Panaderias, or Mexican bakeries, dot main avenues that run across the Twin Cities. On streets like Cesar Chavez or Central Avenue, panaderias provide a ridiculously affordable sugar fix to the Hispanic population and a growing legion of fans from across cultural lines, all with a hankering for south of the border breads, croissants and those adorable, sprinkle studded cookies. Mexican panaderias are filled to the brim with heavenly, yeasty creations crafted with spices like anise, cinnamon and orange zest, or jam packed with creamy custards in exotic flavors like guava or coconut. Step on in, past the foam, multitiered wedding cakes and coolers filled with colorful Quinceañera cakes, grab a plastic tray and proceed to the glass cases. Pile on conchas with their crackled, powdery tops, pan de pinas speckled with sweet pineapple chunks and spongy squares of sopapilla cheesecakes. Your grand total will leave you with plenty of change for a bottle or two of strawberry Jarritos.
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A Handy Guide to Panaderias of the Twin Cities
Our favorite Mexican bakeries in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Adelita's Bakery - Panaderia
Located on the Northern stretch of Central Avenue, Adelitas is known for their vibrant, over the top celebration cakes like birthdays, weddings and graduations. Don’t forget to grab a few glazes, raisin studded pan dolches to go when you’re picking up your cake.
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Durango Bakery
Perfectly situation in the heart of Central Avenue’s dining hub, Durango is the perfect place to stop after dinner at Sen Yai Sen Lek or Holy Land. The good news is that you’ll be too full to over purchase. The bad news is you’ll regret that decision almost immediately.
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Don Panchos Bakery
An adorable green, red and white wooden building in the Payne Phalen neighborhood of St. Paul is home to Don Panchos. Rows and rows of shelves are lined with pastel hued, pillowy pastries, crispy churros the size of a garden hose and an insane selection of tender cookies.
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El Burrito Mercado
One of the largest and most popular Mexican markets is St. Paul’s El Burrito Mercado. Weave your way through the pinatas, glossy clay statues and aisles upon aisles of aromatic groceries toward the bakery section. Good luck trying to choose which treat you want, the selection is impressive, but maybe just to be on the safe side, grab a tres leches cake to take home.
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Marissa's Bakery
What began as a bakery on a corner near the south end of Eat Street in Whittier, has expanded into a full-service grocery store carrying mostly hispanic items and serving a large population of immigrants from Latin countries as well as locals who just really love a good, yeasty croissant.
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El Mexicano/Samantha’s Bakery
Panaderia El Mexicano in Mercado Central, and sister bakery Samantha’s in the south end of Midtown Global Market, offer a variety of the usual suspects like sweet breads, traditional tres leches cake and ooey gooey flans, as well as traditional Mexican and Ecuadorian breads baked daily.
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