Who doesn't love candy? Alabama is home to several candy shops that'll most certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. One candy shop in particular that does this and so much more is Punta Clara Kitchen. Read on to learn why this charming candy shop is a must visit for anyone craving a delicious sweet treat.
Punta Clara Kitchen is located in Point Clear's historic district. For more than 60 years, they've been creating the most delicious sweet treats.
Punta Clara Kitchen also offers a variety of made-to-order cakes. Red Velvet, Butter Crunch and Italian Cream are just a few of the delicious flavors to choose from.
I Found a Sweet Treat of a Bakery in One of Alabama’s Best Historic Neighborhoods
Discover the joy of Mel's Sweet Treats, an adorable neighborhood bakery in Decatur, Alabama, known for lavish cookie concoctions and countless other creative confections.
Some occasions call for extraordinary treats – birthdays, holidays, weddings, teacher gifts, anniversaries, and writing about visiting a great local sweets shop.
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OK, I made up the last one, but it will be tough to resist a quick cookie run to Mel's Sweet Treats ASAP after telling you about this adorable neighborhood bakery in Decatur, Alabama.
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Mel’s is a family-run business known for lavish cookie concoctions and countless other creative confections. While it’s been around for 21 years, the summer of 2024 marked a new milestone for shop owner and baker Melissa DeLawrence Cook, who reopened in a new location within the city’s Albany Historic District neighborhood. To be accurate, it's a new old location, with the building dating to 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its previous lives include a market and a handful of restaurants over the past two decades.
I’d been into the previous location to buy holiday-gift goodies like chocolate-covered potato chips and decadent tiger butter bark studded with peanut butter cups. During the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, I stopped in the new Mel’s for a few of her pretty hot-air balloon cookies for a guest gift. You’ll also find a big selection of different freeze-dried candies, candy kebabs, and more.
Lisa Battles/OnlyInYourState
Dozens upon dozens of cookie varieties fill the cases, from original chocolate chip and Snickerdoodle to cheesecake-stuffed Golden Girl cookies topped with golden Oreo crumbs. While the selection varies by the day and, sometimes, the time of day, it’s hard to imagine you won’t find at least one treat you’ll enjoy.
While the sweet spot is only three blocks east of the city’s busy Sixth Avenue corridor and five blocks east of Downtown Decatur’s Second Avenue retail district, it feels like a cozy neighborhood bakery with only homes surrounding it. If you want to see some of the city’s loveliest historic houses, it makes a perfect stop on a stroll through the Albany District. I usually start at the beautiful Delano Park, where there’s usually parking along Eighth Avenue between the rose garden and the Riverwild Playground and splash pad. By all means, check out Delano Park, especially if you haven’t before.
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From there, enjoy the tree-lined sidewalks as you walk north for three blocks on Eighth Avenue before taking a right on Grant and going two blocks east to reach Mel’s.
If you have the time, detour up and down any of these streets along the way to see Victorian and Craftsman-style homes, many with elaborate gardens and lovely landscaping to frame the architecture. While many of the homes go back for generations, it feels like there’s always something new to see, depending on the time of year. In the springtime, it’s flowers, then spectacular foliage in the fall. Many residents go all out creating fall displays, and people come from all around the region to see the holiday light displays in this district and the Old Decatur Historic District just to the northwest. While sometimes it’s just too hot around here in the summer for a pleasant walk, at least there’s a water cooler outside for your pup! (No dogs inside, please, although they’re allowed on the patio along the side of the building).
Lisa Battles/OnlyInYourState
Whether it’s too warm out or you’re pressed for time, you can always park on the street near the shop; just be mindful not to block the driveways of nearby neighbors. I usually find a spot within reasonable walking distance, although you should have seen it on the day of the new location’s grand opening! I circled by again later in the afternoon and made it just in time to be gifted the very last cookie, which was one good-sized square of a mini cookie cake topped with frosting. On a recent trip, I tried the Doubletree cookie.
You can keep up with what's rolling out into the cookie cases and the shop's eclectic mix of cabinets by following Mel's Sweet Treats on Facebook. She's always coming up with new things and sharing the cookies to catch each day ... and "secret" items like the Tiramisu cookies. When they have them, you have to ask because they keep them chilled in the back.
You should also plan at least an overnighter to see all of the new things happening in downtown Decatur and beyond. If you're looking for tips on where to stay, I've heard great things about the new Fairfield Inn & Suites Decatur that opened in the heart of downtown earlier in 2024.
A boxful of goodies from Sons Donuts + Pops is almost too cute to eat. I hold them in the same regard as petit fours: Take a few minutes to admire their cuteness and then take a picture because it'll last longer. Since opening in 2021, this donut shop in Birmingham, Alabama has gained a loyal following. People can't get enough of these mini donuts that come in a huge variety of flavor combos. Let's take a peek around and show you why.
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Before I dive into the donuts, I'd be just wrong to not mention the "pops" part of the name. If you're looking for something cool and refreshing (looking at you, Alabama summer heat), head around the corner once you step inside this tasty oasis in Mountain Brook. You can take your pick among a handful of fruity flavors or just as many creamy flavors of freshly made popsicles.
For donuts, stay right where you are in front of the preparation station, where the Sons team will cook your mini marvels to order right before your eyes. As hot and fresh as it gets!
Back to that order, though. The only difficult decision is choosing which flavors to try. The menu features four glazed and four sugared options, plus a few rotating seasonal options.
The best way to try several is to order a box. You can get four of one flavor, eight of two flavors, a dozen of three flavors, and 25 of five flavors. What to sip? The shop offers several coffee drinks, hot cocoa, water, and four flavors of milk.
Specialty seasonal donuts feature flavor combinations that hit the spot for the weather and frame of mind. The s'mores hot mini donut is a favorite for chilly winter temps – no campfire needed. The decadent bite includes a toasted vanilla bean marshmallow perched atop a donut with chocolate glaze and graham crumble.
The latest addition to this family business is the new Sons Donuts + Pops food truck, added in summer of 2022. It's the only truck in town that serves up hot, made-to-order donuts, and you can book it for special events.
And the name? The founders have four sons who've helped build the business. Sweet and simple, just like a perfect portion of hot, fresh mini donuts. Makes sense.
This sweet spot is conveniently located near the Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Botanical Gardens, two of the many attractions you can visit with a Birmingham Area Multi-Attraction Pass. The deal rolls in admission to over a dozen local experiences – which gives you a bigger budget for more donuts.
You'll find the most up-to-date hours for this donut shop in Birmingham, Alabama on the Sons Donuts + Pops website. Check out the Sons Donuts + Pops Facebook page for the latest news.
We think you'll love Sons Donuts + Pops, that is, if you've not stopped in and become a fan already! Let us know your favorite flavor.
