Morning Sweets are Some of Delco’s Favorite Breakfasts

Breakfast, the first meal of the day and, according to our moms and mom-moms, the most important meal of the day. If your family comes from Delco, however, that means it doesn’t have to be a traditional diner breakfast, or even brunch. It could be, and we love those options, but we also shamelessly like to indulge in baked goods for breakfast… There. We said it!

As our local restaurants pivot to keep up with the changing guidelines due to COVID-19, bakeries have been able to continue filling us with comforting sweets throughout, thanks to their predominantly takeout model. They’re a familiar place to turn when times are tough.

Since the aforementioned guidelines flux, it’s best to contact these bakeries directly to confirm current offerings: Ask about online ordering, curbside pick up and local delivery. All of these establishments are following masking and social distancing protocols. Make a quick call to them, so you know before you go. That’s easy. What’s harder is not dipping a freshly sanitized hand into your haul and knocking back a “sample” (or two)!

Photo courtesy of Maria’s Bakery

Maria’s Bakery  

Be prepared to have your mind blown over the number of confections at this shop, which was established in 1992. Cookies for breakfast? Check. Cannolis, cupcakes, danish? Sure. Elephant ears, babka and sfogliatelle? Of course! Still, we like to grab a cuppa Joe and dig into the German butter cake with cherries. Who doesn’t like butter cake? Its richness is tempered by a sweet pop from the cherries. Open Monday through Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

233 Morton Avenue, Folsom, (610) 532-4720.

Photo courtesy of Traub’s Bakery

Traub’s Bakery

Set your alarm, or you may miss out! Maybe that’s because this bakery is one of the area’s oldest, harkening back to 1888 when the founder, Herr David Traub, moved from Bavaria to Chester, Pa. The family recipes followed to Sharon Hill and, since 1966, Traub’s has been in its present location. These are legit German baked goods — you really could indulge in any for breakfast. We’re consistently drawn to coffee’s best friend, the danish, which is available in all these flavors: cheese, cherry cheese, lemon cheese, blueberry cheese, raspberry coconut custard, apricot, apple, crumb, blueberry, cherry, lemon or custard. Open seven days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

1020 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, (610) 534-8288.

Photo courtesy of Ultimate Bake Shoppe of Wayne

Lancaster County Farmers Market

Swing by the market and hit one of three bakeries for your morning jawn. Cruise by Sunnyside Pastries for a two-fisted, gooey sweet sticky bun, Ultimate Bake Shoppe of Wayne for a hearty, savory-sweet scone, and D’Innocenzo’s Bakery for light, flaky, fruity kiffles. All three bakeries are family-owned shops: Sunnyside started in 1993 with whoopee pies and other Amish treats; Ultimate started two decades ago (earning a stint on Food Network’s Cake Wars!), and D’Innocenzo’s started in 1977 with its traditional European and American breads. Oh how far the selections have come! The Lancaster County Farmers Market is open Wednesday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

389 Lancaster Ave, Wayne: Sunnyside Pastries, (717) 201-5331; Ultimate Bake Shoppe of Wayne, (610) 687-5620; D’Innocenzo’s Bakery, (610) 687-6580.

Phatso’s Bakery 

Run, don’t walk, if you want a signature glazed donut, because they sell out fast! Better yet, order online 24 hours in advance for donuts (48 hours for cakes), and your morning fix will be ready when you get there. To be clear, you have other tempting baked options, but its donuts put this bakery on the map. They’re light inside, but give you that soft bite you can only get from working your way through sweet glaze. Frosting options are available, too. Open Monday through Friday, from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon; closed Sunday.

609 Welsh St, Chester, (610) 874-4240.

Photo courtesy of Jacquette’s Bakery

Jacquette’s Bakery

This is the place to go for premium baked goods with a European flair. Jacquette’s has been satisfying Delco’s sweet-tooth since 1980, with pretty much any bakery item you desire, from donuts to eclairs, cookies to custom cakes, and everything in-between. We’ll admit it; we run past the traditional breakfast fare for bismarcks which, in Delco (and, OK, in Philly) unlike other locales, are donuts rolled with cinnamon (not stuffed with jelly or cream). Don’t miss ‘em! Open Monday through Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local delivery is available.

2076 Sproul Rd., Broomall, (610) 353-2550.

Photo courtesy of R. Weinrich German Bakery

R. Weinrich German Bakery

Don’t be fooled by the name; while there are plenty of German goods — glucksswein, brotchen, fastnachts, hammentaschen — there’s also an abundance of other European finds, such as Irish potatoes, Russian tea cookies, tortes and more. And, yes, we’d eat all of that for breakfast! We’re going to give a nod to a Christmas tradition: Stollen, or Christstollen, a deliciously dense fruit bread boasting nuts, candied fruit, holiday spices and kissed with powdered sugar. We warm it and hit it with butter, but it’s a show-stopper right out of the box! Open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m to 2 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon.

3545 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, (610) 356-9918.

 

Want to know more about everything Delco? We’re more than just your source for good eats — we’re your source for Delco From Home Experiences and where to get takeout and support local businesses in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We’re Visit Delco, PA, and we’ve got you covered during the coronavirus crisis (and beyond). Contact us at (610) 565-3679, by email or online.

Nina Malone

Feature photo by Lydia Esh, courtesy of Sunnyside Pastries