“How do I love thee?” Let us count the ways—a dozen doughnuts, a
handful of chocolates, two almond croissants, and three scoops of ice
cream. 

Okay, maybe that’s not exactly what Elizabeth Barrett Browning
had in mind. But sonnets aside, sweets and love are a natural pair any
time of year, especially in February when a gift of candy means more
than calories on Valentine’s Day. In fact, it’s the fourth biggest
holiday for confectionery purchases (after Halloween, Easter, and
Christmas), according to candyusa.com. With that in mind, we went in search of the best sweets that Baltimore has to offer.

A heart-shaped box might be nice, but there are lots of other ways to
woo your lover’s sweet tooth. Here are 50 of our favorite treats.

Aunt Erma’s

Pennsylvania Dutch Market, 11121 York Rd., Cockeysville, 410-316-1534.

The
pies, cakes, and cookies at this busy spot in a corner of the market
look and taste like they’re fresh from a home kitchen. There are whoopie
pies filled with peanut butter, mint, or chocolate-chip cream; classic
apple, shoofly, and chocolate-chiffon pies; rice-cereal treats;
pistachio cupcakes; and pumpkin cake rolls with cream-cheese frosting.

Editor’s pick: The chocolate-peanut-butter cookie with a peanut-butter cup embedded in the center.

Atwaters

Several locations including 429 E. Belvedere Ave., 410-323-2396.

The
bakery/cafe may be more known for its inventive soups and rustic breads
that are also crafted into assorted sandwiches, but plenty of sweet
stuff also comes out of its kitchens.

Editor’s pick:
The Pimlico cake—a Baltimore classic with yellow chiffon cake with
Bavarian cream between the layers and a chocolate-ganache frosting
dotted with walnuts.

Dangerously Delicious Pies

Several locations including 2839 O’Donnell St., 410-522-7437.

Owner
Rodney Henry has made a lucrative career out of rolling dough. His
concoctions—from the sweet chocolate-ganache chess pie to the savory
steak pie—have drawn attention for their tender, flaky crusts and fresh
ingredients.

Editor’s pick: The Elvis pie—peanut buttercream with Swiss chocolate topped with bacon.

Patisserie Poupon

Two locations including 820 E. Baltimore St., 410-332-0390.

Owner/baker
Joseph Poupon’s confections are known not only for their taste, but
also for their artistic presentations. For example, the Fraisier has a
marzipan finish decorated with a white-chocolate-dipped strawberry and
is cut to expose sliced strawberries within.

Editor’s pick: The Royale—a dense chocolate-mousse cake topped with chocolate petals cupping whole hazelnuts in the center.

Piedigrotta Bakery

1300 Bank St., 410-522-6900.

The
counters are piled high with all sorts of treats—cheesecake, pannetone,
and lush fruit pies. But proprietor/baker Carminantonio Iannaccone also
turns out one of the most delicious tiramisus in town, which makes
sense. He claims to have invented the treat laden with ladyfingers,
mascarpone, and Marsala wine in his native Italy.

Editor’s pick: Tiramisu, of course.

Makin’ Whoopie! Fun Fact

According
to food historians, Amish women baked whoopie pies and packed them in
farmers’ lunches. When the farmers would find the treats in their lunch
pails, they would shout “Whoopie!”

Local Legacy

Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Maine have all laid claim to the prestigious title of ‘Birthplace of the Whoopie Pie’