Nostalgia is a heck of a drug. It clouds your judgement. And when it comes to food, it makes you attach feelings and memories to that food, and makes you think that whack food is actually dope. Like, for instance, a cannoli filled with frosting. That's not acceptable, full stop. But it might be acceptable to you if you've been eating whack cannoli all of your life. (More like CAN'Tnoli, am I right? Thank you -- I actually stole that piece of comedy gold.) If you've been eating whack cannoli for decades because that's what grandma's been buying and bringing to get-togethers, and you love grandma, then you associate grandma-things with love, and they taste good to you. Again, nostalgia is a heck of a drug, and much like other drugs, it makes food taste way better in our minds than it actually does in real life. I feel like that is what is in play here at Hart Bakery & Gifts. Hart Bakery has been around a long time. It's the third oldest bakery in Indianapolis! So, people have been buying baked goods from this place for generations. People have their favorites, obviously, and have their memories. But I have no such allegiance to Hart Bakery. I've only lived in Indiana for 10 years, and I only recently heard about this place, so I went in with a clean slate. Grandma be danged. I visited to get some donuts. Most of the donuts were gone by the time I arrived (11 o'clock-ish), but I did snag a glazed twist and two sprinkle cake donuts. Because I wanted to taste a little bit of everything, I also got a peanut butter cup cookie and a cannoli. The women behind the counter also offered samples of their cinnamon-sugar donut holes, and their most popular pecan thumbprint cookies. So I feel like I got to taste the rainbow, so to speak. The pecan thumbprint cookies were indeed the best things I tasted. They are tiny little things: maybe the size of a quarter, and filled with white frosting. I could have done without the frosting, but you have to know that this bakery is very old-fashioned, so of course there's royal icing on an already sweet-enough cookie. My second favorite thing from this bakery was the peanut butter cup cookie. Actually, all of the cookies looked really good, and I think a cookie is a good bet here. My cookie was quite large and was more than enough to satisfy two people. The cinnamon-sugar donut holes came in third. The donut holes at Hart are not yeasted donuts like you'd find in other places. They're cake donut holes, so they are denser and more chewy. They were good, but one was more than enough for me. The other donuts that I got were just OK. I am a glazed twist lover, and I love them because they are light, but the glazed twist here were very dense. I brought home cake donuts for my kids, and they didn't finish them, which is not a good sign! My children always finish donuts. The cannoli was my least favorite. In this case, I think you'd need to take the gun and leave the cannoli, if I'm being honest. No mascarpone was injured in the making of these cannoli, and they really did taste like they were filled with white frosting. (Not even vanilla, but white frosting.) I dunno, man. If you're not going to make a cannoli with mascarpone, then you just need to not even offer it, is my feeling. If you're in the market for Precious Moments figurines, then Hart Bakery & Gifts is your place. Because the "& Gifts" part of the name means two walls full of Precious Moments porcelain collectibles, plus other kinds of knickknacks, signs and displays for the home. Not my home, but someone's home. I'm glad that I visited Hart Bakery, but I'm not sure I'll be returning. (Or, if I did, it would be for a bag of those little pecan cookies. Them's the shiz.) read more

Hart Bakery made one of the most adorable and delicious cakes I've ever had! I sent an inspiration picture and it turned out fabulous. I'm convinced they can do it all. ;-) read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Lots of different baked goods here. I went for donuts, but wanted to leave with everything on the shelves!. If your in the area , stop and check it out. read more

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Hart's has the best cake donut holes ever! Small local bakery and provides great service and sweet treats!

Unassuming little shop with a nostalgic feel. When you walk in, all the knickknacks and gifts make you feel like you're in your grandmother's living room, with all the tzotchkes and figurines. The two ladies behind the counter are super sweet, and with their smocks and smiles, you definitely feel like you're talking to an elderly relative. The parking lot is a little goofy, and you're supposed to park sideways, which can be kind of confusing. The prices are excellent, and you get such a lot of food for what you spend. The cinnamon rolls are unassuming, and the sweet cinnamon dough itself is the star of the show, unlike a lot of places where they slather it in so much sugary frosting you can't taste the roll itself. The raspberry-filled doughnut is the best of its kind I've ever had in my life. Definitely worth the trip! read more

I love HARTS BAKERY. ...... Their toffee cookies are the best I hope everyone will support them so that they can stay open. read more

