Groundswell Cafe and Bakery , 3883 Main Rd ., Tiverton , 816-4256 , groundswellcafegarden . com Italian sweet cream maritozzi buns feature light fluffy pastry filled with abundant whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar . The bakery adjacent to this chic garden and home decor shop in Tiverton Four Corners handcrafts everything from apple crisp muffins and giant cookies to ham-and-cheese-stuffed croissants and doughnut specials . Sit outside by the fire pits while sipping hot cocoa and coffee , or wine and beer , and munch on baked goods in a winter wonderland .
Cream-Filled Desserts
Wright ’ s Dairy Farm , 200 Woonsocket Hill Rd ., North Smithfield , 767-3014 , wrightsdairyfarm . com Wright ’ s Dairy Farm is the cream of the crop for cream-based desserts . From the food memory-forming strawberry shortcake dessert to Boston cream pies , cream puffs , chocolate eclairs and more , this farm sources its milk for cream from its own herd of cows and bakes fresh baked goods every morning before the sun comes up .
Sfogliatella
Scialo Bros . Bakery , 257 Atwells Ave ., Providence , 421-0986 , scialobakery . com Scialo Bros . Bakery made the ultimate comeback from extinction to breathe new life into old-family recipes such as sfogliatella , which is a clam shellshaped pastry filled with semolina filling . Let ’ s just call it a dessert stuffie , okay ? The 1916 Federal Hill institution founded by Luigi Scialo continues to be run by his daughter , Carol Gaeta , even after it was bought by a new owner . It ’ s back serving the best Italian baked goods to generation after generation .
Baklava
Aleppo Sweets , 107 Ives St ., Providence , store . alepposweets . com / baklava-menu Sink your teeth into the traditional Syrian pastry made with chopped pistachios , walnuts or almonds tossed in orange blossom water and layered between crispy phyllo dough , drizzled with simple syrup and dusted with more crushed or sliced nuts .
Pastel Vasco ( gâteau basque )
Madrid European Bakery , 199 Wayland Ave ., Providence , 409-2300 , madrideuropeanbakery . com Savor the traditional dessert from the Northern Basque region of France that features a cookie-like crust filled with pastry cream . Take a whole cake or build a box of treats from the display case filled with chocolate eclairs , apple cake , slices of tarta de Santiago ( almond cake ), chocolate-ganache raspberry-layered cake and more .
Sweet and Savory Scones
Sweet Althea ’ s , 542 Kingstown Rd ., Wakefield , 932-9473 , sweetaltheas . com When you want something crisp and sweet ( or savory ) to go with your morning coffee , Sweet Althea ’ s scones settle the score with seven to nine different varieties scratch-baked in house every day . There are four staples
Pastel Vasco from Madrid European
Bakery in Providence .
like the cheddar scallion , pumpkin cinnamon , raspberry and peanut butter banana chocolate chip , as well as seasonal flavors including maple walnut , gingerbread , white chocolate peppermint , lemon ginger and spiced pear and oat .
Empanadas
Caprichos Antioqueños , 173 Lonsdale Ave ., Pawtucket , 728-9495 , caprichosantioquenos . com This family-run Colombian bakery has lines out the door every morning for its scratchmade Colombian sweets and savory snacks , including pastel de pollo filled with shredded chicken , scallions and tomatoes and empanadas bursting with potatoes and cheese . The crisp fried cheese balls are also addicting . For sweet tooths , there ’ s a separate counter with everything including bunuelos and pastries filled with caramel , pineapple and guayaba . Eat one on your way out the door , and bring home a box to share . – Jamie Coelho
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