If you’re visiting a loved one or attending a party this holiday season, you’ll probably ask, “But what can I bring?” The answer? A holiday dessert, of course. There’s nothing like bonding over a perfectly-baked gingerbread cookie or decadent chocolate cake this time of year. For those who want to impress dinner party guests, the Montclair area has a seemingly endless amount of options to choose from. Read on for the bakeries and shops in Montclair Essex County for next-level holiday-themed desserts.
Calandra’s Bakery | 204 First Avenue, Newark + 244 U.S. Highway 46 East, Fairfield + 234 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
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With three different locations in North Jersey, the options are endless when it comes to choosing a holiday dessert at Calandra’s. Currently, Calandra’s has butter cookies that are topped with red, green, and white sprinkles. Aside from cookies, the regular dessert options here include cakes, cannolis, and pies.
Gencarelli’s Bakery | 446 Broad Street, Bloomfield
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This family-owned, family-operated bakery has an assortment of holiday desserts available. Its shelves are stocked with Italian desserts like struffoli (honey balls) and panettone (Christmas bread). There is also the classic holiday favorite of fruit cake topped with pecans and dried fruit. Cookie baskets are another option at Gencarelli’s — which are also perfect for gift-giving.
Jayce Baudry French Pastry | 17 Church Street, Montclair
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Where elegance meets pastries — Jayce Baudry put a holiday twist on its classic cheesecake with peppermint, Tahitian vanilla bean cheesecake batter, baked with a chocolate crumble crust, and topped with a mini gingerbread man.
Montclair Bread Company | 16 Label Street, Montclair
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Montclair Bread Company takes its fresh, soft doughnuts and adds a holiday twist to them. For December, there are four new doughnut flavors — eggnog, salted caramel cream, chocolate cream, and peanut butter cream. If looking for a DIY experience, Montclair Bread Company is selling a holiday DIY doughnut kit. It comes with six plain doughnuts with topping containers for decorating.
Read More: Where to Get Fresh Bread in the Montclair Area
The Able Baker | 187 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood
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Cakes, cookies, and other pastries are currently available for orders — The Able Baker is a one-stop shop for all holiday dessert needs.
The Cookie Connect | 405 W Passaic Avenue, Bloomfield
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If you’re looking for oozy, chocolaty, cookie creativeness, The Cookie Connect is your spot. For the holidays, this spot is offering a Double Chocolate Dutch Cocoa cookie — and get this, it’s topped with a peppermint glaze and crunchy peppermint candy bits.
The Little Daisy Bakeshop | 622 Valley Road, Montclair
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For cheeky sugar cookies with snowmen and other holiday options, Little Daisy Bakeshop has it covered.
Stuff by SJ | 342 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
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This custom cake, cupcake, and chocolate treat shop has a festive lineup of decadent sweets for the holidays. There is a holiday buttercream board that comes with a gingerbread figure in the middle and surrounding finger foods like cookies, brownies, pretzels, and cake pieces. Other choices include the holiday mug cake, holiday wreath cakes, and a champagne cake.
Vesta Chocolate | 598 Valley R0ad, Upper Montclair
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For a truly decadent dessert, opt for Vesta Chocolate’s Holiday Jewel Bonbon Collection. It includes candy cane, vanilla, gingerbread, Earl Grey, salted caramel, and eggnog. They’re like little ornaments in a box.
Willow + Olivia | 255 Main Street, West Orange
For the holiday season, customers can choose from a variety of desserts. Holiday cakes, cupcakes, and its cookie collection have festive figurines like Santa, a reindeer, and a candy cane. All of Willow and Olivia’s holiday menu can be viewed here.
See More: A Definitive List of Hoboken Desserts You Must Eat ASAP
Bonus
Mattarello Bakery | 254 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
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Mattarello’s holiday baskets are filled with authentic Italian treats — a perfect gift for a colleague.
Montclair Film’s Annual Summer Movie Nights Under the Stars Kicks Off on 6/21
Summer calls for an outdoor movie under the night sky. This summer, Montclair Film’s Annual Movie Night Under the Stars is back. So, get your popcorn, blankets, and lawn chairs ready, and sit back and enjoy some free movie nights around town. Read on for all the details about Montclair Film's 2025 summer movie nights.
Photo Credit: Kareem Wilder
The Movie Lineup
Wicked: Sing-Along | 6/21 at Lackawanna Plaza
Kicking off the series of movie nights on Saturday, June 21st, is a fan favorite: Wicked. Get your singing voices ready, and be sure to show up in pink and green. The venue will open to the public at 6PM, and the movie showing will begin at 7PM.
Read More: The Montclair Dance Festival: A Day of Dance + Fun at MSU on 5/31
Dazed and Confused | 7/20 at Anderson Park
The next movie showing is a classic. On Sunday, July 20th, Dazed and Confused (1993) will be shown at Anderson Park with a special introduction from the director and producer of Making Dazed, Kahane Cooperman. The venue will open at 7PM and the movie will begin at sundown.
Photo Credit: Fred Trauerts
The Sandlot | 7/31 at Nishuane Park
Another 1993 classic, The Sandlot, will be shown at Nishuane Park on Thursday, July 31st. The venue will open at 7PM with the showing beginning at sundown.
The Wild Robot | 8/23 at Brookdale Park (Archery Field)
Lastly, on Saturday, August 23rd, Montclair Film will present The Wild Robot at Archery Field in Brookdale Park. The venue will open at 7PM and the movie will begin at sundown.
Montclair Film recommends registering for each film to receive updates on the events here.
About Montclair Film
Montclair Film is a nonprofit based in Montclair that hopes to transform the community through the power of film. The organization envisions a world that celebrates storytelling’s power to deepen the community’s shared connection and humanity. Montclair Film hosts a variety of film events throughout the year, like The Montclair Film Festival, improv comedy events, and more. Head to the website for more information.
See More: What’s Filming in Hoboken + Jersey City? An Ongoing List for 2025
To stay up to date on the latest Montclair + Northern New Jersey news, follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok, sign up for our newsletter that shares the top stories in your inbox here, and check out our events calendar.
