Herts &amp; Beds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flourish-craft-bakery-watford"><a href="https://www.flourishbakery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flourish Craft Bakery</a>, Watford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Flourish-bakery-1000x667.jpg" alt="Man baking doughnuts flourish craft bakery watford" class="wp-image-80081" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Flourish-bakery-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Flourish-bakery-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Flourish-bakery-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Flourish-bakery.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Hidden away in an unassuming industrial estate in Watford you&#8217;ll find the fabulous Flourish. Not only is it a shop, selling bread, cakes and pastries, but it&#8217;s also a café, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and takeaways (from The Hatch), AND a pizzeria &#8211; The Loading Bay &#8211; for fresh-to-order wood-fired sourdough pizzas. It&#8217;s a real find, but shhh&#8230; don&#8217;t tell everyone!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://cinnamonsquare.com">Cinnamon Square</a>, Rickmansworth</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Cinnamon Square Ricky Sticky Bun" class="wp-image-86124" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Cinnamon-square-ricky-sticky-bun.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re partial to a cinnamon bun (erm, who isn&#8217;t?) you can&#8217;t pass up a trip to this multi award-winning artisanal bakery for a cinnamon square bun or the locals&#8217; fave &#8211; the Ricky sticky bun. From buns to bloomers and brownies to bakes, you can pick up your order in store or have IT delivered (nationally!) to your door. This family-run biz is led by Founder and Master Baker, Paul Barker, who has taught his craft to thousands of budding bakers. And don&#8217;t miss <a href="https://cinnamonsquare.com/the-bread-shed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bread Shed</a> &#8211; an actual shed, stocked with freshly baked loaves to purchase by cash or QR code from 10am every Saturday. Mmmm. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://loafingbakerycafe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Loafing</a>, Wheathampsted</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Loaves of bread in racks Loafing wheathampstead" class="wp-image-80083" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Loafing.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This independent family bakery and café not only bakes tasty bread and pastries but serves Single Origin coffee, sandwiches (try the chicken Schnitzel baguette), croissants and brownies and they&#8217;re pretty well known for their apple strudel, too. There&#8217;s a lovely little riverside terrace out the back to sit and take five while you refuel on caffeine and carbs. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://daysbakery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Days Bakery</a>, various Herts locations</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Days-bakery-1000x667.jpg" alt="close up of someone making bread dough Days bakery" class="wp-image-86125" style="aspect-ratio:1.4992503748125936;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Days-bakery-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Days-bakery-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Days-bakery.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Originating in Ashwell (where the baking still happens today), and dating back to 1741 you might say this is one of the most authentic and oldest bakeries in the county, if not the country! Now with bakeries or food halls in 11 locations &#8211; most in Herts plus Cambs and Essex  you can pretty much seek out a Days wherever you go round here. You&#8217;ll find artisan baguettes, gourmet sandwiches, pastries and tarts, cakes and doughnuts in store. And the wheat is grown locally at the family farm and travels just 50 miles from mill to bakery too &#8211; doesn&#8217;t get much more local than that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://protoartisanbakery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proto Artisan Bakery</a>, Ware</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-1000x1000.jpg" alt="woman putting bread on racks proto artisan bakery ware" class="wp-image-80085" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Proto-artisan.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This lockdown baby was born from husband and wife team, James and Jo-Anne&#8217;s passion for sourdough. It kick started when Jo-Anne realised she had a gluten intollerance and heard that sourdough could be a good alternative, being easier to digest, more nutritious than shop-bought alternatives and gut friendly too. So, unsurprisingly, you&#8217;ll find plenty of sourdough here, as well as foccacia, croissants (check out their nifty machine which fills them with Nutella!), doughnuts, sandwiches and more available from the well-stocked bakery counter, to collect or pre-order. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hertford-cake-co-hertford-and-buntingford"><a href="https://www.hertfordcakeco.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hertford Cake Co</a>, Hertford and Buntingford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-1000x1000.jpg" alt="woman buying cupcakes in shop Hertford Cake Co" class="wp-image-80086" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hertford-Cake-co.