Your Guide to Hendersonville’s Holiday Sweets & Specialties from Local Confectionaries

As the holiday season sparkles into full swing, Hendersonville’s charming bakeries and confectionaries are whipping up some of the sweetest ways to celebrate. From buttery, fruity Christmas stollen bread, dusted with powdered sugar, to dreamy peppermint fudge and festive Christmas cookie ice cream, everyone will find something to bring holiday cheer to their tables this season. Whether you’re hunting for a decadent gift basket or a treat to savor with a cozy cup of cocoa, these eight local bakeries have all the magic to make your holiday merry (and delicious), and they are only available this time of year! Grab your Santa hat—it’s time for a sweet adventure!

Special Seasonal Treat: Christmas Cookies Ice Cream

Description: Your favorite holiday cookies – chocolate chip, snickerdoodle and sugar – combined in a tasty sugar cookie ice cream with red sprinkles and a green icing swirl throughout. A very merry flavor!

Available: November – December

What else you need to know: Dairi-O is a small North Carolina-based chain, and other locations may have other seasonal flavors. Go try them all!

Special Seasonal Treats: Peppermint bark, Peppermint fudge, Christmas and Hanukkah treats, and gift baskets

Description: Find all of your holiday favorites for gifting to friends (or yourself!)

Available: November & December

What else you need to know: Kilwins is a small, franchised chain of confectionaries that sells candy, ice cream and other sweet treats. They are known for their high-quality chocolates, fudge and ice cream, so while these holiday specialties are great this time of year, you will find lots of other year-round treats here too!  

Special Seasonal Treat: Many different Holiday Jam Flavors, Raven’s Nest Mulling Spices, Ye Olde English Fruit & Nut Cake, Provisioners Christmas Cider, Cheerwine Milk Chocolate Bar, Appalachian Campfire S’mores Chocolate Bar, and more!

Description: Jams include Santa Jam, Sugarplum Jam, Elf Jam, Bah Humbug Jam and more; Raven’s Nest Mulling Spices are perfect for adding to your hot cider; Ye Olde English Fruit & Nut Cake is a traditional fruitcake with a rich batter; Provisioners Christmas Cider is a sweet, spiced non-alcoholic bottled cider; the Cheerwine Milk Chocolate Bar combines creamy milk chocolate, punchy cherry flavor, and fizzy, popping candy; and the Appalachian Campfire S’mores Chocolate Bar is is filled with graham crackers and marshmallows.

Available: November & December, while supplies last

What else you need to know: Mast General Store may not be the first place you think of for holiday treats, but they offer such a wonderful selection of nostalgic and North Carolina-based items, that you won’t want to skip a stop here! There are plenty more options besides what was listed above, and many of these items make wonderful stocking stuffers.

Special Seasonal Treat: Peppermint Mocha Cake, Gingerbread Men, Cranberry Orange Cake, Pumpkin Pie & Pumpkin Squares, Holiday Iced Sugar Cookies, and much more!

Description: The Peppermint Mocha Cake is a chocolate cake enveloped in luxurious peppermint buttercream with chocolate drizzle on top and festive peppermint pillows. The Gingerbread Men are a Bakery staple available year round, but at the holidays, these spicy ginger cookies are decorated in festive holiday cheer. The Cranberry Orange Cake layers cranberry orange cake with orange buttercream and cranberry filling. It is delightfully topped with dried orange slices. Pumpkin Pie is a holiday must-have, and McFarlan’s Pies & Squares are light and creamy with a flaky crust. The Holiday Iced Sugar cookies are offered in a delightful array of holiday designs.

Available: November – December 

What else you need to know: McFarlan Bakery has been a Hendersonville institution since 1930 and still uses its original recipes, meaning every bite tastes like it always has and will bring you right back to your childhood. In addition to the items listed here, McFarlan’s has tons of other seasonal and non-seasonal options.

Special Seasonal Treat: Specialty cookies, cakes, pies and gift baskets

Description: As a local bakery that makes everything to perfection in small batches, Mini Batch Bakery pours their heart and soul into each confection. Each of their baked items sings tidings of good cheer, and each gift basket, filled with a combination of baked goods and items from their farm, Raspberry Fields, are the perfect gift item.

Available: November & December

What else you need to know: Mini Batch Bakery started as a stand at a local farmers market, but their popularity (and a bakery opening mere steps from their spot at the Hendersonville Farmer’s Market) prompted them to move in permanently. They offer sweet treats and boxed lunches year-round, but the holidays always offer something a little extra special! 

Special Seasonal Treats: Pumpkin bread with chai glaze and cinnamon coffee cake, quiches, and holiday syrups.

Description: The flavored holiday syrups that can be added to your coffee include spiced maple, peppermint mocha, gingerbread and regular peppermint. The seasonal quiche flavors will be a rotating selection of savory options.

Available: late November – December at both the Flat Rock & Horse Shoe Gap Village locations

What else you need to know: ShareWell Coffee Co. is a locally owned coffee shop and coffee roaster on a mission to serve some seriously tasty coffee! They also offer baked goods and gift items at their two locations.

Special Seasonal Treat: Christmas Stollen

Description: Underground Baking’s unique version of a sweet bread, this holiday favorite is loaded with seven different dried fruits and soaked overnight in Jamaican rum.

Available: Daily starting December 4th

What else you need to know: Underground Baking Co. was founded with a passion for traditional baking techniques and a commitment to high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. The bakery is a must-visit for travelers and locals alike. It offers a warm, inviting atmosphere and showcases the creativity and passion that make Hendersonville’s culinary scene so vibrant.

Special Seasonal Treat: Eggnog Shake & Peppermint Shake

Description: The Eggnog Shake blends Whit’s creamy vanilla custard with eggnog rather than milk and is topped with whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg! The Peppermint Shake combines creamy vanilla custard with crushed peppermint, and is topped with whipped cream and more peppermint flakes. Add a bit of hot fudge for an extra special treat.

Available: All December long

What else you need to know: Check out their Facebook page to see their daily rotating flavors, many of which are seasonal favorites

While the list above highlights seasonal sweet treats that are only available this magical time of year, there are many more places that offer sweet treats in Hendersonville throughout the year. To get your sugar fix, check out the full list at the link below!