If you love almond flavored food this is your place to be. I would highly recommend the Andre Almond Butter cookie (two shortbread cookies with almond paste in the middle and an almond on top). The raspberry dream boat is delicious as well. Chocolate cake topped with a raspberry cream covered in chocolate. Their delft gift shop is also a gem to browse through for a classic piece of Dutch culture. read more

We stopped here quickly before heading to Des Moines for my co-worker/friend's graduation. I remembered the Dutch letters. So, we decided to try out some other baked goods. I liked the apple ring and the macaroons. For dessert, we got the almond butter cake which was to die for. It looks like this bakery has expanded next door for antiques. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are passing through. Otherwise, you can pick up from Casey's gas station nearby. read more

This is a wonderful place, the employees are always friendly, and the bakery items are always fresh. I have been to this particular location off and on my entire life, and the service has always been welcoming and friendly. read more

Just recieved cookies , thoughtful gift from friend. Cookies tasted stale, The box they came in was 12" by 18" 95 % of the box was peanuts. wasted space. Do not send these cookies to a friend you value read more

Quaint bakery in small Danish town of Pella, Iowa. Beautiful and visuslly pleasing display of delectable baked goods. Packed with people and yet fast service. Baked goodies, soft drinks, souvenirs and danish memorabilia. Delicious bite-sized almond macaroons! Sweet indulgence but small enough that you don't have to worry too much about the calories! I enjoyed one before dinner. Sugary chewiness made with almond essence made my body tingle and offered me a jolt of energy. Will definitely visit this bakery if I am ever back in Pella, Iowa. read more

If in Pella, you must stop at the square to pick up some local treats. One place you must visit is Jaarsma. First off, get Dutch Letters. This is a must. After that, well, go crazy and try whatever you want. I'm sure it is all good. When we went, i picked up a random assortment of delicious looking treats. They all were great. They had a few things, the names of which I don't know, that I will absolutely get on a return trim. There are these crispy figure 8 shaped things that are freaking great. I might have almost liked them more than the dutch letters... If you are looking for some sweet treats and Dutch desserts, you can't go wrong. The place has a TON of options for you. Beyond that, there is a second half to the store that will take care of all your dutch themed gifts needs. There are trinkets and souvenirs of all sorts to choose from, should you be in the market for such things. There are two bakeries, basically next door to each other. Both have great treats and are worth your time but Jaarsma is the larger of the two with a lot more options (Dutch letters from either though... can't go wrong). read more

What can I say -- it's Jaarsmas! Friendly service from Levi and amazing baked goods. The coffee cakes are a must!

There are not enough Yelp stars for this bakery. We have travelled much of the US and still have not found a bakery to top this one. Whenever, we visit family, we stop in to sample a handful of goodies! This time we stopped in twice during our visit. I think anything you try will be totally worth it! read more

I went here with my family for the first time recently. We purchased the Dutchmen Sampler. Everything in it was amazing.

How can you not love Jaarsmas. Cherry donut holes are my favorite. My kids love the cream filled Bismarck's.

Great place for a sweet treat! Very few bakeries left in the country like this one! It is a must stop if you're in the area!

We have been getting treats here for as long as I remember (at least 20 years) both at the Farmers Market on Saturday in Des Moines and at the shop..my mom even seems to try to schedule a trip right before every Christmas so we can stock up for the holidays. Our favorites include: dutch letters, dutch spice cookies (frozen in particular!), and I didn't see them online but they are like little cakes with lemon or cranberry. Yum! read more

Everyone knows that this place is absolutely the best place to get Dutch inspired pastries and to cure you are made for sugar. Make sure that you go during their off time as typically the line is out the door. The staff is pleasant and the bakery is clean and smells wonderful. We go as often as we can but to avoid busting my waistline I try to keep it to once or twice a month. There's an endless supply of phenomenal sweets to try. I would absolutely recommend that anyone who is visiting Pella give this bakery I try. read more

Picked up a few pastries, line was long but we didn't have to wait long. Tried my first Dutch letter and other Dutch goods and I was very impressed! read more

I'm a basic sugar cookie lover and of course great Dutch letters. Never disappointed! read more

