Van Hemert's Dutch Oven Bakery is a family-owned, full-line scratch bakery since 1983. This is a good check-off for visitors. We visited on a Friday afternoon around 2 pm and I was glad some of the baked goods were still available. I quickly picked up a few items: Dutch letters, almond horns, almond tarts, and blueberry filled Dutch windmills. The first three items have a strong but not overpowering almond flavor. I especially liked the almond horns which had a crunch but chewy and buttery texture. I also really liked the windmills and wished I had ordered the raspberry ones as well. It was buttery and flakey with just the right about of blueberry cream cheese filling. read more

See all

Absolute hidden gem in Ames. Of course the bakery is great. You can even get day old bread at a steep discount. The true discovery is that they serve an excellent lunch. Sandwiches, soups and salads. We had the Reuben and a bowl of chicken wild rice soup. They even split it for us as we shared! The coffee looked great too - lots of people carrying out. Donuts, Dutch letters and other sweets were also plentiful- we got some to take home. Will go back for sure! Very quaint and local. read more

So delicious and cozy, I try to visit whenever I'm in the area! So many great donut options, it's hard to pick a favorite

What a great little place! As soon as you walk in, all of the staff that are available, turn their attention to you with a big smile and greet you warmly. It smells absolutely delicious in there and the endless variety that they offer is fantastic. Not only are there donuts and pastries, they have pies and do lunch as well. They also have coffee and tea, and the inside of this little bakery is so quaint and personable. This location is amazing and we highly recommend it. read more

See all

The food here is extremely tasty and gives you that sense of a home cooked meal! I wish we had a better experience with the staff though. Some of them could've just been having a rough day which is completely acceptable, but the experience would've been better if the staff were a bit more enthusiastic about customers coming in. It seemed like a group of younger kids were working that day so it could've also been that. Still a great place overall! read more

Very good fresh pastries and baked goods, made in the German style - just sweet enough. Nice staff. Odd location and parking is often problematic. read more

My Husband and I highly recommend! They helped with my daughter in laws birthday order. Fast, professional, and fairly priced.

I just (actually) ate a cookie from this store and they were almost too beautiful and perfect to eat! Tasty as well. While I didn't go to the store to get these, I've been in there before. They have way too many goodies to tempt me. See pic. I've also recently had their regular cookies. Those are also very good, though not decorated. MarcyDiner'sTantrumScale 5/5- NoScreamingKids. CyHawkApproved(for some of the cookies) read more

Dutch Oven Bakery - Beautiful winter cookies!!! - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Seriously, as good as it gets. This wonderful Ames bakery has exceptional customer service and has lots of parking, but come here without concern about calories or Weight Watchers points and you'll have an incredible experience. I LOVE the Dutch letters, and if you want, get it chocolate-tipped. Oh my. Such a unique, yummy treat. They also have great pastries, donuts, sandwiches, and coffee cake, but I go for their Dutch letters and they are great. You must visit if you're in Ames, but please leave me at least one Dutch letter. Please? read more

Dutch Oven Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Happy to support this cute little bakery. If you're in Ames/Boone but never eaten at this place, you better do. They bake everything fresh(I've heard their day starts way early in the morning) and it's so nice to know that you get to support a local business. I've tried their dutch letters, windmill pastry and Dutch apple bread and they're all yum. Sandwiches are good too. Located in a busy street, this place is almost always full. Staff is friendly and respectful, greeting everyone with a smile(THEY WEAR MASKS!) Free parking with ample spots are available. read more

See all

I have been grabbing donuts to celebrate my employees. They love them. I find the donuts with holes go faster than the pastries. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The other pastries in the case look delicious and one of these days I will grab a treat. I'm thankful I have a special place to find good treats for the drivers. I will be going back often. read more

Delicious baked goods, friendly staff, and priced well. Everything I've tried has been great! Seems to be a popular spot for locals.

