One of these bakeries has been turning out bread and pastries since 1861. That’s before the light bulb, and the dough is still rising.
Another shop sells fried pies, not just baked ones. A third keeps a freezer stocked with take-and-bake pies, so your oven can finish the job at home.
I love that small towns in Illinois still guard these places like family recipes. Some sit on historic main streets. One lives right on old Route 66, and another lets you grab cinnamon rolls through a drive-through window.
I can’t stop thinking about caramel icing on a warm roll. I’m also curious which pie flavor would win a family road trip vote. My guess is nobody agrees, and everybody leaves with extra boxes anyway.
1. Lee’s Bakery
Fried pies are the kind of genius idea that makes you wonder why every bakery isn’t doing it. Lee’s Bakery in tiny Roseville specializes in pies, and that includes fried versions.
This Amish bakery serves a farm village of about 900 people. It also pulls in plenty of folks willing to drive country roads for a sweet reward.
Fry pies come in several flavors, so pick a few. Think of it as research, not overindulgence.
The cinnamon rolls deserve their own spotlight. Some wear a caramel icing that sounds absolutely worth the trip alone.
Sticky buns, cookies, and coffee bars fill out the case. The coffee bars are a fun choice if you’ve never tried one.
Baked pies come in a large selection too. Add a loaf of Amish bread, and dinner suddenly feels fancy.
Here’s a perk you won’t find at most bakeries. Lee’s has a drive-through, so you can grab goodies without leaving your seat.
There’s no dine-in seating, though. Plan to eat in the car, at home, or at a picnic spot nearby.
Prices are known for being very reasonable. That makes it easy to stock up for the week, or at least until Tuesday.
A free parking lot makes stopping simple. The staff is friendly and happy to help you sort through choices.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The bakery is closed Sundays, so plan your road trip accordingly.
Morning visits make sense if you want the best selection. An early cinnamon roll is also a great way to start any day.
Address: 105 20th St, Roseville, IL 61473
2. Krumpets Restaurant & Bakery
Cinnamon roll french toast is what happens when breakfast refuses to choose. Krumpets in Fulton serves it, and yes, it’s as bold as it sounds.
Fulton sits along the Mississippi River with a historic downtown. Krumpets fits right in as a bakery and cafe for breakfast and lunch.
The giant cinnamon rolls are a big draw, literally. Plan to share, or plan to skip lunch.
Croissants and other pastries join the lineup. Scones and cookies also make great take-home treats.
Pies are part of the dessert story here. After a sandwich, a slice feels less like a choice and more like destiny.
The kitchen leans homemade. Freshly baked breads and rolls give the sandwiches a real bakery backbone.
Outdoor seating is available when the weather cooperates. Sipping coffee outside in a river town sounds like a fine Saturday plan.
Free Wi-Fi is handy if you need to check directions. Families will appreciate the changing table in the restroom.
Hours are short, so don’t sleep in too late. Krumpets currently opens Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cafe is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Free street parking keeps things easy downtown. Delivery is offered too, though locals get that perk, not road trippers.
My move would be breakfast here, then a stroll in town. Grab a giant roll for later, because future you will be grateful.
Address: 1016 4th St, Fulton, IL 61252
3. Klein’s Market Bakery
Galena’s Main Street looks like a postcard from the 1800s, and one storefront smells like warm fruit pie. Klein’s Market Bakery sits right in the middle of that historic downtown stroll.
The shop is small, and that’s part of the fun. You pop in, grab a bag of treats, and get back to exploring brick-lined streets.
Pies are the headliners here. Cherry and triple berry show up among the fruit options, and peach pie has its own loyal fans.
Better yet, the pies get made fresh in the morning. That means you might score a slice that’s still warm.
Bread lovers have plenty to celebrate too. The chocolate bread sounds like dessert pretending to be breakfast, and I fully support that plan.
Rhubarb bread and other sweetbreads round out the lineup. They make smart picks if you want something to nibble on the drive home.
Cinnamon rolls are another house specialty. Pair one with a cup of coffee, and you’ve built a perfect Galena pit stop.
The prices stay friendly, which matters in a tourist town. You can treat the whole crew without feeling like you bought a souvenir shop.
Plan for takeout, since this is a quick-visit kind of place. There’s no delivery, so you’ll have to come to Galena yourself, which is hardly a punishment.
