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Food|Bakeries & Dessert

The Restaurant In Iowa With More Desserts Than Main Dishes On The Menu

Published Jan 13, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

Most of us agree - since childhood - that the best part of dinner is always dessert! Even if I'm full, I always find I have room for a slice of pie or a brownie after a filling restaurant meal. Often it's hard to pick just one! That's especially the case at a laid-back cafe in Ankeny. The Main Street Cafe & Bakery serves a classic breakfast and lunch menu full of sandwiches, burgers, salads, omelets, and waffles - and then there's the bakery counter. There, you'll find case after case filled with what might be the best baked goods in Iowa. Cakes, cookies, brownies, pastries, and everything else you could imagine are baked fresh daily, and the selections usually outnumber the savory options on the main menu! It's the perfect place to stop and indulge before a day of exploring Ankeny.

Located in a quiet suburban building, the Main Street Cafe & Bakery is the perfect lunch spot in Ankeny.

A building with a sign reading "Main Street," featuring a mix of brick and modern architecture under a clear blue sky.
Dave Sanders/Google Local

This is a counter-service spot with a huge menu, and an extensive eating area.

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A busy café counter with a menu display, customers ordering, and baked goods in a glass case.
Kyle B/Google Local

So what's on offer? There is a big selection of salads, soups, and sandwiches that make the perfect light midday meal.

A large bowl of mixed salad with greens, chicken, and fruit, accompanied by a biscuit and small containers of dressing.
Jody Beck/Google Local

In the mood for something heartier? Dig into a rich, indulgent patty melt.

A plate with a grilled cheese sandwich filled with beef and cheese, alongside a bowl of soup.
MaryAnn Spicer/Google Local

Of course, some of the breakfast options here bridge the gap between a meal and dessert!

Two plates of waffles: one topped with blueberries and whipped cream, the other with bananas and strawberries.
Management/Facebook

But if you want to taste this place at its best, head over to the bakery and marvel at the massive selection of cookies, cakes, and pastries.

A variety of decorated cookies, including pumpkins, flowers, and seasonal designs, alongside chocolate chip cookies.
Shamie Trez/Google Local

You can get small treats to eat with your meal - or take a look at the larger cakes, which make a perfect treat for the whole family or party.

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A variety of beautifully decorated cakes and desserts displayed on wooden stands, including chocolate, vanilla, and fruit toppings.
Management/Facebook

Have you visited the Main Street Cafe & Bakery in Ankeny? What are your picks for the best baked goods in Iowa? Let us know in the comments section! You can see the full menu on the Main Street Cafe & Bakery website, and the Facebook page of this popular bakery in Ankeny is the best spot to see all the mouthwatering specials. Once everyone fills up here, the kids can go burn off some energy at The Playground for Kids, Ankeny's top indoor play space. If you're looking for a place to stay, check into the local Homewood Suites - it's like a home away from home.

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Food|Bakeries & Dessert

The Best Apple Cider Donuts in Iowa Come from this Remote Farm

A charming orchard in the small town of Jefferson, Deal's Orchard serves the best apple cider donuts in Iowa - and so much more.

Published Sep 8, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

There's a slight chill in the air as I write this, and that only means one thing - fall is here! I've been looking forward to this season for a while, with every 90°-plus day that sent me retreating to the air conditioning, and now it's time to enjoy all the bounty fall has to offer. Apples are one of the top crops of the fall along with seasonal pumpkins, and Iowa's farms go all out to celebrate this bounty. Deal's Orchard is often considered the cream of the crop when it comes to fall farms in Iowa, and it's not hard to see why. Not only does it serve up the best apple cider donuts in Iowa, but their fall events are full of charm and fun for the entire family. Read on to discover why Deal's Orchard belongs on your fall fun list!

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A rustic building with a red apple sign, featuring a family at the entrance of Deal's Orchard.
Deal's Orchard/Facebook

Deal's Orchard is an Iowa tradition. This charming small-town farm and apple orchard is known for its fall festivities.

Baskets filled with red and green apples at a farm market, with people and a tractor in the background.
Deal's Orchard/Facebook

The apples - the largest variety of any farm in Iowa, ranging from classics like Golden Delicious and Gala to rare variants like Arkansas Black - are on full display, along with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and other family-friendly activities that make this a great day trip destination.

A cozy store interior with wooden shelves filled with various jars of preserves and canned goods.
Deal's Orchard/Google Local

One of the many things Deal's Orchard is loved for is its country store, which is known for serving up a wide variety of small-batch goods. Naturally, apples make their way into quite a few of them! You'll want to head right over to the bakery counter when you visit...

