Fire & Brimsdough is a home-based bakery in Clendenin that has put out some of my most favorite baked goods in recent memory. Here's what I got: Sourdough flight with garlic; everything bagel seasoning; asiago; and pepperoni/cheese. Dessert bread flight with strawberry/white chocolate/cream cheese, blueberry/cream cheese and white chocolate/strawberry. A half order of pizza roll flight with a variety of toppings - cheeses, mushrooms, banana peppers, onion. A half order of pepperoni roll flight - with a creative variety of fillings for each.

Bluebird Bakery is a cottage bakery in Fairmont specializing in artisan sourdough and handcrafted baked goods. Specialties offered include sourdough bread in original, flavored and herb & cheese, scones, and seasonal baked goods such as pumpkin whoopie pies and ramp cheddar biscuits. I chose both sweet and savory options: chocolate strawberries, fruity pebble rice krispie, pepperoni roll, lemon bar and cheddar biscuits. I appreciate the range and variety. The lemon bar was my favorite - perfectly tangy yet sweet. Some of the other baked goods ate a bit dry. Grade: B

Tucked along Aurora Pike in Preston County, The Carriage House Bakery & Foods is small bakery and café is a relatively new addition to the area, opening in 2024 as a family-run business rooted in local heritage. The bakery sits on a property tied to the owners’ family history (once home to a grist mill, store, and post office), and the space is meant to feel like a gathering place for both locals and travelers passing through the area. The building looks like a modern farmhouse that blends seemlessly into the property. The outdoor space features rocking chairs, and the interior is simple but rustic-chic. They serve house-made pastries like croissants, cinnamon rolls, donuts, and cakes alongside coffee, tea, and simple breakfast and lunch items such as sandwiches, quiche, and salads. The focus is on fresh, in-house baking and approachable grab-and-go food, with gluten-free options available as well. The breakfast sandwich here is straightforward and built for consistency: egg with either bacon, sausage, or European-style bacon on a brioche bun or English muffin, with a gluten-free option available. It's a classic, no-frills bakery sandwich—moderate in size, reasonably priced, and designed for grab-and-go rather than indulgence. It's a solid, traditional breakfast sandwich that fits the setting—fresh, approachable, and more about reliability than reinventing the format. Have you been? Grade: A

This & That Bakery in Morgantown (well, technically Granville) delivers delicious goodies like macarons and pepperoni rolls fresh from the oven. "Annie, Becky, and Molly are self-taught bakers who have a lifetime of experience baking and cooking for friends and family, and as cottage-law bakers in WV for almost 15 years," reads the website. Their signature pepperoni rolls, offered in regular, banana-pepper, jalapeño, and seasonal ramp flavors — are baked in garlic-herb bread with olive oil and deli pepperoni. More options include artisan loaves, assorted bagels, savory scones, focaccia, and even tomato-ricotta tarts. Sweet treats include cupcakes, cakes, brownies and more. I enjoyed a solid pepperoni roll and a variety of other traits that were all just as tasty. Have you been? Grade: A

Cupcake Me Home Bakery + Café in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, sometimes operates as a small pop-up vendor, with cupcakes and other goodies brought to local events and markets. I had tried their cupcakes once before in Morgantown but was excited to check out their brick-and-mortar location, which is home to a silent book club and features locally roasted coffee, bakery items, cakes and lunch food. Soft lighting and cozy seating give it a homey vibe, making it a relaxing spot to sip coffee or enjoy a pastry. They have space for other local products, so I'll have to stop back when they're in stock. I ordered a frozen hot chocolate, which is one of my all-time favorite drinks. It blends the rich, chocolatey flavor of traditional hot chocolate with ice to create a cold, slushy treat. It’s made by combining milk, chocolate syrup or cocoa, sugar, and ice in a blender until smooth, then topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. The result is creamy, sweet, and indulgent — like a chocolate milkshake with the deep, comforting flavor of hot cocoa. The coffee cake was really moist and soft, with a buttery flavor that made each bite feel fresh and homemade. The cinnamon-sugar topping added a nice touch of sweetness and warmth without being too much. It just disappeared way too fast.



Grade: A

Kanawha Valley's newest bakery is causing quite a "stirr." Get it? In a good way! Batter & Bliss Baking Co., located in Campbells Creek, is a small, homegrown shop that is churning out as many sweet treats as they possibly can to hordes of hungry customers. They specialize in a variety of donuts, cookies, made-to-order custom cakes and other sweet treats. Their "mad dog" is especially sought after, which is a long donut stuffed with cream. Founder Rylee Vealey began baking at age 14— starting with a lemon-curd cupcake for her stepdad—and eventually turned her passion into a bakery business. She pursued her dream seriously in 2024, launching the storefront to local fans and customers. There's a reason people wait in line - in the rain - for the shop to open. Every item is so tasty that they can sell out quickly. If you have your heart set on a mad dog, you'll want to be at the front of that line. In fact, they even put a limit on them - thankfully, because on the day I went, the couple in front of me was fully prepared to clean out the case. I was fortunate they enforced the limit so I was able to try it. The donuts are incredibly fresh with a perfect balance of cream and soft, chewy texture - easily one of the best around. Their rotating cupcakes, like Wedding Cake and Red Velvet Oreo, are moist, flavorful, and topped with rich, creative frostings. The honey bun slice offers a comforting swirl of subtle sweetness, making it a satisfying treat without being too heavy. Have you been? Grade: A

Bite Me Bakery is a small town bakery with big flavors. Located in Wheeling, the Market Street shop serves up "Classic Family Recipes with a Twist." From cookies and cakes to macarons and donuts, Bite Me Bakery whips up a plethora of baked goods. I snagged a sampler of a few things to take home and try. First up: macarons. I know these are difficult to make, so I am always excited when I see them available for sale. These were a nice version with a few different flavors. A littke on the extra sweet side. A blueberry mini loaf was lovely. As was an almond croissant. Grade: A

Page's Sourdough is a home bakery based in Sumerco. I recently placed an order with her to try it out. I ordered a sourdough flight, which contained four mini loaves of different flavored sourdough: original, asiago, Italian herb & cheese, and cinnamon & brown sugar. All that plus a sourdough pizza pinwheel. I dipped this one in marinara! Have you tried any of these baked goods? Grade: A