In the culinary world, there are two major categories: cooking and baking. While cooking focuses on savory preparations that hone a chef’s ability to quickly pivot when things go awry, baking requires scientific precision from start to finish. And while many mistakes are easy to fix when you’re cooking, with baking, if you screw up, well, you just have to start all over. It’s enough to make even the most capable chef throw up their hands in frustration and swear off baking forever. But for those with the monkish patience and laser-like attention to detail needed to master desserts and sweets, true glory awaits. Here are our favorite places to appreciate Sarasota's talented local bakers.

Cremesh Coffee & Bakery 

1822 59th St. W., Bradenton, (941) 782-8039, cremeshbakery.com

Every morning, Bradentonians line up at Cremesh Bakery for a sip of coffee and something indulgent. What they don’t know is that the Cremesh bakers arrived much earlier that morning to churn out the day’s croissants, muffins, strudels, cookies, tarts and the difficult-to-find kolache, a sweet Czech pastry filled with fruit, poppy seeds or cream cheese. We always order the Moravian kolache, stuffed with plum jam and fresh cheese.

Wonder Cake Creation

1464 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, (941) 315-8166, wondercakecreation.com

Private baker and Wonder Cake owner Moreli Hernandez specializes in whimsical designs limited only by your imagination. Want a cake inspired by your favorite book? You got it. How about a childhood memory? Sure thing. The possibilities are endless and the flavors are delicious.

Cakes by Ron 

3520 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, (941) 365-2991, cakesbyron.com

In business for nearly four decades, Cakes by Ron might be Sarasota’s most beloved legacy bakery, run by owner Ron Zammit and his adult kids, Nathan and Laura. While the designs are stunning, it’s the flavor combinations that really impress. On one recent occasion, we sampled a Key lime cake that knocked our socks off. If you can’t wait for your next big event, swing by the shop for a cupcake to tide you over.

Ionie Organic Cafe

1444 First Street, Sarasota, (941) 320-0504, ionie.com

Making raw vegan anything that actually tastes good requires incredible skill, but the chefs at Ionie pull it off. The restaurant offers an enormous menu of raw vegan dishes, such as filling pizzas, and zucchini noodles with mushrooms and “Alfredo” sauce. But it's the desserts that  never disappoint. A ganache-smothered brownie, for example, is so dense and fudgy that you would never suspect the restaurant specializes in healthy cuisine.

Morton’s Gourmet Market

1924 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, (941) 955-9856, mortonsmarket.com

When dining in Southside Village, you could order dessert at whichever restaurant you’re visiting—or you could swing by Morton’s for a little something to finish the evening at home. Not only does Morton’s have impressive single-serving desserts, like its epic chocolate eclairs, it also sells delicious and affordable cakes that can feed a crowd. Just be sure to call at least 72 hours ahead of time if you’re hankering for a big cake.

Le Macaron

2300 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, (941) 312-4408; 362 St. Armands Circle, (941) 552-8872; 140 University Town Center Drive, (941) 402-9355; lemacaron-us.com

When married couple Audrey Guillem-Saba and Didier Saba moved to Sarasota from France, they never anticipated that their homegrown macaron business would become a national franchise with more than 60 stores. These days, Le Macaron’s Bee Ridge Road headquarters churns out 30,000 cookies a day in a variety of flavors like black currant, pistachio, salted caramel and lemon.

C’est La Vie!

1553 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 906-9575; 918 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 961-0111; cestlaviesarasota.com

Some flock to C’est La Vie! for a light lunch, but real ones know that this French restaurant is so much more than crêpes and sandwiches. Stop by early in the morning to be mesmerized by the display of baked goods, ranging from pistachio, almond and cherry tarts to caramel Napoleons made just the way they are in France.

Project

538 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota; 1419 Fifth St., Sarasota; projectcoffee.us

Don’t talk yourself out of grabbing a pastry while paying for your oat milk latte at Project, one of Sarasota’s top coffee shops. Those vegan cinnamon rolls and banana miso muffins are taunting you, and surrender never tasted so good.

Maison Blanche

2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (941) 383-8088, maisonblanche.com

It’s rare to find a restaurant that is precise from first course to last. Oftentimes, if the main meal knocks your socks off, the desserts will just miss the mark. That’s not the case at Maison Blanche, where an airy chocolate soufflé steals the show. If the vacherin—a meringue filled with raspberry sorbet—is on the menu, order it.

Julie Deffense Artistry

1227 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (267) 992-8998 , juliedeffense.com

Based in both Sarasota and Cascais, Portugal, Julie Deffense creates cakes that are absolute showstoppers—luxurious, multilayer masterpieces that would have impressed Marie Antoinette. These confections can be adorned with cascading sugar paste flowers and other edibles inspired by your party’s theme, and we’ve even seen Deffense draw inspiration from Portuguese azulejos (blue ceramic tiles) and decorate her cakes in a maze of geometric patterns.

K&K Bakery

13661 Tamiami Trail, North Port, (941) 423-1700, k-kbakery.com

North Port has a huge Eastern European population drawn to the area because of Warm Mineral Springs and its alleged healing powers. K&K Bakery and its Russian and Ukrainian pastries make for a perfect fit. Showcasing items like vatrushka (a pastry filled with Bavarian cream, fresh fruit and cheese, and then topped with raisins) and vetruka (shortbread stuffed with berries), K&K has become a perennial favorite.