I've been loving Hart Bakery since I was a child. my favorite thing is the thumbprint icing cookies. I moved far away but every time I'm in town I always stop and get my cookies at Hart. Family and extended family all get their pastries and cakes from Hart. Highly recommend! read more

This is a cute, old school local bakery. They have a small private parking lot and the women working there are so very friendly and helpful. They greeted me as soon as I walked in and were helped me with my selections. They have cases full of pies, cakes, turnover, donuts, brownies, danish, sticky buns, cookies and much more. They have a wide selection and they all looked so delicious. I ended up getting a strawberry creme turnover, a small cherry pie, and a couple of chocolate donuts. They were fresh and tasted absolutely delicious. They also have drinks in a refrigerator available for purchase and a bunch of trinkets such as ceramic figurines, beanie babies, and cards. Their stuff is very reasonably priced. I though the woman had rang my stuff up wrong at first. Here, cash is king. They prefer cash, but accept credit cards. They do charge a 3.5% service charge with credit card usage though. I really like this shop. It has a nostalgic feel, friendly staff and delicious treats. I highly recommend checking them out. read more

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I LOVE this place and the LADIES that work here. I've been coming here for several years and when you walk in it takes you back in time and you are treated like family. I go there to get the most freshest bakeries and best quality to take to my customers who absolutely love them. Thanks Ladies for your hard work and dedication. read more

When I first walked inside, everyone was so kind and had lots of information. All of the Bates good looks amazing and I definitely want to order a birthday cake from here. I ended up getting donuts to take to work and a little bag of cookies to enjoy throughout the week. I highly recommend them. There's definitely a reason why this is a known spot on the east side. read more

These ladies saved my day! I needed a small birthday cake "today". They took amazing care of me, and I had my Gene-ric, custom birthday cake 2-ish hours later and I was on my way!! I'll be back again whether it's an occasion or not! Their donuts look yummy! read more

Highly disappointed on the money i just wasted on a dozen donuts they are brunt and taste trouble . read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Were we surprisedTried some of their cookies at a function (first thing gone at the dessert table) and we wanted more. Also got a recommendation from a friend. Stopped by after exercise and got 2 apple fritters and 2 apple oatmeal cookies for a total sum of $5. They prefer cash. The fritters were freshly made and delicious. Tasted more homemade than some of the store bakeries. The cookies were a standout worth buying again product. I think they were a generous oatmeal cookie stuffed with dried apple instead of raisins. Not overly sweet which we like. Worth every little penny and will be going back. Good thing they are not next door. Their website gives the history of the bakery and more info on the products they carry. read more

Wonderful little family run bakery. Prices are more than reasonable. No frills and no gourmet donuts. All classic donuts. They also have an excellent selection of cookies and fudge. Milk and juice are also available. They have coffee, but I do not recommend their coffee. If you pay cash your bill is less than if you pay for a credit card. read more

Best donuts in Indy!!!! I recommend the blueberry cake donut, both the big and donut hole size

I called around town and the price on a rainbow cake here was very reasonable. I was hesitant because I had never used this bakery. I picked it up and the staff were so nice and friendly. My daughter cut into the cake and it was beautiful. All the beautiful colors and the chocolate icing. Warning, the icing is thick, so thin slices unless you can handle it. Lastly, the flavor excellent and so moist. Just amazing. My son has asked for the same cake for his birthday. read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Great slice - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Great local bakery located on the east side of Indy at 10th & Shadeland avenue. Very popular so secure your sweets by beating the crowd. My go to is the cake doughnuts and sticky buns. I always get get a couple extra for the family. Awesome birthday cakes and a store full of Love. Sandy the owner trained under the former owners to carry on the operation since1992. She and her staff of ladies are very personable and inviting. Support your local establishments as much as Possible. It's good for everyone. read more

Always good and friendly service with smile. My kiddos won't let me drive by this place without an enthusiastic plea for "Donuts!"

How did I never stop in this place when I lived on the east side? Walking into this place would make a small child's eyes bulge out of their heads (and probably some adults too) with all the colorful array of pastries and small collectibles/dolls on display. I wasn't stopping for the non-edibles, but I will admit their collection of items was worth checking out if you are looking for something unique. But I was there for pastries....I'm not a yeast donut guy. I like lots of flavors in my morning selection and this place delivers. Who knew they carried individual pies and cakes? I picked up an apple pie, a cherry pie, a Pineapple Upside down cake, and the most creative "turtle" I've ever seen. And there were cream horns, lots of small sugar cookies, and some bismarks. Frankly, for such a small space for pastries, I was amazed at how many choices they had even at mid-morning. The woman behind the counter was very friendly and when I saw the turtles, she pointed out the woman who makes them by hand. If you haven't seen my photos, she forms a chocolate shell around the caramel and uses pecans for the feet to support the shell. Very cool, but I'm afraid my wife ate it before I got a chance to try it! It sure looked good though. Located just east of the 10th and Shadeland intersection, the stand alone building was easy to get in and out of (I went when it wasn't rush hour). Nice place to stop for something tasty to make your morning special! Review #2283 read more

