Featured Photo by The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (La Crosse, Wisconsin)

Sweet Shops and Stops on the Great River Road

Donuts, ice cream, cupcakes, chocolates and more! Satisfy your Great River Road sugar craving at these sweet spots and stops.

  ~Minnesota~

Red Wing Confectionery (Red Wing, MN)

This confectionery prides itself for making their candy the old-fashioned way, without using preservatives.  Great River Road visitors can find anything from ice cream to truffles to chocolate covered fruits and nuts.

Bloedow’s Bakery (Winona, MN)

Nothing smells better than freshly baked donuts in the morning! Bloedow’s is a local favorite and was featured by HGTV!

 ~Wisconsin~

The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (La Crosse, WI)

Have an ice cream craving? This ice cream parlor scoops a variety of yummy flavors such as Mississippi Mud, Butter Pecan, Pearl Vanilla, and plenty more! With an attached coffee house and candy shop, what more could you ask for?

The Local Oven (Prairie du Chien, WI)

The bakery claims to be the home of the Bacon Maple donut! The sweets are made of local ingredients and there are gluten free options.

~Iowa~

The Eastern Iowa Baking Co. (Eldridge, IA)

This small sweet spot bakes a classic menu of cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins, and cookies! Visitors can also try Kuchen, a German dessert favorite!

Pedretti’s Bakery (Elkader, Iowa)

This small-town bakery has something for everyone! Their menus consists of different types of sweet rolls, cookies, donuts, coffee cakes and more.

~Illinois~

Kruta Bakery (Collinsville, IL)

The bakery is in its fourth generation of baking! Originally established in 1919, Kruta Bakery offers sweets made by old family recipes.

Lagomarcino’s (Moline, IL)

Sweets are made out an original copper kettle kitchen! Lagomarcino’s homemade chocolates, ice cream, and fountain specialities like ice cream sodas are sure to please any sweet tooth.

 ~Missouri~

Sugar Chic Creamery (Cape Girardeau, MO)

The creamery’s freshly made waffle cones and 16 ice cream flavors is a local hotspot! They also have 8 non-dairy soy and Italian ice options.

Sweet Things Sweet Shop (Sainte Genevieve, MO)

This shop combines candy, toys, and books! Their fun sweets (frisbee-sized lollipops, jawbreakers, flavored crickets) can be found in Sainte Genevieve’s historic downtown.

~Kentucky~

Artisan Kitchen (Paducah, KY)

Artisan kitchen has been making rave-worthy sweets since 2003. Their high quality cakes and meal selections are made from scratch.

Black’s Pecan (Hickman, KY)

Pecan pie doesn’t just have to be served during Thanksgiving! This sweet spot specializes in pies, flavored pecans, turtle pies and more.

~Tennessee~

Ripley Donuts (Ripley, TN)

Uncomplicated, fresh donuts to melt in your mouth. Great River Road travelers that need a sweet morning can stop outside of Memphis for yummy donuts and coffee.

Sookie’s Bake Shop (Covington, TN)

Sookie’s large menu of sweets and non-sweets is located in historic Covington. Reviews rave about the service and lunch experiences.

~ARKANSAS~

Howard’s Donuts (West Memphis, AR)

Find West Memphis crullers at Howard’s! They also have vegan options on top of plenty other tasty choices.

Fancy Flour Bakery (Jonesboro, AR)

Fancy Flour Bakery covers all the Cs in baking: chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, and cakes! The northern Arkansas walk-in bakery has a fun selection of cookies.

~Mississippi~

Billie’s Pecans (Crenshaw, MS)

If you’re in search of fresh taste and southern tradition, Billie’s Pecans on the Great River Road is the perfect place to grab a sweet treat! From savory to sweet and toasty to crunchy, Billie’s gourmet pecans and goodies are the perfect thank-you gift, party favor, corporate gift, fit for any occasion.

~Louisiana~

Manny Randazzo King Cakes (Metairie, LA)

Taste the Randazzo Family recipe! Manny’s King Cakes are a popular Louisiana sweet during Mardi Gras season.

Breads On Oak (New Orleans)

Their healthy sweets are plant-based! In fact, Bread on Oak’s Brioche made VegNews “50 Best Vegan Desserts in America”.