Tucked along Route 23 in Sussex, New Jersey, Holland American Bakery has been delighting locals and visitors alike since the 1950s. This family-owned gem brings authentic Dutch baking traditions straight to the heart of New Jersey, offering everything from flaky cronuts to beautifully decorated custom cakes.
With a 4.8-star rating and hundreds of glowing reviews, it’s clear that people can’t stop talking about this place. Whether you’re a longtime fan or hearing about it for the first time, here’s everything that makes Holland American Bakery so irresistible.
The Famous Cronuts That Started a Frenzy
Ask anyone who’s visited Holland American Bakery what they absolutely cannot leave without, and the answer is almost always the same: cronuts. These glorious hybrids of croissants and donuts come in flavors like maple, chocolate, cinnamon sugar, and glazed — each one more tempting than the last.
One customer put it perfectly: “The cronuts are addictive and you can’t eat just one.” That’s not an exaggeration. The layers are impossibly flaky, the outside has just the right amount of crunch, and the inside stays soft and airy in the most satisfying way.
They sell out fast, so arriving early is your best bet. Seriously, make it the first stop of your morning.
Once you bite into one of these beauties, you’ll completely understand why locals keep coming back week after week just for this one item alone.
Custom Cakes Worth Every Single Bite
When a cake maker gets injured days before a first birthday party, panic sets in fast. But one Holland American Bakery customer called on a Tuesday and had a stunning half-sheet cake and smash cake ready in no time.
The design was exactly what she envisioned, and the frosting? She described it as tasting like it had sea salt — totally unexpected and absolutely amazing.
Custom cakes here are crafted with real care and skill. From baby showers with moist raspberry-filled layers to birthday parties with mocha buttercream that people literally obsess over, every cake tells a story.
One reviewer said it was the best cake they had ever eaten — hands down.
Stop ordering grocery store cakes for your next celebration. Holland American Bakery creates something truly homemade, and the difference in quality and flavor is something your guests will notice immediately.
Breakfast Sandwiches That Impress Even NYC Foodies
Coming all the way from New York City and still being blown away by a breakfast sandwich — that says a lot. One visitor ordered an egg and cheese on a poppy seed roll and described it as “fluffy, delicious, melt in your mouth” perfection.
High praise from someone used to the best the city has to offer.
The secret is in the bread. When your rolls are freshly baked in-house every morning, the whole sandwich experience changes completely.
The bread isn’t just a vessel — it’s part of what makes every bite feel special and satisfying in a way that fast food breakfast simply cannot replicate.
Holland American Bakery opens at 6 AM Tuesday through Saturday, making it a perfect early morning stop. Whether you’re heading to work or starting a weekend adventure in Sussex County, this breakfast sandwich is the fuel your day deserves.
Old-Fashioned Donuts Done the Right Way
There’s something deeply comforting about a proper old-fashioned donut — the kind with a slightly crunchy exterior, a tender crumb inside, and just enough sweetness to make you smile. Holland American Bakery nails this classic treat in a way that modern chain donut shops simply cannot match.
“You can’t beat the old-fashioned donuts either,” raved one customer who came in with their diet-busting wife and left with zero regrets. These aren’t mass-produced rings of dough — they’re made fresh, with real ingredients and a recipe rooted in tradition.
Paired with a cup of coffee (which, by the way, costs just 25 cents — yes, really), the old-fashioned donut becomes one of the best deals in all of New Jersey. Sometimes the simplest things done well are the most memorable.
This donut is proof of exactly that.
Legendary Crumb Cake That Disappears Fast
Word travels fast when something is truly exceptional. Customers have been telling friends about the crumb cake at Holland American Bakery for years, and those friends show up — only to find the last small piece already claimed by someone else.
That’s the kind of reputation that takes decades to build and zero time to believe once you taste it yourself.
The crumb topping is generous and buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness without going overboard. The cake base is soft and holds up beautifully under all those glorious crumbs.
It’s the kind of baked good that makes you close your eyes for a second after the first bite.
Pro tip: get here early and grab it before someone else does. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
No substitutions, no rain checks — just the sweet memory of what could have been yours.
Authentic Dutch Pastries Rooted in Tradition
Not every bakery in New Jersey can claim to serve genuinely authentic Dutch baked goods — but Holland American Bakery has been doing exactly that since the 1950s. Rooted in real Dutch baking heritage, the pastry selection here includes treats that many Americans have never seen before, let alone tasted.
Jan Hagel cookies, traditional Dutch breads, and specialty pastries line the shelves alongside more familiar favorites. One customer called it “an interesting sweet rotary” of things you’ve simply never encountered elsewhere.
That element of discovery is part of what makes visiting feel like a small adventure every single time.
For anyone curious about Dutch culinary culture, this bakery is a hands-on education. You’re not just buying a snack — you’re experiencing a piece of European baking history right here in northern New Jersey.
That kind of authenticity is genuinely rare and worth celebrating.
Gingerbread Cookies and Rye Bread Worth the Drive
“Delicious rye bread! Gingerbread cookies the very best!