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I was very excited coming to Hart Bakery & Gifts because it appeared to be a family owned small business. These usually are the best places to eat. I made sure I got there early so I could catch the donuts hot. When I walked in it gave me the flea market feel. They not only sell baked goods there's a ton of flea market like items. Of course I didn't mind because I'm there for the donuts. The next thing I noticed that the donuts didn't have a barrier or in a case. I'm not a germaphobe but the donuts aren't too far from the door (See picture). It was too late to worry about that so I opted for the glazed yeast and maple cinnamon. Ok. Pros: Customer service was decent. Everyone was greeted when we walked in. Donuts are fresh. The employee counted back the change the right way. Lol. This is a lost art. Cons: No barrier. I'm not interested in fly or gnat donuts. There's not a large selection of donuts and no specialty. There's really no WOW to the donuts. They taste like your basic fried donut that you can get at any gas station. Price. I think I paid $2 for 2 donuts. These are easily .50-.65 donuts. I doubt I'd go back here. If I did it'll be to taste some of the other baked good. read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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First time customer...was greeted by Sandy, master baker and given the amazing history of this wonderful place. I felt like a kid at grandmas house; the wonderful baked goods, the adorable collectibles, and Knick knacks galore. Everything is hand made and you can tell it's made with love. The cookies are beyond delish! Thank you Sandy for the complimentary cupcake ! We will be back soon. read more

Their alligators and donuts are excellent. We have been going there for almost 40 years.... Friendly employees

Super custom order so I called 20 some bakeries and every one of them said no, except one... and Hart Bakery not only said yes, but listened and then went above and beyond to deliver. It is a small market for 3' chocolate chip cookie torches, but we all need a bakery with a great product and OUTSTANDING customer service. Thanks you Hart Bakery for being amazing listeners, imaginative, and willing to bake outside the box! read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Ordered cookies and donut holes for a baby shower. Excellent customer service! Looked great tasted even better! read more

I needed a very last minute cake for my father's birthday, and so grateful I found Hart! Sandy was extremely helpful and efficient in taking my order and everyone loved the cake. The fall leaf decorations were a nice touch. :) Thanks, Sandy! read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - chocolate cake, chocolate icing - delicious! - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Sweetest ladies ever. Their goodies are awesome. I love going in here and getting my yeast and cookies. I also like taking a look at all of the gift options that they have. They have a wide variety of little trinkets. Everything is always so fresh. they do accept credit cards and coupons if you have them. they also have bottled drinks to wash down all of that goodness with. They do custom orders, and they accept call-ahead orders. They are a full-service bakery. They have been in business for many years. My family has been coming here since I was a little girl. If you're on the east side and you want a quick bite this is definitely the place to stop and grab a morsel. read more

It's hard to be a donut shop in Indianapolis when you have some major competition (I will refrain from mentioning competitors). My workplace on the Eastside always brings in donuts from Hart. I'd say after trying them several times, Hart gives you a variety of standard yeast donuts (glazed, frosted, filled), and it's pretty good stuff. Is it the best in Indy? No. Is it the best on the Eastside? Yes. read more

It's like if your grandma's house sold pastries and doughnuts! Oh my goodness! I had no idea this was here until I went to pick up my rental car and headed to the Kroger from that direction. Excited to find an old-fashioned local bakery so close to my house. They sell ALL kinds of little nick-nacks and tchotchkas (sp?) like Precious Moments and other gift items...it's kinda overwhelming. The main draw for me is the sweets. There are various kinds of doughnuts, and mine was very good. They also make and sell adorable turtle candies, which are actually in the shape of a turtle with pecans for feet! So adorable (and delectable). Additional treats include various cookies, pies, pastries, and even wedding cakes. This is the only place in Indianapolis I've seen nanaimo bars (update 12/12-no longer have nanaimo bars). The counter girls were friendly and so was the baker/owner(?) when he came out to put something in the display case. read more