Hours run from 10 a.m. daily, closing at 5 p.m. most days. On Fridays and Saturdays, the doors stay open until 6 p.m.
My advice is simple. Hit the bakery early, then walk off your pie among the shops and old buildings that make this Illinois town so charming.
And if you buy a whole pie, guard it carefully. Car seats were not designed for triple berry filling.
Address: 121 S Main St, Galena, IL 61036
4. Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant
Route 66 has plenty of famous stops, and this one comes with frosting. Jubelt’s in Litchfield is a long-standing bakery and restaurant on the old highway.
That history gives it real road trip appeal. You get a slice of the Mother Road along with your breakfast.
The bakery case offers a large selection. Pastries, pies, cookies, and butter cake all compete for your attention.
Cinnamon rolls rank among the standouts. You can also order cinnamon roll french toast if one form of cinnamon roll isn’t enough.
Breakfast covers jumbo eggs, hash browns, and biscuits. Biscuits, rolls, and breads are baked on-site, which shows on the plate.
Lunch brings sandwiches and soups, including potato soup. Grilled cheese is on the menu too, a classic pairing for chilly days.
Kids are welcome, with high chairs and a kids’ menu. The bakery case alone will keep little ones busy pointing.
Short on time? Jubelt’s offers a drive-through and curbside pickup, which is perfect for travelers.
The restaurant opens Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it’s closed Mondays.
Weekend mornings bring the biggest rush. Wednesdays tend to be the calmest if you prefer elbow room.
Parking is free and usually plentiful. That’s handy when your car is already full of road snacks.
Take a box of cookies for the road. Route 66 is long, and Illinois is only the beginning.
Address: 303 N Old Rte 66 S, Litchfield, IL 62056
5. Myrtle’s Pie
A shop named after pie is making a promise, and Myrtle’s Pie keeps it. This Princeton spot offers an extensive selection of homemade pies.
The shop has a nostalgic feel on Princeton’s North Main Street. It’s the sort of place that makes you crave a slice before you even park.
French silk pie is a menu highlight. Seasonal flavors rotate in, so there’s always a reason to come back.
The crusts are known for being flaky. The fillings get plenty of love too, which is exactly how pie should work.
Planning a holiday dinner? A freezer full of take-and-bake pies lets you serve homemade pie without the flour on your face.
Pie isn’t the only thing in the case. Cinnamon rolls and shortbread cookies also hold their own here.
Banana bread is another option worth grabbing. It makes a great breakfast treat the next morning, assuming it lasts.
You can eat in or take your treats to go. Coffee is available if you want a proper sit-down slice.
Hours take some planning. Myrtle’s opens Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday hours run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., then 4 to 5 p.m. The shop is closed Monday through Wednesday.
Friday afternoons and Saturdays draw the biggest crowds. Sunday mornings are usually quieter for a relaxed visit.
Bring a cooler for frozen pies. Your family will think you baked, and I won’t tell.
Address: 927 N Main St, Princeton, IL 61356
6. Trefzger’s Bakery
Abraham Lincoln took office in 1861, and that same year Trefzger’s started baking. The family-owned bakery now works out of a restored building in Peoria Heights.
That’s more than 160 years of rolls and pastries. Few Illinois businesses can claim that kind of staying power.
Fresh baking happens daily on-site. Rolls, pies, cakes, cookies, and breads all come out of the kitchen right here.
Cinnamon rolls are a popular pick. They’ve been compared to the ones great-grandma used to make, which is high praise.
Pecan rolls offer a nutty twist. Cupcakes also appear among the original treats you’ll find here.
Cream puffs and thumbprint cookies make fun add-ons. Carrot cake and buttercream frosting are on the menu too.
Cakes are a big part of the business. Birthday cakes, sheet cakes, and custom wedding cakes all come from this kitchen.
You can enjoy breakfast with coffee on-site. Free Wi-Fi and a restroom make a short stop easy.
The bakery opens early, at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Weekdays close at 6 p.m., while Saturday closes at 4 p.m.
It’s closed Sundays and Mondays. A free parking lot sits ready for your pastry run.
Peoria Heights centers on Prospect Road, a fun area to explore. Grab a box and wander a bit afterward.
Honestly, a bakery this old has earned your visit. Stopping by feels like tasting a little Illinois history, one roll at a time.
Address: 4416 N Prospect Rd, Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Share this story