Great little place! We had apple fritters, a biscuit sandwich & took a Dutch letter, loaf of apple bread, donut holes, & a strawberry cream cheese tart to go. Everything was tasty! The bread had a nice smooth texture. The Dutch letter has less almond paste than Pella bakeries. As a Central College grad, I do have to say this place is equally tasty as J in Pella! Prices are more reasonable here! Plus, you have places to sit & enjoy! read more

Dutch Oven Bakery - Dutch letter--less almond paste than Pella - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Favorite spot in Ames for lunch sandwich, the egg salad on sourdough is consistently great!

The Dutch Oven Bakery is a hidden gem! A great stop for a DELICIOUS homemade pastry & a cup of coffee. The employees are super friendly & the pastries are pretty affordable! Highly recommend the pinwheel pastries & cinnamon rolls! read more

See all

How have I not ever reviewed Dutch Oven Bakery?! This bakery has been a favorite for years and years. Save yourself a drive to Pella--these are the best Dutch letters in the state! There are two locations: Ames and Boone. Both are fantastic. Aside from Dutch letters, there is also an entire case of pastries and cookies and another case of donuts, cinnamon rolls, etc. There are also breads and rolls on a rack to grab. We always make a pit stop at Dutch Oven Bakery when we are back in the area! read more

If you grew up in the area you drove to Boone as a special treat to eat/shop at this bakery. This is their Ames location, complete with a checkers/chess dining table. Tucked back behind two strip malls, off Duff Ave just south of the railroad tracks on the west side. Known for its Dutch bakery items, this restaurant also features homemade deli items, various Kosher breads, canned meats, and more. In the fall, you can try Denny's chili (the owner's closely guarded secret recipe). Dutch letters are a favorite but the breads, cookies, and other bakery items are made fresh daily and brought over from Boone in time for the 6 am breakfast crowd. They close at 5 pm. Items are priced with a 4 percent cash discount; using a credit card will add to the cost. Most deli baskets cost about $6.69. You can even get a grilled cheese or Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. All are good, served with chips, pickle, and a homemade cookie. read more

See all

I stopped in to grab some goodies for my husband before heading back to Maryland. I went with two chocolate iced raised donuts, two cinnamon rolls, and one sour cream donut. The chocolate iced raised donut was my favorite, followed by the sour cream donut, and then the cinnamon roll. This bakery is old school with a nice Midwestern charm. The staff was super friendly and helpful in their recommendations to me. I saw more than a few regulars, and I can see why they choose to frequent this cute little bakery! read more

See all

One of Ames hidden gems! If you have a sweet tooth and want some great baked desserts. Hit this place up! You will not be disappointed! Also a good sit down place as it's not usually super crowded. They also serve coffee here, but keep in mind this is more of a dessert place than a coffee place. read more

Stopped here on our way up to Minneapolis, and so glad I did. I found the staff to be super sweet and helpful. Pastry was to die for - I gorged myself on almond paste, and only sort of regret it. Definitely a good place to stop for a pastry fix!! read more

Two words: Dutch letters!!! I must confess that I was never much of a fan of the Dutch Oven Bakery when I lived in Ames. Perhaps a reflection of my youth at the time or perhaps a result of not always sampling their offerings when they were fresh out of the oven. Now, returning to Ames with a mature palette, I cannot get enough of this place. Love the lunch menu. The lowly Sloppy Joe, taken for granted in the Midwest, is underserved in the Southwest where I now live. A treat for me. Sure, the soups and salads are good too, but... The Dutch letters, as you might expect given the bakery's name, are fantastic. My Ames crew ranges in age from four to nine-six. The letters are loved by all. The letters are the can't go wrong choice for your first visit. The frosted butterfly cookies are also a must for any kid after a trip to the Reiman Gardens butterfly house. But only if you love lots of frosting. read more