Never had anything I didn’t love.” That’s a direct quote from a customer who made the trip specifically for these two items — and left completely satisfied. Sometimes a bakery earns its reputation one loaf and one cookie at a time.
The rye bread here is hearty and full of flavor, made without preservatives just like everything else in the shop. It’s the kind of bread that turns a simple sandwich into something genuinely special.
Toast a slice with butter on a cold morning and you’ll understand why people drive from far away just to stock up.
The gingerbread cookies carry warmth and spice in every bite, especially popular during the holiday season when the bakery gets wonderfully busy. A quick tip: freeze whatever you don’t eat right away to keep everything at peak freshness longer.
A Friendly Staff That Feels Like Family
Walking into Holland American Bakery feels less like visiting a business and more like dropping by a neighbor’s kitchen. Customers consistently mention how staff members greet everyone with genuine smiles and warm energy.
Names like Jane, Kelsey, and Leah come up in reviews because people actually remember them — that’s how meaningful the interactions are.
One visitor from New York City described Leah as “a vibrant light” and said it was a blessing to have her front and center representing the bakery. That kind of impression doesn’t happen by accident — it reflects a workplace culture built on kindness and real hospitality.
In a world where customer service often feels rushed and impersonal, finding a spot where staff genuinely enjoy what they do is refreshing. The friendly atmosphere here is just as much a reason to return as the incredible food.
Both together make this place truly special.
The Friday Fish Fry Food Truck Tradition
Every Friday during Lent, something extra special happens in the parking lot of Holland American Bakery — a food truck rolls out serving hot, crispy fish and chips. It has become a beloved tradition for families and regulars who look forward to it all year long.
One couple mentioned they make it an annual ritual, and the fish never disappoints.
What makes this even more meaningful is the spirit behind it. The bakery is proudly faith-based, and the Friday fish fry comes complete with a Bible verse — a small but genuine touch that reflects the values of the people who run this place.
The owner once wrote, “To God be the glory,” in response to a customer review, and that sincerity shines through everything they do.
Pricing is kept very reasonable, making it accessible for families. Good food, good prices, and good values — a combination that keeps people coming back faithfully.
Dutch Gifts and Imported Treats to Take Home
Holland American Bakery isn’t just a place to grab breakfast — it’s a little cultural experience packed into one charming building. Beyond the baked goods, the shop carries Dutch figurines, imported candies, and a wide variety of black licorice, including the salty and sour European varieties that are hard to find anywhere else in New Jersey.
One enthusiastic reviewer practically warned people away from the licorice section unless they were prepared to go home with way more than planned. “A large variety of black licorice… including the sour and salty European stuff,” they wrote with obvious delight. These are the kinds of specialty items that make gift shopping genuinely fun and unique.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or picking up something memorable for a friend, the gift selection here adds an extra layer of charm to the visit. It’s a little piece of Holland, right in Sussex County.
Mocha Buttercream Cake That Haunts Your Dreams
Imagine tasting a cake at a party, not even buying it yourself, and immediately declaring it the best thing you have ever eaten in your entire life. That is exactly what happened to one reviewer who encountered the mocha buttercream cake at Holland American Bakery.
Their reaction? Pure, unfiltered obsession — and a genuine wish that they did not live closer, because they feared eating it every single day.
The buttercream here is silky, deeply flavored, and layered with just enough richness to feel indulgent without being overwhelming. It’s the kind of frosting that makes people scrape the plate and consider ordering a second slice before finishing the first.
For anyone planning a special occasion, this cake deserves serious consideration. Coffee and chocolate together in frosting form is already a winning combination — but the way Holland American Bakery executes it takes the whole thing to another level entirely.
Freshly Made Goods With No Preservatives
Here’s something that sets Holland American Bakery apart from most commercial bakeries: absolutely no preservatives. Every loaf, every cookie, every pastry is made fresh with real, wholesome ingredients.
That commitment to quality is part of what makes everything taste so remarkably good — and it’s also why the bakery recommends freezing bread if you’re not eating it right away.
No preservatives means the bread will mold faster than store-bought varieties, which is actually a sign that you’re eating something genuinely natural. The bakery is transparent about this, and customers who understand it appreciate the honesty and the quality behind the approach.
“Everything is very fresh. Quality food.
Definitely worth the drive,” summed up one recent visitor in just a few words. That kind of simplicity says everything.
When ingredients are real and methods are traditional, the result speaks for itself every single time you take a bite.
A Bakery With Deep Roots and a Loyal Community
Open since the 1950s, Holland American Bakery has spent decades becoming one of the most beloved spots in all of Sussex County. Customers don’t just visit once — they come back for years, sometimes decades, building real memories tied to the flavors and the people behind the counter.
That kind of loyalty is earned, not given.
Online ordering is available for those who can’t make it in person, and the bakery operates Tuesday through Saturday from 6 AM to 6 PM, giving plenty of windows to stop by. The outdoor seating area adds a relaxed charm that makes lingering over coffee and a cronut feel like a mini vacation.
With a 4.8-star rating across nearly 700 reviews, the numbers back up what regulars have known for years. Holland American Bakery at 246 NJ-23 in Sussex isn’t just a bakery — it’s a community institution that keeps getting better with time.
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