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I love the yeast donuts--glazed and maple long Johns--the most. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and who doesn't like donuts? They also offer many other baked goods that I haven't tried and will make things to order. If you're not a morning person, call a day or two in advance and they'll have the sweets you crave reserved and ready by the time you request, so you won't have to worry about the early birds scooping up all your favorites. read more

I do my level best to support local businesses, but the experience I had this morning has left a sour taste in my mouth. The cashier misunderstood my order and when I apologized for the misunderstanding, she gave me the foulest look I can imagine. I advised that I can always go elsewhere, she told me that if that's how I feel, I should do so and continued scowling at me. No apology or attempt on her part at resolution. That makes one less Eastside business I'll support in future! read more

I ate Bob. My donut was so big that they named it! It was good, just a smidge on the too sweet side, even for a yeast donut. The girl behind the counter was quirky yet very friendly. The kitsch that filled the place helped add to its ambiance. I was hoping to find a Boston terrier figurine in the midst of the items, but was disappointed. Oh well. Good donuts are to be had here. read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Giant yeast donut & blueberry muffin - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My wife ordered a cake there which turned out amazing! The cake was delicious and fresh and everyone loved it. I'd highly recommend this bakery! read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Have you ever gone into a business and instantly thought to yourself "I like this place?" That's what happened to me with Hart Bakery & Gifts, a small bakery and gift shop right next to the corner of 10th & Shadeland on Indy's Eastside. While I'm hesitant to use the phrase "hole-in-the-wall," Hart Bakery has always struck me as a little hole-in-the-wall establishment with an exterior that is plain, simple, and I wouldn't even call it particularly inviting. I've driven by Hart countless times and, during most of those times, I've found myself mumbling the words "I should stop there." For the most part, it has been during hours that they were either closed or I was in a rush. Today, as I was driving I spotted the familiar Hart's Bakery building and thought to myself "Why not?" I'd just had a late lunch and I was in the mood for a doughnut. While this would usually send me up to 38th & Shadeland to hit Dunkin' Donuts, today I finally dragged my butt into Hart Bakery & Gifts. A little research has taught me that Hart Bakery & Gifts is the third oldest Indianapolis bakery and is family owned and operated. Started shortly after World War II, the current owner (Sandy) is the only female certified Master Baker in the State of Indiana and she's joined in running the establishment by multiple family members. The parking lot is small, but has several well-defined spaces (not necessarily what I would consider "accessible" but they do have a curb cut into the building and the way the lot is situated makes it fairly simple for someone in a wheelchair to find easy parking). As I headed into the door, I was greeted at the door by a helpful and sincere young woman who was working the counter. To call this young woman enthusiastic would be an understatement, but it struck me as genuine and it was quite contagious. The owner was also at the counter and, it appeared, was engaged in handling some other business. Despite the somewhat distracting nature of this side business, the employee working with me didn't miss a bit - she asked me if this was my first time visiting the store, and upon finding out it was proceeded to explain their specialties (decorated cakes, doughnuts, fudge, iced cookies) and offer me a couple samples. She explained that they used no preservatives or chemicals in their baking, but then also made sure I understood that their "gifts," which are essentially a WIDE variety of figurines ranging from Hummel to Jim Shore to Precious Moments to Steiff Bears and others, are not made in house. Given the birth of gourmet doughnut shops in Indianapolis, it was refreshing to see a rather simple doughnut shop with a wide variety of doughnuts and reasonable prices. I ended up buying three yeast doughnuts at a price of $2.10 - more than Wal-Mart (but FAR better) and actually a good $.29 less per doughnut than a Krispy Kreme will run you at most any convenience store. I've been trying to decide what a Hart doughnut reminds me of - it's nothing like a Krispy Kreme (definitely superior) and probably most reminiscent of the old Roselyn doughnuts. I definitely enjoyed them and, I must confess, they didn't make it all the way home. I tried one of their sugar cookies, absolutely delicious, but declined trying the fudge. As I love fudge, it's something I'll consider in the future. The gift area of Hart is definitely not as wheelchair friendly and, as one might expect, you'd want to be careful if in a wheelchair considering you're mostly dealing with breakables. In terms of ambience, Hart Bakery & Gifts reminded me a lot of the not too far away Heidelberg Haus. Both places tend to be hidden gems that look plain but house tasty and delightful treats while offering excellent customer service. The young woman who provided excellent service throughout also made sure I left with a business card and, in turn, this card led me to their really nicely done website at http://hartbakery.com - It'll give you an even better idea of what they offer. For those wanting to support a local business and, as well, Indiana's only female certified Master Baker, Hart Bakery seems an obvious and rewarding choice. Don't let the plain exterior fool you - inside, Hart Bakery & Gifts is serving up warm, enthusiastic, and inviting service along with a wide array of tasty and reasonably priced baked goods! read more