Dutch Oven Bakery in Ames is a place I have been to many, many times over the years. They do the little things right. There's nothing fancy about Dutch Oven, but the products they make are second to none in Ames. I love their sweet rolls/donuts. Big selection and all are absolutely delicious. They make a mocha Bismarck that is out of this world good, though it's super sweet so you might not want anything else after eating one. I also dig their Danishes, especially the cheese and the lemon. They also have fantastic pudding-filled longjohns, which they call "oh-boys." You can't go wrong with the donuts - they're definitely sweeter than most but they are also much higher quality than most. Dutch Oven also has fresh-baked bread, rolls and will do custom cakes. You'll also find several Dutch-related imported food items. They typically carry Dutch licorice, canned Dutch-spiced beef and my favorite, stroopwafels (waffle cookies with caramel syrup inside) which are great with a cup of strong coffee. If you need a place to grab a quick bite for lunch, they have a small selection of soups and sandwiches which are pretty good. Dutch Oven is nothing fancy, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place to get rolls in Ames or Boone. I highly recommend it! read more

Such a good spot hidden a bit here in Ames. (Also in Boone) Loved my breakfast sandwich on a croissant. The standout baked goods I tried were the apple fritter & sour cream. And so perfect when you go early (6 AM). I'll have to post pictures next time I stop!! read more

Good locally owned bakeries seem far and few between these days. The Dutch Oven is the "Real Deal" and they had me at the first bite of my chocolate almond horn. After leaving the first time, I couldn't help but double back and purchase one of their delicious apple-infused coffee cakes. It was a big hit at the Lake for breakfast. This place is a "heck of a good deal" and I'll be back to supplement my parent's pantry the next time I'm in town. Or maybe a bite for Lunch? read more

I am racked with guilt that I have overlooked one of my favorite places to do business in Ames in my Yelp reviews. Dutch Oven Bakery has fantastic dutch letters and almond pastries. They meet or exceed the ones that I have sampled in a Dutch dominated community like Pella, Iowa, Orange City, Iowa or Lynden, Washington. I routinely like to pick of a box of these to share with my coworkers. Even though the name brings raised eyebrows and laughs to my friends, they have the best doughnuts and pastries in Ames with genuine customer service. Hands down. Premium quality pastries at a moderate price. read more

While working in Ames, Iowa I used Dutch Oven Bakery for a few events and was impressed by their service, professionalism and quality. My (new) husband LOVES their doughnuts and has many fond memories running from west Ames to Dutch Oven Bakery for a doughnut while training for his marathon. :-) So, we of course asked Dianna to make our wedding cake. She did a fantastic job! I had met with her over a year before the wedding and had everything confirmed. Then, about 2-3 months prior to the wedding I saw a photo in Pinterest I LOVED and had my mom show her. She was totally game and did a GREAT job. She was so flexible and accommodating and made our cake look just like the Pinterest photo. Not to mention, our wedding guests raved about her red velvet. We have since moved from Central Iowa, and miss this small bakery all the time! read more

I just had a blueberry bagel from this delightful, local bakery. It's BOMB! It had exceptional blueberry flavor and a nice bite to it. The staff are sweet and nice. This place is great for a quick breakfast! read more

What a wonderful experience to be able to order a birthday cake for my daughter and schedule delivery on time. Made her the happiest girl on her birthday. Cake was awesome and so beautiful and professional. I had a few changes on the cake and delivery time and all was done perfectly without any issues. Would visit personally next time I am in Ames to thank Vickie for her wonderful work and professionalism. No need to go any where else for me in the future to order something for Ames. Thank you so much for make my daughter so happy. Don Nguyen read more

When the wife leaves me in charge of the kids, we almost always head to the Dutch Oven. It's not like she doesn't like it or is somehow morally opposed to baked goods. It's just that, if given the choice, the kids include it on any "boys day" agenda. And I see why. They have tasty cookies with great frosting. Lots of frosting. Like the last one my son had was about a 4:1 frosting to cookie ratio. What kid wouldn't love that? Also, the experience of picking out their treat is something they love too. It's a good thing they have plenty of helpful and friendly staff because anyone behind us would be in it for the long haul if there was only one person working the counter! There is a great selection and my 4 and 7 year old will pace the length of the counter (leaving fingerprints all over) weighing their options. I don't need that much selection. I almost always go for Dutch letters. But that's kind of the point. The Dutch Oven is a great pick for a "boys day." It's consistently good food and service whenever you are craving a treat. read more

