Sometimes, you just need a good sweet treat. Whether you’re celebrating a friend’s birthday or a holiday, or you’ve just had a long day at work, a pastry and a good cup of coffee is the perfect way to turn the day around. 

Biddeford has its fair share of great local coffee shops, but the city is also home to delicious bakeries with roots in Ireland and Switzerland. 

Across the river, Saco is also packed chock-full of small bakeries run by locals. With everything from giant cookies to gluten-free pastries, Biddeford and Saco have something tasty for everyone. 

Here are five of our favorite spots.

Reilly’s Bakery

232 Main St., Biddeford. reillysbakery.com

Reilly’s is a Biddeford staple. It’s more than 110 years old, making it the oldest bakery in the city.

The business, which specializes in home-baked, tried-and-true recipes, has been passed down through four generations of the Reilly family.  The beloved neighborhood spot offers baked goods like butter cookies, pies, breads and maple crème rolls.

Perhaps one of Reilly’s most famous treats is its hot cross buns, available around Easter. But get there early — by the time a reporter arrived at the bakery late one recent morning, they were already sold out. 

Edelweiss Pastry Shop

5 Alfred St., Suite 3, Biddeford. edelweisspastryshop.ch

Several blocks down from Reilly’s is Edelweiss Pastry Shop, named for the mountainside flower that represents Switzerland.

Owned by married couple Valentina Correa Weissenfluh and Alex Weissenfluh, who met at culinary school in Switzerland, Edelweiss focuses on Swiss, German and French baking. 

The menu includes favorites like croissants, creme puffs and scones, as well as Swiss- and German-inspired pastries like chocolate and raspberry streusel kuchen and braided zopf bread. 

Sea Spray Confections 

209 Main St., Suite 103, Saco. seasprayconfection.wixsite.com/baked

Across the bridge on Saco’s Maine Street sits Sea Spray Confections, a locally owned bakery founded by Victoria Torres, whose family hails from southern Maine. 

While the exterior of the shop is inside another building, its vibrant welcome sign and cafe-style table and chairs are reminiscent of a Parisian patisserie. 

Torres, who inherited her favorite cupcake pan from her grandfather, bakes custom cakes and cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, savory scones and other delicious goods right on site. 

Don’t miss trying the mozzarella and everything bagel-flavored scone.

Fernleaf Bakery and Coffee House 

20 Free St., Saco. fernleafbakery.com

A little bit off the beaten path in downtown Saco, you’ll find Fernleaf Bakery and Coffee House, a quaint bakery serving up coffee and sandwiches in addition to excellent baked goods. 

Behind a glass case, you’ll see expertly crafted cakes and cupcakes, miniature cheesecakes and crème brûlée, fruit turnovers, and savory items like meat-filled hand pies and homemade quiches. 

The vibe of the bakery is chill, airy and light, and the customer service is friendly and quick. Next time you’re in need of a sweet treat or a light lunch, wander down Free Street to Fernleaf. 

Sweets & Co.

294 Main St., 1st floor, Saco. sweetsandcocafe.com

Bakeries are not typically a safe choice for those with gluten allergies. Sweets & Co. seeks to change that. 

Since opening in 2024, owner and baker Lorraine Fagela has been creating delicious, gluten-free pastries that can be enjoyed by everyone — even if you’re not gluten-free. 

While Sweets & Co. is known for its cinnamon rolls, which Fagela calls a “unicorn” in the gluten-free world, the bakery also offers whoopie pies, fruit kolaches and sandwiches — all gluten-free, of course.