Who doesn’t love tasting the flavors of winter? Peppermint and pumpkin spice, cinnamon and chocolate. There’s no better time to indulge in a sweet treat (or two, or three!), whether you prefer a minty hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream and a smattering of crushed candy cane on top, a piping hot pastry dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg, or a flaky pie crust hiding a decadent array of local produce, from apples to pumpkins. If your mouth is watering right now, but you’re the last to claim you have any prowess as a baker, pastry chef, or even just a barista, you can still find the sweet treats and steamy drinks you crave, from Thanksgiving all the way to Valentine’s Day, and all in LivCo.
FIND PIES, PASTRIES & PARTY DESSERTS AT THESE SPOTS
In East Avon, pick up local ingredients for your holiday feast at Six Sprouts Farm Market, but also pick up a treat for yourself while you’re at it. A mug of hot chocolate or vanilla latte is just the thing to boost your mood, or, if you’re the type to never turn down a scoop of ice cream, regardless of the weather outside, check out the seasonal ice cream flavors like peppermint and gingersnap. Pick up some sweet stocking stuffers including Once Again Nut Butter, maple syrup bites made at nearby farms, and Empty Nesters flavored popcorn, made locally in Avon. In Lima, at Milk and Honey Cafe will check out their wide array of cookies perfect for a holiday cookie swap or leaving near the tree for Santa.
At Two Sisters Bake Shoppe in Nunda, connected to the boutique store The Valley Shop, grab some maple icing-topped cinnamon rolls for your holiday breakfast or sourdough to go alongside your turkey or ham. Be sure to peruse the array of whimsically, colorfully decorated holiday cookies as well. If you prefer chocolate over any other delightful dessert, there’s one place you have to go: Sweet Arts Bakery. Not only can you get your hot chocolate fix, but you’ll also find an array of fudge (peppermint, maple walnut, and red velvet are just a few of the flavors) and truffles in varieties like coffee n’ toffee and dark champagne. Either make excellent gifts for a special someone — if you don’t eat them yourself, first! No matter what sweets you prefer, you’ll find it all at Sweet Arts Bakery’s two locations - the OG spot on Main Street in Geneseo and the new spot inside LivCo Basecamp in Mount Morris.
SIP ON WINTER FLAVORS AT THESE COZY CAFES AND COFFEE COUNTERS
Whether you want a quick hit of caffeine or a hot beverage that simply warms you to the core, you can find flavorful options at LivCo’s many cafes. At Cosmic Charlie Café, try the Sundance Hot Chocolate, homemade with steamed milk, or, for something a little out of the box, try the Valley Fog, made with white tea, rose petals, herbs, vanilla, and steamed milk. Blend your love for hot cocoa with your love for coffee at MacFadden Coffee Company in Dansville, where they’re serving up a Cocoa Cappuccino. Sweets like cake pops and sugar cookies are the perfect complement to your coffee.
Prefer your drink on the cooler side? A Christmas tree cake milkshake or eggnog malt is just the thing for you at Zeppo’s Creekside Creamery. You can find both warm and cold drinks at Homegrown Coffee Bar in Dansville, including the coffee bar’s chocolate crinkle frozen coffee and white chocolate pistachio iced latte. Grab a pastry and settle in for a few tasty sips before you head back out into the cold. In Lima, Milk & Honey Café is a favorite breakfast and lunch spot, but don’t overlook the drinks menu. Peppermint mochas, hot chocolates, and more seasonal beverages await.
Similarly, at Cricket’s Coffee, the food and cocktail menus are can’t-misses, but you’d be remiss if you didn’t grab your morning coffee here as well. Start the day on a sweet note with options like a sugar cookie espresso latte or a spiced brown sugar cold brew. For both sweet treats and sweet drinks, try the Sugar Bowl in Dansville. All your favorite holiday flavors are an option, from gingerbread to candy cane, and you can order your coffee iced or hot. Grab a scone, cookie, or other baked good, and keep an eye out for gluten-free options, too.
Consider a stop into Nunda’s Anchor’s Coffee, where cinnamon rolls and pastries will have you licking your lips, as you wash every scrumptious bite down with hot chocolates and cappuccinos with hints of peppermint.
DON’T MISS THE DESSERT EVENT OF THE SEASON!
Wherever you go in LivCo to sample winter’s baked bounty, don’t miss the dessert event of the season: the Geneseo Cookie Stroll, held every year in early December. Local shops and bakeries display their best bites, welcoming visitors who’ve bundled up to bounce from storefront to storefront, sampling as they go. It’s the perfect start to the holiday season, whether you love soaking up the festive atmosphere, browsing Main Street’s local businesses, or just simply and truly all the amazing cookies.
