Keep Your Eyes Out For These Classic Pastries At Your Local Bakery

For years, the baking industry has gone big — with innovative, colorful, and fun new treats. And indeed, rainbow cupcakes and sparkling cookies can be a lot of fun. Lately, however, some bakeries are taking a bit of an opposite approach and going back to the classics. The problem is that even though these classic pastries are delicious, customers who are used to colorful cupcakes and oversized muffins do not always know what the classic pastries are. Well, here's your chance to be different! Keep reading to learn about some classic pastries you may start seeing more regularly at your local bakery.

Bienenstich

There has been an increased emphasis on the use of honey lately as people become more aware of the ecological plight of honeybees. That makes this classic German pastry a worthy addition to many bakery counters. The Bienenstich is a bar-style treat made with a yeast dough, a layer of vanilla custard, and a topping made from honey and almonds. It has a nice balance of sweetness and saltiness and pairs well with tea.

Gâteau Basque

A classic French pastry, the Gâteau Basque is sort of a cross between a pie and a cake — the perfect compromise when your group can't decide whether they like pie or cake better! The base is made from a sweet, almond-flavored dough with a cake-like texture. This is then filled, pie-style, with seasonal fruit such as cranberries, cherries, or raspberries. Some bakeries even top their Gâteau Basque with cream.

Gougère

A gougère is a fun, personal-size pastry hailing from France. They start with a pate a choux — the same dough used to make cream puffs and eclairs. But instead of being stuffed with cream, they are stuffed with a sweet cream cheese mixture. Traditionally, they are enjoyed alongside wine, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying yours with a mug of coffee or hot chocolate.

Bombolini

This one should look somewhat familiar, as it is thought to be the inspiration for the American jelly donut. The Bombolini is an Italian pastry. Its dough portion has a firmer texture than a typical donut ― it's more like a sweet yeast bread and less like a cake. The filling is typically raspberry jam, although you will see some Bombolini filled with chocolate or custard. 

If you see any of these more traditional sweets at your local bakeshop, don't hesitate to try them. The classics are classics for a reason!

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