The Cheesecake Factory (Edina, MN)

Given that cheesecake is my favorite sinful dessert of all time, there is nothing I love more than the Cheesecake Factory (except perhaps my husband).  Here is my formula for the perfect Saturday:  Step 1:  Drool over the bakery case at Cheesecake Factory and finally settle on your absolute favorite Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake for the hundredth time.  Step 2:  Take that bad boy to go and pick up a Caribou Coffee white chocolate mocha to go with it.  Step 3:  Get yourself situated in a comfy chair in Southdale Mall.  Step 4:  Devour your cheesecake and gloat while skinny girls walk by and wish they had your slice.  Step 5:  Work off every single one of those devilish calories by exercising your credit card at Macy's, Coach, and Ann Taylor. 

If you have never tried The Cheesecake Factory's cheesecake, please, for the love of God, go there.  Stat!  My favorites include the 30th Anniversary, Brownie Sundae, White Chocolate Macadamia, and of course, the Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake.  If you want some fruit in your diet, try the Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake or Dutch Caramel Apple.  You'll thank me later.

Website: http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

Rating:  5 of 5 Cheesecake Slices

Trung Nam French Bakery (St. Paul - Frogtown)

Just when I thought life couldn't get any better, I found Trung Nam.  Hubby and I ventured there this past fall to pick up the famous croissants I'd been hearing about.  Holy cats, were they good!  The croissants have just the right crunchy outer layer that breaks into warm, BUTTERY, soft layers as you sink your teeth in. And then comes the fillings - the almond and chocolate fillings melded with the buttery flavors oh so perfectly.  We also tried the apricot and coconut varieties, which were still good, but more subtle in flavor.  Basically, though, you could fill these croissants with brussels sprout puree and it would still be awesome.

Everything is cheap here.  We bought 4 croissants and 2 sandwiches (banh mi) and our total was $12.25.  Please note:  cash only.  The banh mi are good, but the almond croissant is where it's at.

Website: N/A
Rating:  4 of 5 Cheesecake Slices

A Piece of Cake (St. Paul - Cathedral Hill)

If you are a lover of frosting, this place is for you!  Their bakery case has a display of about 10 cupcake varieties, each piled sky high with rich, perfectly creamy and sweet frosting.  The gentleman behind the counter was more than happy to describe each of the flavors to me and let me know that the Spiced cupcake with Caramel Cream Cheese frosting was his favorite.  I said sign me up and I took that baby home.  Oh my, was it ever delicious!  The cupcakes are so big that I ate mine on a plate with a fork.  They also have slices of cake, of course, with classic flavors such as Red Velvet and Carrot Cake.  And don't miss the dainty sugar cookies, again piled high with a heavenly buttercream frosting.  Oh mama, I could have eaten a dozen of those!  The shop is on Selby Avenue and it's easy to find parking nearby.  They also make coffee drinks and have a few tables available if you want to stay to devour your goodies.  The shop is bright and white - it almost feels like you've dropped by for a tea party.  Love it!!!

Rating:  5 of 5 Cheesecake Slices

www.apieceofcakebakery.net

PJ Murphy's Bakery (St. Paul)

Oh yes, my sweet tooth has been satisfied.  After finding out that my friend's new home was just a hop skip and a jump from PJ Murphy's, I knew I had to come check it out.  First off, this place is donut heaven.  Fried, sugared, frosted, filled, frittered...so many wonderful diet busting options.  I went with the Maple frosted cinnamon donut.  Do yourself a favor and take this puppy home, warm it up for about 20 seconds, take a bite, and close your eyes as all your troubles melt away.  Oh, that was soooo good.

Beyond donuts, they also have many prettily decorated "present" cakes and a good variety of cookies and bars.  I fell in love with their Monster Cookies, which are two chocolate chip (or M&M) cookies sandwiching a pink mound of frosting (the monster's mouth) with white googly frosting eyes and green frosting horns on top.  So cute!  Very fun for both kids and adults like me who have a serious sugar addiction.

Everything is cheap here.  My bill was just $2.60 for two items.  Wow.  I'm in love.

PJ Murphy's may just be my favorite bakery find in the Twin Cities.  I will be back ASAP.

Rating:  4 of 5 Cheesecake Slices

http://www.pjmurphybakery.com/

Dorothy Ann's Bakery (Woodbury, MN)

Fellow cupcake addicts:  Run, don't walk, to Dorothy Ann's.  This place has a mouth watering selection of cupcakes in their case, all piled high with rich frosting and many with cream fillings.  The pistachio chocolate cupcake is frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting, filled with an AMAZING pistachio cream, and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.  This cupcake will make me a repeat customer.  Also delicious is the pina colada cupcake, filled with a pineapple jelly and topped with a creamy coconut frosting.  Dorothy Ann's makes a lot of seasonal treats.  Currently they have Irish Cream cupcakes, four leaf clover sugar cookies, and many other green goodies.  All cupcakes are $2 a piece, while most bakery items will cost you even less.  The location can be tricky to find tucked about a half mile off of Tamarack Rd. and Commerce Drive, but it is certainly worth the search!

Rating:  5 of 5 Cheesecake Slices

http://www.dorothyannbakery.com/

The Cheesecake Queen has arrived!

I love cheesecake.  Not a day in my life goes by without a rich piece of that creamy goodness crossing my mind.  Devouring a piece of cheesecake is one of my favorite pasttimes.  Also close to my heart are layer cakes, pastries, donuts, cookies, and ice cream. 

Any good friend of mine would share news of a bakery or cafe that serves some great cheesecake or other indulgence.  Now I want to share my favorite bakery adventures with you!