Chocolate, and cookies, and cake — oh my! Macarons and strawberries too! It’s hard to resist these tempting treats made by some of the best bakers and chocolatiers in Brazos Valley. But don’t take my word for it — try them for yourself!
Shortbread Cookies
Credit: Catherine Buckner
Catherine Buckner’s delightful shortbread cookies with royal icing are almost too charming to eat. The former Cake Boss baker, who wants to “bake the world a better place,” says her custom-made treats have “a nice soft bite all the way through. No hard cookie or icing here.” Her specialty designs for Valentine’s Day will be limited to vanilla and chocolate; however, you can nibble your way through a sample bag that will feature all 12 flavors (including snickerdoodle, almond lemon zest, toasted coconut lime, and more) at her store’s grand opening in downtown Bryan on Feb. 12 — just in time for Valentine’s Day! Mini-bucket, $18; Love box, $18.
Busha’s Custom Cookies, Classes and More: bushascustomcookies.com
Belgian Chocolates
Credit: Kathlyn Dragna Photography
You’re sure to impress with this elegant assortment of handcrafted, European-style luxury chocolates. “The centers are made of ganache with various spices and flavors,” such as Champagne caramel, rosehip honey, ruby poppy seed, and strawberry balsamic, says Raymond Davis, a retired military pilot and captain for Southwest Airlines who received his chocolatier certification from Ecole Chocolate in Vancouver, Canada. He opened his Brenham shop in November 2017 with his wife, Debbie, and daughter, Caroline, who are also trained in the art of making chocolate. “We source as much as we can from local ingredients,” Ray says, “but the chocolate is from Belgium.” $36 for box of 15, $60 for box of 30.
Jet Set Chocolates: jetsetchocolates.com
Strawberry Cupcakes
Credit: Muriel Mathieu
Don’t let dietary restrictions keep you or your special somebody from enjoying a delectable indulgence! French baker Muriel Mathieu creates gluten- and allergen-free desserts from scratch that can also be made without dairy, soy, eggs, sugar, corn, or potatoes. She is best known as the master chef behind Moo-llionaire & Co and its decadent Moo-llionaire Bars. Her confections and other baked goods, including cookies, brownies, breads, and pastries, can be found around town at Village Foods & Pharmacy, Farm Patch, Juice it Up, and Zeitman’s Grocery Store (coming soon). Gluten-free cupcakes, $2.50 each; Dairy- or allergen-free cupcakes, $3 each.
Facebook: Muriel's GF Bakery
Macarons
Credit: Ryan Price Photography
Sink your teeth into two scrumptious round pillows wedded with a layer of seasonal flavors such as espresso and Bailey’s, chai latte, amaretto and luxardo cherries, New Mexico red chili chocolate, or other intriguing combinations. These are the creations of chef owner Marisa Winking, former pastry chef at Veritas Wine & Bistro and a graduate of the Culinary Institute LeNotre in Houston. Neatly packaged in a gift box of five, Marisa will hand-deliver the macaron assortment to your loved one with two days’ notice from the time of order. To help build her cottage bakery, Marisa credits the Startup Aggieland program through McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at the Hays Business School, which “has been instrumental in providing me with so many resources and networks,” she says. 5 for $15; add $3 for delivery.
Winking Desserts: winkingdesserts.com
Chocolate Texas A&M Aggie Ring Seal
Credit: Josh Neubauer
You can’t go wrong gifting your favorite Aggie-lover with a hand-molded and hand-painted chocolate replica of the school’s ring seal. Each chocolate measures 3 inches long and 2.75 inches wide and is available in premium 41% milk or 62% dark chocolate in natural or antique gold, with or without the graduation year. Custom seals may take up to two business days. Other officially licensed Texas A&M University confections include the large block-letter ATM logo in dark or milk chocolate, finished in maroon and white; block-letter ATM logo cupcake toppers, also available in dark or milk chocolate, finished with gold luster dust; Aggie Ring Dunk — a hot cocoa bomb with the Aggie ring seal, and Whoop Pies. Aggie ring seal: $15 (with ATM) or $19 (with year).
The Chocolate Gallery: bcschocolategallery.com
Strawberry and Swiss Buttercream Cake
Credit: Michelle Bayes
Have your cake and eat it too — all four scrumptious layers nestled between layers of meringue-based buttercream frosting. Owner/purveyor Michelle Bayes launched her cottage bakery out of her home in 2020, “after 30 wonderful years in education,” she says, including six years as an instructional coach for Bryan ISD. In addition to cakes, she provides cookies and cake balls for special occasions. Allow five days for bakery orders, which can be delivered in Bryan College Station for an additional $4. Cakes are approximately 7 inches high and 6, 8, or 10 inches in diameter. $35-$55.
All Things Beautiful Bakery: allthingsbeautifulbakery.com
Mexican Pastries
Credit: Ellen Ritscher Sackett
Can’t decide? Have one of each! This popular panaderia a few blocks north of downtown Bryan offers a variety of lightly sweet breads, cakes, and pastries made daily from scratch. Choose your favorites displayed behind the long glass counter to assemble your own colorful assortment of goodies, commonly sweetened with vanilla or cinnamon; dusted with powdered sugar; or topped with frosting or sprinkles. The art of Mexican bread-making goes back centuries, and the names for each type can vary from region to region. They come in all sizes and shapes, too. Try the traditional Mexican shortbread hojarasca, a crispy oreja “ear,” or conchas meaning “shells,” which is exactly how this Mexican sweet bread looks. Prices start at 80 cents per pastry.
Facebook: La Espiga Dorada Bakery
Drizzled Strawberries
Credit: Rachel Greaser
These hand-dipped, long-stem strawberries are downright heavenly. Drizzled with milk, vanilla, or white chocolate, these strawberries can be boojeed with the addition of crushed toppings, such as colored sprinkles, nuts, or edible glitter. Add extra pizzazz to your present with a chocolate stiletto or a smashable geometric heart as the centerpiece. Chef owner Becky Hoffpauir and her husband Jason previously owned Sweets and Eats Bakery in Bryan and opened their small batch, artisan bakery and café in downtown Calvert in August 2020. They are co-pastors at Crosspoint Church on the hill in Hearne. “Pappy’s is founded on fellowship and flavor,” Becky says. Drizzled strawberries only, starting at $21-$24 for 12 (price varies, depending on toppings); stiletto with six strawberries, $35.
Facebook: Pappy’s Bakery