A plate of cinnamon sugar donuts with a festive Santa mug and a bowl of more donuts in the background.
Deal's Orchard/Facebook

The best apple cider donuts in Iowa await! While you can certainly get donuts at any grocery store, these house-made gems are something different - you can taste the apple in every bite, and they're perfectly flaky and coated in just the right amount of cinnamon sugar.

A smiling person holds a cinnamon sugar donut in front of a pumpkin patch on a sunny day.
Deal's Orchard/Facebook

These donuts are so popular, they're usually offered after the fall season wraps up and can be enjoyed as a classic winter treat. You'll definitely want to pick up an extra box or two - or three, in case you eat one on the car ride home!

A row of cider taps with wooden handles and labeled signs, set against a wooden wall.
Deal's Orchard/Facebook

And for those looking for a slightly more grown-up apple treat, Deal's Orchard is famous for serving up some of the best hard cider in the Hawkeye State!

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Have you visited Deal's Orchard in Jefferson? Let us know if you think it serves up the best apple cider donuts in Iowa in the comments section! You can find out all about the farm's fall events on the Deal's Orchard website and Deal's Orchard Facebook page. Jefferson, Iowa, is a charming and historic town that is well worth a visit in its own right once you're done at the orchard, and if you're looking for a place to stay the night, the nearby Cobblestone Hotel & Suites Jefferson gets great marks as an affordable option for families.

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Food|Bakeries & Dessert

The Small-Town Ice Cream Shop In Iowa Where You’ll Find Endless Scrumptious Treats

Published Jul 24, 2024

Written by 

Raymond Goldfield

Driving through Iowa can mean long stretches of farmland, so it's always great to see a roadside stop with some snacks or treats - especially when it's a local, independently-run place that has stood the test of time, rather than a chain. That's the case for one small-town ice cream in Iowa, hiding in the laid-back locale of Monroe. Now, I'm New Jersey born and raised, so imagine my surprise when I found out that this fan-favorite frosty spot, which has been open since 1992, is named... Jersey Freeze! The name comes from an original 1950 business that was run by a family that raised Jersey cattle, and it stuck. One thing that's also stuck? The large crowds lined up for delicious, old-school frozen treats from March to October every year.

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Located in a big farm-style shed with a shaded eating area, Jersey Freeze is one of those places that just shouts "Welcome to Iowa!"

A white and blue ice cream shop with a large "J F" sign, surrounded by green grass and cars, under a sunset sky.
Dave Shaver/Google Local

The place is just past its 30-year anniversary, and sells an old-school menu of ice cream treats, plus a few savory items - sandwiches of BBQ or ham-and-cheese, plus chips.

Menu board for Jersey Freeze featuring ice cream cones, shakes, sundaes, and other treats with prices listed.
Dave Shaver/Google Local

The soft-serve is the big seller here, and the cones can be piled high - some of the highest in Iowa, in fact.

A hand holding a tall ice cream cone with colorful swirled soft serve in pink, blue, and white.
Melinda Bianchi/Google Local

But if you want a little more flair with your ice cream, you can get a signature sundae with your choice of toppings - including unique choices like cheesecake bites and waffle chips.

A dessert bowl with two soft serve ice cream swirls, one yellow and one pink, topped with cake pieces and waffle cones.
Jersey Freeze Ice Cream/Facebook

It doesn't get more old-school than a classic banana split, and the one here is massive and one of the best in Iowa.

A hand holding a banana split topped with whipped cream, cherries, and chopped nuts in a clear container.
Rachel Addison/Google Local

The frozen treats are the headliners, but Jersey Freeze also sells floats, malts, cookies, and their famous pies - usually available in seasonal varieties including apple, peach. triple berry, red raspberry, and pumpkin.

A hand holds a paper plate with a slice of pie and a swirl of soft serve ice cream, with a shop in the background.
Jersey Freeze Ice Cream/Facebook

Have you tried the ice cream at Jersey Freeze in Monroe? What's your favorite spot for small-town ice cream in Iowa? Let us know in the comments section, and make sure to visit the Jersey Freeze website for details on the menu and history. You can also follow the Jersey Freeze Facebook page for more on the seasonal specials. Monroe is a very laid-back spot that doesn't get many tourists, but if you're an outdoor-lover, check out the nearby South Skunk Wildlife Area for some great rustic adventures. If Jersey Freeze is your last spot after a long day, you're only about half an hour away from the Best Western Holiday Manor in nearby Newton for a good night's sleep.

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