrence River.

613-213-8007

Hours: Year-round, daily from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving; closed Monday in off season

Meringue Patisserie

130 North Augusta Road, Brockville, Ontario

This pastry shop offers a selection of handcrafted European-style desserts, from flaky croissants to elegant cakes and pastries. Each item is made from scratch using traditional techniques and premium ingredients. Whether you’re stopping in for a treat or picking up something special, there’s always something beautifully made to enjoy.

Conveniently located along a main route in Brockville, just minutes from the waterfront

613-213-6330

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday

Merrickville Cookies

105 Broadway Street West, Merrickville, Ontario

Located in the heart of Merrickville, this family-owned shop is known for its wide variety of freshly baked gourmet cookies. Classic favourites and new flavours are regularly featured, making each visit a little different. It’s a must-stop for anyone with a sweet tooth looking for a delicious handmade treat.

Just across the locks, to the north of the Village.

613-285-6002

Hours: Year round, daily.

Nut Free Gourmet Bakeshop

58 Kenneys Road, Elgin, Ontario

Jeff Day was already selling frozen, nut-free cookie dough before he bought the Hotel Kenney—a heritage property on Whitefish Lake—in 2022. So, he decided to add a nut-free bakeshop to the property’s amenities. In the open kitchen, bakers turn out cinnamon rolls, butter tarts, savoury hand pies and other treats that are easy to eat on the move. The cinnamon rolls even come in little boat-shaped boxes! You can also buy cookie dough to take home and bake yourself.

At the base of the Jones Falls Locks on the Rideau Canal, surrounded by many hiking trails.

343-653-5500

Hours: May to October, daily

Panache Bakery & Cafe

162 King Street East, Gananoque, Ontario

In this lively shop, Yun Ting Tsai bakes up a dizzying variety of danishes, florentines, buttercream-iced cupcakes, croissants, tarts, pies, muffins and cookies. Try the matcha white chocolate cookie or the chocolate chip-cream cheese-coconut squares! You can also pick up loaves of sourdough bread in tempting flavours like rosemary-black olive, cheddar jalapeno or sun-dried tomato pesto, or get made-to-order sandwiches. Don’t miss the sausage rolls, quiches, tourtières and other savoury items.

In the heart of downtown, a short walk from Gananoque Town Hall Park and the riverside fountain.

613-382-1412

Hours: Year-round, Tuesday to Saturday

The Pastry King's Princess

2404 South Howard Road, Lyn, Ontario

So, who is the Pastry King’s Princess? That would be Ingrid Van Dusen, whose father was Brockville’s Pastry King. She carries on the family’s Dutch baking traditions with customer favourites such as cupcakes iced with European buttercream, which is less sweet than North American buttercream. Brownies, rum balls, cookies, lemon squares and many other baked goodies are available, too, along with imported Dutch cheeses. Watch for the road signs to find this secret bakery on a quiet rural road.

Take a scenic country drive just outside Brockville.

613-345-2484

Hours: Year-round, Tuesday to Saturday

Sunflower Bake Shop

1536 County Road 42, Portland, Ontario

Carrot cake, peanut butter cheesecake and fresh breads are the top sellers in this village bakery. Familiar bread flavours include raisin-cinnamon, as well as herb and cheese made with local cheddar. But, depending on the day, you might find loaves of peasant bread loaded with flax, cornmeal, rye and poppyseeds. Or look for pagnotta, a dense and chewy Italian-style bread. The signature Sunflower flax bread with non-GMO flax is a classic. Cinnamon buns, mini pizzas and maple-walnut sticky buns are a hit, too.

A country stop that shares a location with the Forfar Dairy Cheese Store.

613-777-3444

Hours: Year-round, daily

Violets on Main

318 Main Street West, Merrickville, Ontario

When Patti and Trevor Johnson were planning to open a bakery, they found one for sale in Merrickville on a street lined with violets. That gave them the name of their new venture, which opened in 2021. Artisanal breads—including ancient-grain cheddar, caramelized onion, cranberry-muesli and roasted garlic loaves—are among the best-selling items. The bakery also whips up pies, cakes, cookies, squares, butter tarts, doughnuts and specialty cakes, many with local honey or maple syrup.

Steps from Merrickville Blockhouse National Historic Site and the shopping district.

613-454-1380

Hours: Year-round, Wednesday to Sunday

Willard's Village Bakery & Deli

21 Main Street East, Athens, Ontario

When was the last time you had a fresh doughnut hot from the fryer? If it’s been too long, drop into Willard’s for the small-town bakery’s beloved specialty. Doughnuts are only made on certain days of the week, so check Willard’s Facebook page for the current schedule. Oatmeal cookies and fried cakes are other local favourites, and the deli serves subs, wraps, chili, stews, soups, macaroni and cheese, and more. Everything at this family-owned shop is homestyle, with no added preservatives.

Surrounded by historic murals in a quaint village.

613-924-9594

Hours: Year-round, Monday to Saturday