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>From a kitchen table business baking birthday cakes and selling at local markets, The Hertford Cake Co opened its first bricks and mortar store in 2019. Everything is baked fresh at the Bakery HQ in Buntingford, the coffee they serve is produced in Herts and the Jersey cow&#8217;s milk ice cream is made just two miles from the Hertford Store. From celebration cakes and brownie stacks to personalised cupcakes and cookie pies, you&#8217;ll find all your sugar cravings catered for here. Pop in to the Hertford store for a coffee and baked goodies or to the Buntingford HQ for click and collect orders.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lukespatisserie2020/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke&#8217;s Patisserie</a>, Offley Hoo Farm, Hitchin</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80094" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Lukes-patisseries-cheesecake-meringues.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Muddy Award winning Food Producer 2023, Luke&#8217;s Patisserie nabbed the top spot for the prettiest pastries and puds. The former pastry chef at the Ivy is a dab hand at everything from macarons to mini meringues and cheesecakes to choux buns. If you&#8217;re looking for something to impress your dinner party guests with, a special celebration treat (or just a little something pour moi!) Luke&#8217;s Patisserie will have you covered. Find it at the Offley Hoo Shopping Village. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.littlebuzzardbakery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Little Buzzard Bakery</a>, Leighton Buzzard</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-1000x1000.jpg" alt="pastries displayed in shop The little buzzard bakery" class="wp-image-80088" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Little-Buzzard-Bakery.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In a bid to provide the healthiest possible lifestyle for their kids (starting with knowing exactly what goes into their food), the founders of The Little Buzzard Bakery vowed never to buy shop bought bread again, and make their own additive and preservative-free artisan bread instead. You&#8217;ll find sourdough, pastries, speciality coffee and a changing array of sweet an savoury treats baked daily. They also run the Little Buzzard Pizza Co, where you can order fresh stone-baked&nbsp;pizzas cooked in&nbsp;a Gozney Roccbox &#8211; look out for their pop-up pizza nights, too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.neighbourhoodbakes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neighbourhood Bakes</a>, Hitchin</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-1000x1000.jpg" alt="neon sign and cake in glass dome Neighbourhood bakes" class="wp-image-80089" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Neighbourhood-bakes.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Creators of the most beautiful wedding and celebration cakes (just check out their Insta for inspo), Neighbourhood Bakes also have a permanent shop and café in Hitchin, where you can get your hands on their goodies&#8230; we&#8217;re talking sweet and savoury buns, seasonal bakes, cookies, cupcakes and slabs of fudge cake. Plus you can learn the art of baking yourself with their workshops, which include baking, drip cakes and biscuits. GBBO 2025 here you come!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.thekitchenfrontbakery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kitchen Front</a>, Harpenden</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Boule loaf the kitchen front bakery" class="wp-image-80090" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Kitchen-front.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Kitchen Front Bakery opened three years ago. It was founded by sisters Jane and Sarah who both worked in the food industry teaching cookery and nutrition in NHS and school settings. They went on to set up a kids&#8217; cookery school before developing their social enterprise, The Kitchen Front, offering these skills to community groups. Now they are qualified &#8216;bread angels&#8217; &#8211; trained bakers who are dedicated to bringing real bread to the community. Amen to that! Jane and Sarah bake to order every week (which regularly changes so check the site for info) and can deliver to AL5 post codes. They also run monthly baking courses, if you fancy getting stuck in yourself!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.fancybakery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fancy Bakery</a>, Bedford </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Fancy-bakery-1000x667.jpg" alt="Cakes on display at Fancy Bakery Bedford" class="wp-image-80091" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Fancy-bakery-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Fancy-bakery-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Fancy-bakery-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Fancy-bakery.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Founder Saffron started up the biz from her home kitchen back in 2002, following 14 years working as a food scientist. Soon she started supplying her bakes to local restaurants and cafés before selling to the public from a window hatch. Now you&#8217;ll find the bakery and café in the Old Saddlery in Black Tom where you can enjoy a light lunch, seasonal bakes, scones, tarts and puds. Open Weds &#8211; Sat. </p>


11 Herts & Beds bakeries we love, in honour of GBBO

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