Who doesn’t love a pastry crawl?

There is very little that I will wait in a line for, especially if it wraps around a store or spills out onto the street. I have avoided merch lines at concerts and limited edition giveaways for this reason, and I have no sense of FOMO. But when we are talking about a unique dessert hybrid, beautifully laminated scone, or breakfast pastry of any sort? Count me in.

Luckily, bakers the world over have been perfecting their game in recent years, honing in on more complicated flavor profiles, high-quality ingredients, and shock factor new products to market to their fans. Take, for example, the “crookie” of 2022, which debuted at Maison Louvard in France. Its popularity brought people from near and far, and continues to, despite many bakeries having taken on similar recipes in the years since.

The midwest has a rich and flavorful trail of unique pastries to offer too, and you don’t have to travel too far. Here, our 6 favorite must-try pastries in the metro.

Blackhole Bakery Mochi Donuts

While mochi is certainly a popular choice over the last few years – from frozen treats to delicious, tiny desserts and more – there is a certain elevated deliciousness to a perfectly crafted mochi donut. And the best place to run into one of those in town? The indelible Blackhole Bakery on Troost.

Their mochi donuts are oversized donut holes that have a certain bounce to them. The bakers here create magic with their layered flavors, rotating through profiles like chili mango, birthday cake, guava, chocolate, pink lemonade, and pistachio. Take your time with these, as they can be gone in one simple bite very easily.

Kukiss Bakery Cruffin

Kukiss Bakery had some of the most extraordinary flavors I have ever witnessed of any bakery anywhere, but they weren’t easy to find. Venezuelan pastry chef María Eugenia has been operating her pastry business in the KC metro since 2020, specializing in artisan croissants, profiteroles, cookies, and breads.

Their cruffin, however, was out of this world, and is what I was hunting for when I found their cart at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market. The pistachio cruffin was almost beaming at me from the case, with a light and fluffy filling that perfectly balanced the flaky, winding layers of sugared muffin. The $8 price tag isn’t even off-putting because of how remarkable this pastry truly is.

Kukiss Bakery Cronikiss Pasión Verano

While Kukiss Bakery truly makes art with their pastries, I have found nothing as decadent as their limited edition, summertime Cronikiss Pasión Verano. A fried croissant shell is filled with white chocolate cream and fresh passionfruit. The way it looked alone encouraged me to purchase this $15 pastry, and there wasn’t a moment eating it that didn’t feel like heaven.

The way the texture and taste of each individual flavor complements the others on this pastry – and every option I have had from this pastry cart – is truly impressive.

Burek and Cake Baklava Cheesecake

If you take the time to meander around the quiet corners of the Northland, you may wander into Burek and Cake, a very tiny bakery storefront tucked behind Parvin Road. The Bosnian-inspired bakery has one table with chairs set up next to its counter, inconvenient to dine in but very pleasant to order from. We have found ourselves elbow-deep in cheesecakes, šampitas, tulumba, and more when visiting this budget-friendly spot. The kind ladies behind the counter always have great suggestions, and are happy to explain what you are looking at if you are unfamiliar, as I was on my first visit.

One dessert you’ll kick yourself over if you don’t grab it while it is in stock? The baklava cheesecake. The perfect amount of cold whipped filling, a beautiful crunch and none of the texture sacrificed, it is the greatest blending of two sweet tooth favorites that I have had in a moment.

Donut King Cronut

In 2013, the “cronut” was born, and was even named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of The Year. And it’s easy to see why… taking buttery, flaky, laminated croissant layers and deep frying them in the shape of a donut? An intense and beautiful (and sugary sweet) experience I wish upon even my worst enemies. Much more dense than a regular donut, it takes me much longer to enjoy this delicious breakfast marvel.

Luckily, you don’t have to pre-order these anymore, and you can find them most days just off the highway in Northtown. Donut King - one of the friendliest storefronts in the Northland - stocks these beauties in a regular glazed flavor, cookies and cream, and maple bacon, among others, I am sure.

Sour Rabbit Bagookie

Several months ago, I had the unique pleasure of having a “bagookie” come across my Instagram feed. A buttery, crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside bagel, with a chocolate chip cookie baked right into the top? Insane. The source? None other than the northland’s Sour Rabbit Bakery, which specializes in sourdough pastries. Each day is a new thing, as their small batch kitchen only allows for so much volume at this time.

You can find sourdough loaves on most open days, which are Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30am to 2:30pm, or until sold out. Bagels make an appearance on the shelves Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, while croissants are offered Wednesday and Saturday, and cake is usually out on Sundays. But if you keep your eyes peeled on their social media, you may see a bagookie available on bagel days.

Bonus: We heard a rumor that Soli Deo has a pretty tasty croissant donut offering, but they have been sold out every time we have stopped in! If you happen to try one, they have matcha glaze, lemon glaze, blackberry glaze, and cinnamon sugar options.