Butternut Bakehouse

I’ve been a fan of Butternut since my first taste of a morning bun at Arlington’s town day in 2018. I remember Edward and I got one to share, and we ate it right on the street, with the town bustling around us. We both agreed that the center was the best and had a minor negotiation over how we would split the premium bites. When Suzana, the owner, ran a kickstarter to open at a permanent location in Arlington Center, I was her first supporter. I've since moved away from Arlington, but I will use any excuse to get up to Butternut for a treat.

What I’m saying is: Butternut is good. Their flaky pastries are some of the best you can find in the Boston area and their chocolate chip cookie is one of my favorites. Instead of getting a cake for my birthday, I like to go to Butternut and get a big box of nearly everything.

One highlight is the cardamom swirl, a croissant for people who want just a little hint of sweetness in a fun, easy to consume form factor. It’s crunchy and flaky, with a buttery, chewy middle and caramelized sugar exterior.

It’s impossible to pick an absolute favorite pastry here, but here are my top 5 recomendations:

1. Morning Bun if you want a sweet cinnamon-bun style pastry with flaky layers.
2. Cardamom swirl if you want something a little less sweet but more exciting than a croissant.
3. Chocolate chip cookie for a classic.
4. Apple Fritter (only available on Sundays) is great for a donut-style treat
5. Chocolate Bouchon for when you want a little chocolate cakey goodness.

Now, I just need to get to their Belmont location to try out the sandwiches!