Let's be honest: The last thing that anyone will want to see at that office potluck, family dinner or ugly sweater party is yet another generic box of wreath-shaped cookies from the grocery store. The goods at these 10 bakeries, restaurants and cafes cover all your holiday bases, from your coworker's gift exchange to a reunion brunch with your college crew-no baking required.
Candy cane s'mores at A Baker's Tale (pictured above)
2127 W. Division St. 872-206-5581
Story books and fairy tales such as "Alice in Wonderland" inspired owner Christine LaSorda to open this Wicker Park cafe earlier this year. For the shop's first holiday season, LaSorda is making candy cane s'mores with homemade graham crackers, mint-chocolate ganache and torched homemade marshmallow fluff topped with crushed candy canes.
Price: $10.50 per dozen
Availability: Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Place order by emailing info@a-bakers-tale.com or calling the shop.
Sourdough cinnamon rolls at Baker Miller
4610 N. Western Ave.
Dave and Megan Miller of Baker Miller, which opened in Lincoln Square in September, also own Baker Miller Flour Company, where they mill their own wheat and grains for the store. The sourdough cinnamon rolls, made with raw sugar and topped with cream cheese icing, are simultaneously tangy and sweet.
Price: $3.55 each
Availability: Open Wednesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Place orders at bakermillerchicago.com at least two business days in advance.
Holiday candy rounds at Amy's Candy Bar Pop-Up
1546 E. 55th St.
Along with the original Lincoln Square shop, Amy's Candy Bar now has a pop-up location in Hyde Park through April. Amy's holiday rounds are plastic containers to fill with your choice of candies. Choose from options such as candy cane caramels, white chocolate-gingerbread biscotti bites, dark chocolate-covered cashews with sea salt and gummy sour santas.
Price: $15 for 1 pound
Availability: Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon- 7p.m. and Sunday, noon-6 p.m. No orders necessary.
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Wookie pies at Little Goat Bakery (pictured above)
820 W. Randolph St. 312-888-3455
This past year, chef Stephanie Izard expanded the bakery selection, adding more sweets and cookies to the repertoire. One new addition is the wookie pie, a light, fluffy cake filled with chocolate cream, inspired by her love of Star Wars. Originally the pies served as a celebration of May 4 ("May the fourth be with you"), but became a staple at the West Loop bakery after popular demand.
Price: $2.50 each
Availability: Open everyday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Place your order at least 72 hours in advance by emailing catering@littlegoatchicago.com
Coconut macaroons at Le Pain Quotidien
135 N. Clinton St. 312-234-0900
One of three Le Pain Quotidien outposts that debuted this year, the West Loop bakery's staff provides the baked goods for all locations fresh every day. As a perk for partygoers that avoid gluten, these macarons-made with coconut flakes, egg whites and organic sugars-are gluten-free.
Price: $1.10 each
Availability: Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Place orders at least 24 hours in advance by calling catering manager Jennifer Kozy at 312-914-3091.
Honeybadgers at Bad Wolf Coffee
3422 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-969-2346
Jonathon Ory, executive chef and owner of the Lakeview coffee shop and bakery, describes the honeybadger, his own creation, as a mixture of a Danish, a bear claw and a honeybun. The final product is an almond-honey pastry with almond cream filling all soaked in honey.
Price: $4.50 each
Availability: Open Wednesday through Monday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Order by emailing wolves@badwolfcoffee.com.
Mincemeat pies at Pleasant House Bakery
964 W. 31st St. 773-523-7437
The Bridgeport bakery staff makes these seasonal pies with stone fruit, walnuts, candied citrus peel, suet and spices, all roasted for hours before going into the pie. They're the size of a small cupcake-about 2 and a half inches in diameter-though the bakery does sell larger sizes upon request.
Price: $4 each
Availability: Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Order by emailing pleasanthousebakery@gmail.com at least two business days in advance.
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Holiday cupcakes at Maddiebird Bakery (pictured above)
1445 W. Devon Ave. 773-856-3262
When Michele McAtee made a birthday cake for her daughter, she realized her knack for intricate designs and custom pastries. Now with her own bakery, which opened eight months ago in Edgewater, she's offering holiday cupcakes with fun toppers such as a half-eaten gingerbread man.
Price: Starting at $4 each, minimum of four
Availability: Open Tuesday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Order to pick up by emailing michele@maddiebird.com.
Cookie pizza at Cookie Bar
1746 W. Wilson Ave. 773-334-0300
Baking only gluten-free treats, Cookie Bar has become a staple for those with wheat allergies. The Ravenswood bakery menu offers large cookie pizzas with toppings such as potato chips, chocolate ganache, fresh berries, Nutella and roasted banana.
Price: $28 for 14 inch, $3.50 per topping
Availability: Open Thursday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Place order by calling 773-334-0300.
Peppermint bark at West Town Bakery
15 E. Ohio St. 312-894-0935
This bakery inside River North's Acme Hotel features plenty of pastries each morning, but for the holiday season, look for this peppermint bark made from 64 percent dark chocolate with white chocolate frosting and crushed peppermints on top.
Price: $6.95 for 6 ounces
Availability: Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. No pre-order necessary.
Carly Dyer is a RedEye special contributor. redeye@tribune.com | @redeyeeatdrink