Hart Bakery is close to us and locally owned, so we're all for it. We've visited many times and are pretty into the donuts and breakfast pastries. We love the yeast donuts, cinnamon twists, donut holes, and cherry turnovers. The only things we haven't liked were apple-based pastries (seems like there's a lot of apple goo and not very much apple). Unbelievably cheap, such friendly people working, and they have a lot more to offer beyond breakfast. I'm sure at some point we'll get a cake or something else. I'm happy that they're in the neighborhood! read more

What is the ultimate measure of a bakery? Their glazed yeast donuts. And I must say that Hart's Bakery is definitely up there. They are possibly the lightest and fluffiest donuts in Indy. Though they cannot top Long's Donuts in my book; they are missing that little extra sweetness in the glaze. I also ordered their last long john (on a Saturday around 9am), but to my dismay there was no filling. Next time I will be more specific to request a filled donut, and their absolutely will be a next time because they had some amazing fudge flavors calling my name. If your measure of a bakery includes the presence of a police officer, then your in luck also, because there was one ordering 3 dozen glazed who even held the door for me! read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - 1/2 dozen glazed yeast. Light and fluffy! - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This is a nice little place on the eastside to stop when your sweet tooth is itching. They have a small but tasty selection of fresh baked goods. I recommend the eclairs. You can get them with real custard! (You can also get them with the fake fluffy filling, if that is your fancy.) In addition to the baked goods, the place is packed with little knick knacks. It is a somewhat strange combination, and I'm always a little afraid that I'm going to knock into a table and break hundreds of dollars of ceramic goods that I would never purchase otherwise. But so far it hasn't happened. A couple of years ago I stopped by to get a cake in the morning, not knowing that you need to order those in advance. They were nice about finding a way to come up with a cake for me despite my ignorance. The staff have always been very friendly. read more

I had this idea for my 40th birthday cake. I wanted a cheesecake with a layer of chocolate ganache, then a layer of crushed/chopped praline pecan, then a layer of chocolate moose, with chocolate ganache to cover the whole thing. When they said they would be able to make it and then only charged me $55 to make it, I honestly was a little skeptical about it. I picked it up on Saturday because the store is closed on Sundays, the day of my birthday dinner. When I looked at it, I was pretty sure that is wasnt what I ordered even thou it looked nice. Low and behold, once the happy birthday song was over and I blew out the candles, I was so amazingly surprised that it was exactly what I wanted and tasted worth a few hundred bucks. I was overjoyed with the cake and it made me feel extremely happy! Everyone loved it and I hope to request it again or any other crazy ideas I come up with because I know they can make it!!!! And I know it will be phenomenal!!! Thank you for making my 40th birthday super special with the amazing cake yall were able to produce from my brain!!! The customer service is great and I love the family atmosphere! Thank you!!! read more

Hart Bakery & Gifts - Bakeries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The donuts here are great. I can't speak to much else that they have (still haven't tried any of their cakes or desserts, and don't have any need of their collectibles) but they definitely have some good donuts. I've been going through a donut phase the past few months. I've made the rounds around Indy and tried Long's, Jack's, General American, and Square so far (send me messages if you have other good donut shops that I should visit). Hart's is tied for the best yeast donut that I've found in Indianapolis (tied with Long's) and makes the best cinnamon sugar donut hands down (and they're really cheap). The staff is always very chipper and upbeat even at 6:00 in the morning. It's worth noting that they're not open on Sundays (weekends are when I'm most likely to hunt for donuts which is a little inconvenient). Next time you're craving donuts give Hart's a shot instead of one of the bigger players. You won't regret it. read more

This is a really nostalgic bakery. It reminds me of my grandparents in the best possible way. The staff is always very friendly and attentive, I always leave with a smile. The doughnuts, which is what I have had from here, are good. They aren't the greatest in Indianapolis, but they are good. For people on the East side it is a very convenient bakery with a good product. I would say if my goal was doughnuts and I had the time, I would probably go somewhere else. That said if is unlikely you will ever be disappointed with what you get at Hart's. read more

I tried them and was not impressed. They were not as good as those from Kroger etc. the icing is way too sweet.