Sweets are a ubiquitous part of the holiday season. And while national brand candies, cakes and breads are buying up the airwaves, don't forget about the Maryland-made treats produced closer to home.
Now is an ideal time to support local businesses, cross off your gift list, and, of course, satisfy your sweet tooth.
Below are 10 examples of in-state treat-makers. Did we miss your favorite? Share a link to their business on our Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Facebook page.
An old bake sale favorite, the sweet and sticky Rice Krispies Treat, is taken to a whole new level by Rosedale-based dessert cafe The Mallow Bar. Offerings range from a CaraMallow Crunchie to a homemade vanilla marshmallow soaked in Belgian Chocolate Brandy sauce.
Whether you're opting for a pound of Vanilla Nut Creamy Fudge or an assortment of Christmas Lollipals, Baltimore-based Wockenfuss has been a major Maryland presence since 1915.
Dubbed by Buzzfeed, a dessert that will make your mouth water, Maryland's most famous cake includes 10 layers of neatly stacked cake and frosting. Smith Island Baking Company offers eight flavor variations beyond the traditional yellow cake and chocolate combo.
If you're craving a taste of summer amid the wintry weather, consider Ocean City-based Candy Kitchen. A bucket of their soft salt-water taffyin fruity, nutty or spicy flavorsis sure to bring your mouth back to the boardwalk.
Sweet Cascades takes state pride very seriously at their Ellicott City-based shop, finding sweet ways to incorporate even savory Maryland traditions. Chocolate Crabs and Crab Sugar Cookies are kicked up with Old Bay seasoning.
Bergers Cookies in Baltimore has famously piled thick chocolaty fudge over sugar cookies since 1835. In honor of the season, the company is packaging up the cookies in festive tins.
A rising star in Maryland's food scene, Dangerously Delicious Baltimore is building a reputation for its unique gourmet homemade pies, from its Baltimore Bomb to the Mobtown Brown.
For a traditional Christmas dessert, complete with homemade sugar ornaments and powdered sugar "snow," Gaithersburg-based Classic Bakery is again offering its famous Christmas Yule Logs.
Spring Mill Bread Company is so picky about the flour they use, they mill it themselves. From gingerbread boys to cinnamon rolls, holiday baked goods abound at their shops in Bethesda, Gaithersburg and on Capitol Hill.
Check with your nearest Maryland dairy farm for creamy homemade egg nog. For a limited time, South Mountain Creamery in Middletown is boasting freshly made (corn syrup-free) jugs of egg nog in quart and half-gallon sizes.
