Tour of the Island: best bakeries & what to get at each one

one of my friends, m, spoils us every year with her annual dessert party. it's a great way to catch up with all the friends who are only home in hawaii for the holiday...and, to gorge ourselves on sugary sweets.

this year she decided to pick up her favorite sweet treat from each of hawaii's top bakeries, so everyone could get to try them in one place. man, i recommend that everyone has the chance to do this one day!

#1) Pecan bars from Cakeworks (the old Mary Catherine's, known for wedding cakes)



#2) Cocoa puffs from Liliha Bakery

#3) Cupcakes from Cake Couture: there are a lot of opinions and a lot of new cupcakes in town (Hokulani, Let them eat cupcakes, Poppy coffee shop...), but Marissa and I both swear by Cake Couture. She recommended the Key Lime Coconut flavor (Tuesdays) so that is next on my to-try list.

#4) Pumpkin Crunch Cake from The Alley at Aiea Bowl. Legendary.

#5) Lemon Bars from Kaka'ako Kitchen

#6) Not available anywhere else: homemade bacon flan. Wowsers.

There was also a fruit tart from St Germaine (?) but I missed taking a photo of that one.