Dexter Bakery — Restaurant in Dexter

My coworker stops here en route from Grand Rapids to the city for apple fritters, going out of her way to pick up one of those amazing baked goods. I love me a pastry but I had to wonder at her devotion to Dexter Bakery. Was it actually worth the side quest?

Yes, reader, it's a +4 pastry of deliciousness. Ride out to lovely Dexter, take a stroll with your apple fritter down to the Huron River, and wonder what you've been doing with your life. Or why this gem needs to be so far from where you live.

The prices here are more than fair -- $12 netted me four fritters, three cookies, and another pastry. I'm not sure how the magic of that math worked out, but it did. The stuffed date cookies are something I've never seen outside a cookbook or Grandma's kitchen. They transported me. Oatmeal raisin cookie? Exactly the way it should be, straight off a cookbook cover. The pumpkin spice? Same, no fake flavours here. Everything radiates the feel of home baking and comfort foods combined with that special dash of someone's 100-year-old recipe updated by very skillful hands.

But seriously. Those fritters contain real chopped up apple. They practically glow, not sticky or messy, but uplifting and fluffy. Every bite gave such a strong, delicious flavour.

The pretzels are supposedly good too but I didn't get to enjoy one. My very hungry kid crammed it fully into his mouth, hugged his torso, and floated off into pure bliss. That more or less tells you all you need to know: it halted a kid in the middle of a thrilling discussion about Minecraft/Nintendo and he forgot anything but the experience of soft dough and a dash of salt. We heard a short-circuited "Mmmmm"....

I’ve always loved the Dexter bakery, but after the experience I just had, I don’t know that I’ll be returning. I placed an order for some lemon donuts for my mom for Mother’s Day, and when I arrived to pick them up, one of the employees informed me that they couldn’t fulfill my order because they weren’t sure which kind of lemon donuts I wanted. She said that they attempted to contact me multiple times, but when I checked my phone, I didn’t have any missed calls. We checked the order form, and I realized that they mistakenly wrote down one wrong number in my phone number. While I was disappointed, I understand that mistakes happen, so I said it was no big deal and the employee gave me a different kind of donut. Then, an older employee came over and asked what the issue was. The employee told her that the phone number was wrong. The older woman turned to me, laughed, and rudely responded “Well you’re the one who gave us the phone number, right?” I was shocked that the older employee seemed to be accusing me of causing the problem, even after I was patient and understanding. I walked out feeling so...

Let me tell you, at Dexter Bakery, they don't just bake pastries, they bake pure joy! I mean, have you ever tried a birthday cake donut? It's like a confetti parade in your mouth, with fluffy cake batter dancing with sweet frosting swirls. Forget boring birthday candles, this donut is the party!

Now, here's a heads up: they're a bit old-fashioned and prefer cash. But fear not, plastic pals! They still accept credit cards with a smile (and maybe a wink ). Just be warned, there might be a sprinkle-sized fee attached.

Speaking of sprinkles, the earlier you arrive, the bigger the sprinkle celebration! Those glazed donuts and gooey cinnamon rolls tend to disappear faster than a magician's rabbit. So, if you want first dibs on the sugary goodness, set your alarm early and get ready to indulge. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!

Overall, Dexter Bakery is a delightful hidden gem, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. Just remember, cash is king (or queen!), and the early bird gets the donut (especially the birthday cake one ). Go forth and sprinkle your...