Jaarsma Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Pella, Iowa

This place is the cutest!!!! Talk about poppin, I'm just in town visiting and every local said I HAD to go here! I'm so glad. There was a huge assortment of goodies and of course I was told to try a Dutch letter! The lady behind the counter was so sweet and even let me sample one before I picked!! It was so delicious! I tried the Dutch letter dipped in chocolate and the Creme pillow! And omg both are so tasty!!! If you're in Pella this place is a MUST! read more

Quaint bakery, featuring mostly danishes and cookies and bread (don't expect donuts here although here were a few) and a few souveniers. Even the women in the Dutch caps were very quaint. I bought a carmel pastry and carmel kettlecorn. This is located downtown, no place to park an RV. I drove here in a rental car. read more

The best! Must purchase many delicious bakery items at Jaarsma while in Pella, IA. I'm hoping the macaroons are gluten free. Bought a cute magnet as well. Many hard to find items in their bakery and gift shoppe. read more

Jaarsma Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Pella, Iowa

Unfortunately for other bakeries everywhere in the U.S., I always compare them to Jaarsma, and everybody else comes up short. I grew up just 17 miles from Pella, and this was our favorite place for pastries. As a baker myself, I revere Jaarsma goods. Their bread flour is ground in an actual windmill right there in Pella which was built in the Netherlands and brought over. It is a replica of the mills used in the Netherlands in 1847 which was the founding year of Pella. I don't think I've ever been there when I didn't have to stand in line, but that's a good thing. First, the excellent breads, cookies, and pastries are the reason for the long line -- the place is world famous and once people have been there, they keep coming back. Second, it gives you time to peruse what looks like 40 feet of bakery cases. It is a gastronomic delight! I stopped at a supposed traditional bakery in the Amanas to find only doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and a dozen different kinds of strudel. At Jaarsma, you won't find any of the crap you can get at any donut shop or supermarket, this is authentic, old-world pastry--cookies, almond cakes and many different kinds of almond pastry, and old world fruit and nut pastries. This is not a café, no seating, no coffee or tea. You get your pastries and go, but they package them up beautifully if you ask and make excellent gifts or just a treat or dessert for you and yours. read more

I dreamed of this bakery's Dutch letters for 50 years...and they were as delicious as I had hoped. When I was 8 I had part of the famous Dutch letter pastry from this bakery..and I had dreamed about it for over 50 years. On a recent trip from northern Wisconsin to southern Alabama, we detoured through Pella to fulfill my childhood dream to have another Jarsma pastery... That's a high expectational standard to meet ...but they were as wonderful as I remembered. ( A Dutch letter is a S shaped pastry filled with sugared almond paste with crusted sugar on the outside..about 8 inches x 4 in x 1 in. ) We bought a huge box of treats and tried more than 20 of the bakery wonderful cookies. We had tiny little bundt cakes about 2 in in diameter and some of the best bread we have ever eaten. Their Napoleon's are better than those from the French Quarter in New Orleans. Our extra treats froze well to be enjoyed for many weeks. The staff is happy, helpful, efficient and Iowa nice. This is an order at the bakery case and take it with you ..so bring a car you can eat in : - ) If you live in Des Moines or Cedar Rapids... or you are travelling on I 80 in central Iowa...take a small detour to the Jarsma bakery on the town square in Pella...you deserve this wonderful treat. Maybe the Presidential candidates in for the Iowa candidates would all be sweeter if they dropped by this wonderful place. : - ) read more

I've been enjoying Jaarsma treats for over 20 years. They simply can't be beat. The shop expanded in the past few years and now has a GREAT gift shop for Dutch souvenirs at Tulip Time, and other great hard to find Dutch items. I always recommend the cherry nuggets--a local favorite! Glazed donuts, cinnamon twists, and of course, Dutch Letters. It wouldn't be a trip to town without a stop for some delectable homemade treats. Family owned and just can't be beat! read more

Love everything about Jaarsma! Very friendly employees! Their dutch letters and Pig in the Blanket are so ooozing nyummy!