OfKors Bakery

1359 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 330-2220, ofkorsbakery.com

In 2017, Alex and Marie Korsykov moved their European bakery from North Port to downtown Sarasota’s bustling Main Street. There, thousands of visitors wander in for a bite of something fabulous—like a fruit croissant stuffed with custard and fresh fruit, or a “Euro roll” pastry flavored with poppyseeds and walnuts. We can’t leave, however, without a slice of Ukrainian honey cake, made with delicate layers of honey-kissed cake and a tangy sour cream frosting.

Clarabell Cookies

6564 Superior Ave., Sarasota, (941) 923-1742, clarabellcookies.com

When a chef focuses on several variations of a single dish, magical things can happen. That’s what’s going on at Clarabell Cookies, where owner Clare Jerome and her brother Gates make mountainous cookies that are a smidge underdone in the middle, contributing to an ooey-gooey sensory extravaganza. Don’t leave without a simple, classic chocolate chip cookie, the confecction that inspired the entire shop’s existence.

Simply Sweets SRQ

simplysweetssrq.com

Francesca Fago channeled her pandemic boredom into a flourishing business that specializes in custom cookies, cupcakes and cakepops, all made at home. Her personalized sugar cookies, decorated with intricate royal icing designs, are an ideal gift for party guests to take home after a soirée.

Croissant & Co

501 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice,  (941) 480-1700, instagram.com/croissantandcovenice

Nobody places an emphasis on visual appeal quite like Croissant & Co on Venice Island. No matter how many times we pop in, we’re always astounded by the rainbow of colors that adorn each complicated dessert. Layered mousse patisseries with flavors like raspberry and mandarin, or passionfruit and coconut, are cut with such precision that they almost don’t look real. Thankfully, they are.

Sweets Bakehouse 

1506 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, (941) 704-3700, sweetsbakehouse.com

When even the exterior of a bakery is well decorated, you know the stuff inside is going to wow you. Although Sweets doesn't offer any grab-and-go items, you can schedule a tasting to help you settle on your favorite flavor for your specialty cake. We love the orange blossom cake, which celebrates Florida’s iconic citrus industry.

Mademoiselle Paris

8527 Cooper Creek Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, (941) 355-2323; 1605 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 554-4021; 9906 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, (941) 226-0708; mademoiselleparis.com

Here you’ll find authentic French patisserie that isn’t available anywhere else. When you stop in, if the shop is offering religieuse (pâte à choux filled with cream and stacked to resemble a nun),  nab as many as you can. They’re adorable—and exquisite.

Monika’s Bakery Boutique

2249 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, (941) 298-7986, instagram.com/monikas.bakery.boutique

When Monika Mieszaslka and her husband Paul Novak moved to Florida from Poland, they knew their road to success would be paved by Mieszaslka’s gift for baking. Last year, they opened a shop on Ringling Boulevard, and it’s as though they’ve always been part of the neighborhood. Mieszaslka loves making cheesecakes, and you’ll find plenty of interesting flavors alongside Polish creations like the “poppyseed lady,” a layered dessert made with gluten-free poppyseed cake, sweet cherry jam, mascarpone and a dusting of coconut.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 

1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota, (941) 309-2000, marriott.com

The Ritz-Carlton’s pastry department knows no bounds. While its most well-known feat is the enormous gingerbread display it erects each Christmas season, that’s just the start. Ritz pastry chefs pump out thousands upon thousands of sweet treats for its guests, ranging from the size of one single bite to a house big enough for Santa Claus. We’re convinced there’s nothing they can’t do.

Rendez Vous

2117 Siesta Drive, Sarasota, (941) 552-9240; 5336 Clark Road, (941) 924-1234; rendezvoussarasota.com

Rendez Vous captured our hearts when we sampled its bûche de Noël at a holiday party. To make this classic dessert, layers of creamy mousse and tender sponge cake are rolled together and decorated with a festive flair. When we bit into Rendez Vous’ version, it transported us straight to Europe. Since then, we’ve marked our calendars to order a couple every December, but we also visit throughout the year to ease our wait for the year’s end.

Norman Love Confections

8109 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton, (941) 777-5507, normanloveconfections.com

Chocolatier Norman Love is based out of Fort Myers, and his indulgent creations are so tasty we’ve crowned him an honorary local. Dozens of varieties of painstakingly decorated and delicately flavored truffles make this shop worth a stop, not just for you, but also as a gift for someone you love. Skip the grocery store Godiva chocolates and hop on board the Love train.

Ephesus Mediterranean Delights 

27 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, (650) 284-9969

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Turkish delight represents a delectable temptation that leads to betrayal. At Ephesus, you can indulge in the ancient dessert without any of the drama. The shop makes a variety of the Middle Eastern gummy-style snack, with flavors like bergamot, lemon and rosewater and toppings like pistachios, dates, sugar and more. St. Armands Circle is loaded with ice cream and chocolate shops—this is an adventurous alternative.