not sure what manner of bakery this is. short rack of day-olds, and sparse offerings in the case but it was late in the day and I suppose most folks were well on their way home... but I was there on my way from work to the post office and was hoping for a little something sweet. picked up a dutch-apple loaf, sac-o-challah-bits, two rosettes and a frosted bismark : the frosting is too heavy for me on an otherwise enjoyable bismark (maybe there's granulated sugar earlier in the day?); rosette was tasty but the light glaze was messy (like all good rosette glaze is); the challahs were challah-y only smaller, good crust with a certain grain to the innards but less chew than I am familiar with; the dutch-apple loaf was a bit of a disappointment but maybe 'dutch' is Iowonian for 'light on the advertised fillings' like 'danish' is english for 'single serving coffee cake' read more

Been recommended this little bakery by several friends and after a sleepless night decided to stop in in the afternoon for some donuts and I have to say it lived up to the hype. I had a blueberry and a double chocolate cake donut and the blueberry donut is by far the best donut I have ever had. The only disappointing part was seeing a local business that wasn't as busy as I had hoped, but I did stop in during hours that tend to be quieter for the food industry. read more

I have had delicious baked goods from Dutch Oven Bakery, but sadly, the staff tends to be unfriendly and rush customers through ordering. On a recent visit, I inquired about personalizing a cake. The employee begrudgingly responded, seeming annoyed that I didn't already know their services. She was also not wearing a mask in Aug. 2020 during COVID pandemic. Please wear a mask, especially if you are working with food. read more

I have to start by saying I've never tasted anything baked there, BUT I have ordered a birthday cake for my daughter, an ISU student , for her 19th and 20th birthdays. I was very pleased to find a bakery that delivered to the university. This accommodation was impressive and made me feel better about not being with my daughter on her birthday. The price for a simple 8" layer cake and and for delivery was reasonable. My daughter and I were delighted with the decorating on both cakes. My daughter and her friends assured me that they tasted even better than they looked! I will be sure to order from them in future. I look forward to stopping in to try some of their other specialties too! read more

BEST doughnuts and pastries in Ames. The frosting is homemade, and it looks and feels like your Grandmother's place (in the best kind of way). The prices are unbelievable as well. read more

I love this place, and I miss it so much. I wish we would get a Scandinavian type bakery down here in Springfield, Missouri. The Dutch Letters, and Dutch Horns are the best. If I had a complaint it would be I wish they had Kringlas. They are on the pricey side, but well worth it. If the owners read this: PLEASE!!!!.....build a bakery down here in Springfield, they have none like you here, and your baked goods are SOOOOO awesome. Please consider it. I highly recommend this place. read more

Not just a bakery, Dutch Oven also offers soups, sandwiches, and salads at lunch. They always have a variety (3-5) types of soup/stew/chili, and the option to build your own sandwiches. I like to order their "Lite Lunch," which comes with a cup of soup, half a sandwich, and a cookie. I couldn't exactly review a bakery without mentioning their baked goods, could I? I like the Dutch letters, Almond Tarts, and Apple Rings. So far, that's everything I have tried. :) read more

Classic Ames shop, in my book. While I don't recommend the coffee (plenty of other places to supplement a decent cup), this place makes a mean croissant egg sandwich. They specialize in a variety of morning-baked pastries, including your dutch favourites. Cakes, pies, and dessert breads are tasty as well. And yay for the day-old discount bread! Get there early for optimal selection. read more

Wonderful bakery. Outstanding pastries and doughnuts, and great, friendly service. Best coffee in Ames.

Eight years ago, Diana made my wedding cake. She was easy to work with, honest, accommodating (when I changed my design 1 month before my wedding), and did a fantastic job. To this day, it remains the best wedding cake I've ever tasted. I've been to dozens of weddings since, and none of the cakes have even come close. I've had several cakes (birthday, graduation, retirement) made at Dutch Oven since then and they've always been met with rave reviews. Ames is lacking a bit in bakeries - we've got HyVee, Dutch Oven, the cupcake place, The Cafe does some cakes. Dutch Oven is the best. read more

outside looks cozy but close to rail way. something is missing like the coffee smell inside or fresh baked good. familiar spot to locals only. read more