Can you have 6 stars? Great variety of wonderful baked goods with incredibly helpful folks behind the counter. You may wait in line a bit to be served, but that somehow ends up being great. read more

We were driving on the highway and saw the sign for this bakery. Always open for an adventure we took the route and came into town. This place has such a great selection, we were very impressed. We picked up a good amount of pastries and one of the best Apple cakes we have ever had. The people were super friendly and I just wish I could live with them. We also went to the bakery a few doors down was not impressed. We did end up getting a cup of coffee from them and they gave us curdled milk as cream. Stick with Jaarsma, they are authentic. read more

Too much to choose from!! 5 stars is not even close to show how great this place is. I wish that I could have tasted everything they had. They few items that we bought was off the charts. We purchased an assortment of pastries and cookies. If I lived in Pella I would be a daily customer and probably diabetic. read more

Holy smokes! A neighbor brought us two letters and they are spec-freaking-tacular!!!!

Huge selection of excellent pastries at very reasonable prices. I had a decadent "Raspberry Dream Boat" which was very good. We also got one of their sprouted grains bread which was also very good. Highly recommended. Worth the detour from the interstate. Plus, you get to explore the nice town of Pella! read more

You HAVE TO make a pit stop here when you come to Pella for the Tulip Festival! I waited in line for about 25 minutes and it was so worth the 2 dozen Dutch letters, 1 dozen almond cookies, and 1 dozen stroopwafels. The store is very traditional Dutch and the pastries... ALL of the pastries are very good. The store is open year round so if you ever roll through Pella outside of tulip time, make sure to make a pit stop because there usually is not a line. You can also call your order in ahead of time to save time. read more

This was amazing. As a first person born in the US from Dutch parents. This was a great bakery. Confused in the Dutch letters year round. However, understand. Literally felt like a kid in a candy store. Almond paste bakery items. Lekker lekker lekker read more

What can I say, if you go to Pella you have to stop here and just enjoy the atmosphere and wonderful bakery smells. I don't think they make a bad item in this place. Highly recommend this bakery it is truly a gem in central Iowa. read more

I feel like it may just be illegal not to stop here if you are in town. The variety is overwhelming and the bakery fragrance lifts you off your feet as soon as you walk in the door. I love almond, so my faves are the banket and andres cookies. If you are attending a get together and need to bring something to share, their coffee cakes melt in your mouth and suddenly you have new friends for bringing it. The line may seem long at times (not talking tulip time long), but they are well staffed with friendly people and get you through rather efficiently. Plus, you can hardly blame your fellow shoppers because I know I go there for 1 or 2 things on my mind, but get easily derailed when my eyes glance at the cases of delicious sweets, so they are probably taking longer for the same reason. read more

A Pella tradition. Has all the "bakery " staples- all done well BUT the real reason to go to Jaarsma's is the items with Dutch influence. I've never been to Holland so I don't know how "authentic " Jaarsma's is but who cares everything here is tremendous! Always a lot of helpful staff to get in and out fast. read more

The Dutch Letters are classics, but the almond banket are the best pastry of all time. If you're ever in central Iowa, go to the Jaarsma Bakery. If you're ever on the internet, order an almond banket. read more

Pretty good cookies. loved the cinnamon rolls. The staff were very friendly and it was a nice atmosphere.

This is absolutely and by far the most wonderful bakery I have ever had the pleasure of stepping into! Every sensory delight was immediately gratified! We will definitely make a return trip for more scrumdilicious goodies and so should you!!!! read more

Yum! This bakery is the real deal- fresh daily and authentic Dutch pastries! Gotta go. Snack time is calling.

Dutch letters...so good that I ship them in as treats for the whole family. We always comment that they are so simple yet sooo good! I used to drive past pella many decades ago & still love them! read more

Superb Dutch pastries! I needed desserts for a post-holiday party and had heard about Jaarsma Bakery in a wonderful book by Peter G. Rose on Dutch holiday traditions. Although I live in California (and they are in Iowa), Jaarsma was able to send fresh, well-wrapped and very tasty pastries to me just as scheduled (right in time for the party). My guests were delighted with the taste, the quality and the variety of the assortment they sent -- as was I. read more

Great little bakery in town. Just like another person commented on. Stick to the things made fresh that day, not the frozen. But very good. Very friendly people here. I keep going back more then I should. read more

Get the Dutch letters. They don't look like much, but taste amazing.