Yummy in Your Tummy! Some of us wait a year for a delicious holiday treat, gear up now

While kids might be wondering what’s under the tree, others of us dream what’s under that pastry-box lid. We’ve made a short list of select bakeries in Southwest Florida that bring us delish holiday goodies.

LadyCakes Bakery, Cape Coral

This boutique bakery from mid-December through Christmas creates batches of heavenly sugar and gingerbread cookies. Locals and returning snowbirds will stop in for a fix of cookies, but also for the lush cupcakes, custom cakes and gourmet baked goodies. “Great stocking stuffers or as a treat for Santa Claus and his reindeer,” the bakery’s co-owner, Bess Charles, says of the cookies.

For more than a dozen cookies, call a week ahead.

Mikkelsen’s Pastry Shop, Naples

This establishment over the year bakes delicious cookies, cakes and pies. But during the holidays there are more tasty treats on the menu. “We have decorated cookies, pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin pies, pecan pies and chocolate peppermint cakes, just to name a few,” says co-owner Elizabeth Mikkelsen.

Some of the treats are ready-to-eat, and some serve as a centerpiece, such as the shop’s Yule log surrounded by iced sugar cookies. Plan to order ahead.

Norman Love Confections, Fort Myers (other locations)

Norman Love has been producing delicious treats in Fort Myers since 2001, and was named best premium chocolate company in the United States six times since 2006. He is also known for his delicious holiday treats that bring back the memories. “Often, taste is tied to tradition, so it’s not surprising that our holiday flavors bring up cherished memories of roasting s’mores around the fire with family or fresh-baked gingerbread,” says Norman Love, the founder and owner of Norman Love Confections. “Every year, we create holiday flavors that symbolize the season, with a Norman Love twist. This year, the reindeer theme brings a fun, whimsical feel to our holiday collection.”

Look for everything from Santa and his reindeer chocolates, to chocolate peppermint bark to holiday Yule logs. Plan to order ahead.

Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream, Bonita Springs (other locations)

In Southwest Florida, cooling off with a delicious homemade ice cream cone at Royal Scoop is something that can be enjoyed year round. However, during holiday months we get such fun treats as Georgia Pecan Sweet Potato Swirl, a creamy ice cream with a thick marshmallow swirl and roasted pecans. “We also have a few other popular favorites [such as] The Evidence of a Reindeer, which is a white mint flavored ice cream with a yellow marshmallow swirl and fudge brownie chunk, and Christmas Chimney Sweep, a peppermint-stick ice cream loaded with crushed Oreo cookies,” says owner David Zimmerman.

Additionally, Royal Scoop also carries pumpkin ice cream starting Oct. 1 through the holidays, along with creamy eggnog ice cream in late November. “We’ll likely come up with a few more fun flavors before the holidays!” says Zimmermann.

Sanibel Sweet Shoppe, Sanibel

This family owned shop over the year offers handmade Belgian chocolates, homemade fresh fudge and baked goods—in-house and from scratch. During the holiday season, there are more favorites. “We have peppermint bark that’s made with milk/white chocolate or dark/white Belgian chocolate, along with a variety of fudges like candy cane and pumpkin,” says co-owner Beth Musser.

“We also have buckeye candies that are peanut-butter balls dipped in chocolate,” adds Tim Musser, also a co-owner.

In addition to their delicious candies, the shop offers holiday yummies such as snowball, pumpkin and decorated sugar cookies, as well as gingerbread men/women. Holiday cupcakes include chocolate/peppermint, carrot cake, pumpkin and other seasonal flavors. Yum, yum and more yum!