By Emily Harrington
I hosted Thanksgiving once. I pretty much stressed about the holiday for a month before and spent the day anxiety ridden.
On top of the turkey and the sides—you’re expected to bake—precisely measure flour and sugar! Puhhlllleassse, some things need to be left to the professionals.
If you are feeling the pressure this holiday season to make dinner and dessert for the family, I suggest leaving it up to just that—a professional baker. There are establishments across our area that are here to help. Order a prepared dessert from one of these saving graces and enjoy your day. Or, even better, offer to bring the dessert for your host or hostess and relieve some of their holiday stress.
This spring chambanamoms.com asked readers to recommend their top sweet shops in the area. Each of these recommended shops are taking preorders for holiday treats (except Meme’s Treat Boutique which is closed for the season). You’ll find that each establishment specializes in their own holiday-themed treats. Some feature classic pumpkin pie, while others twist the traditional with pumpkin rolls, decorated holiday cookies, tarts or spiced cupcakes.
In addition to our reader recommendations, you may want to try other area bakeries turning up their ovens while churning out homemade sensations.
- Curtis Orchard. Chambana’s favorite fall destination houses its own bakery. Many of us have visited 3902 S. Duncan Road in Champaign. We are all well aware of the apple donuts, but maybe it’s time to try one of their pies? Reach the bakery at (217) 359-5565 (press ‘0’ for quick transfer) to order cherry, peach, pecan, pumpkin and apple (duh) pies. You can also take home blackberry cobbler or frosted pumpkin bars. Everything listed can be purchased fresh baked for the Thanksgiving holiday. For Christmas, you can buy the cobbler and pies unbaked and keep frozen until you are ready to bake them. Curtis Orchard sadly closes for the season just before the holidays in December.
- Pies by Inge. Monticello’s dessert fixture is famous for a plethora of pies. Located inside the Brown Bag Deli Restaurant at 212 W. Washington St., Pies by Inge turns out renowned pies and other sweets. You can contact the operating duo by email at piesbyinge@gmail.com, by phone.
- Yoder’s Kitchen. Arthur’s Amish Country is not only known for buggies and woodworking, but for food. Specifically—baked goods.
- Also, try Beachy’s Bulk Foods in Arthur located at 259 N. CR 200E. Call (217) 543-3447 to preorder a 9-inch apple, cherry, pecan or pumpkin pie—all the traditional favorites for $9.95 each. If you have another flavor in mind, the head baker is confident they can make it. Their crust keeps customers coming back, and really the pie is all about the crust, right? The store also sells popular angel food cakes.
- Arthur’s The Homestead Bakery are also available to fulfill your baking needs.
All shops are closed on holidays and need notice to fulfill most orders. Call now to arrange your preorder and pick up time. Also, if you need a main course, keep an eye out next week for our post on “Where to Eat on Thanksgiving in Champaign-Urbana.”
Emily Harrington is a Chambana townie that left her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job to be a 24/7 mom to a dreamy son. Still interested in writing, Emily uses some of naptime to practice her passion and keep her mind right. Emily is a happy wife with a happy life because she fell for a fellow townie. Oh, and let’s not forget her other son, a degenerate canine named Heppenheimer.