Where’s the closest bakery? We took a look, but it’s going to be a drive.

STAUNTON — There’s something about freshly baked bread. It’s not only the deliciousness of it, but it’s also the hard work, love and dedication that’s put into every loaf, every croissant and every pastry.

These decadent treats take time and effort, plus skill.

What are we classifying as a bakery? Essentially, it’s where the majority of your business revolves around proofing bread products from scratch and selling them.

We’re not focusing on places that have some bread, cupcakes, cakes and pastries. We’re not looking at places that sell bakery items along with other things. Or restaurants or stores that have baked goods and serve a wide variety of food.

We’re talking places focus solely on baking — bread, croissants, canelé, brioche, eclairs, madeleines and more.

We know locally there’s Reunion Bakery and also Magdalena Bake as an option in Staunton, but where else can you go?

Gas prices are up, but you still want your treats. So, where are the great bakeries in the area?

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Harrisonburg area bakeries

Mill Song Bakery

• Big takeaway: flour is stone-milled on-site a few days before each bake and their dough is naturally-leavened and hand-mixed.

• Location: 130 Lincolnshire Drive in Rockingham

• millsongbakery.com

• Miles from Staunton: 32

Charlottesville area bakers

Bowerbird Bake Shop

• Big takeaway: Scratch-made pastries focusing on seasonal and local ingredients, featuring made to order French macarons, tarts, cookies and basic cakes.

• Location: 120 10th St. NW in Charlottesville

• bowerbirdbakeshop.com

• Miles from Staunton: 43

MarieBette Café & Bakery and Petite MarieBette

• Big takeaway: Serving up French pastries and bread like croissants, tarts, quiche lorraine, sourdough, canelés, briouche and more.

• Location: 700 Rose Hill Drive in Charlottesville (MarieBette) and 105 E Water St. in Charlottesville (Petite MarieBette)

• mariebette.com

• Miles from Staunton: 45

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Albemarle Baking Company

• Big takeaway: Award-winning breads, cakes and pastries are handcrafted in their bakery using only the finest ingredients.

• Location: 418 W. Main St. in Charlottesville

• albemarlebakingco.com

• Miles from Staunton: 43

Roanoke area bakeries

Bread Craft

• Big takeaway: Each day a new bread is offered. Cranberry chocolate sourdough and potato sourdough one day, five grain sourdough, Pain de Mie and rosemary polenta the next.

• Location: 24 Church Ave. in Roanoke

• breadcraftbakery.com

• Miles from Staunton: 90

Local bakeries to check out

Reunion

• Big takeaway: Open Friday through Sunday with preordering capabilities featuring freshly made foccacia bread, croissants, galette and financiers.

• Location: 26 S. New St. in Staunton

Magdalena Bake

• Big takeaway: Authentic pasteleria featuring empanadas, cakes and more.

• Location: 614 W. Beverley St. in Staunton

Did we miss one? Let us know! Email reporter Laura Peters at lpeters@newsleader.com.

Laura Peters is the trending topics reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Or a good feature? You can reach reporter Laura Peters (she/her) at lpeters@newsleader.com. Follow her @peterslaura. Subscribe to The News Leader at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Where’s the closest bakery? We took a look, but it’s going to be a drive.