Those with a sweet tooth are well catered for in Orkney as the county has an abundance of craft bakeries and sweet manufacturers.
Shortbread made with Orkney butter is meltingly moreish, with dozens and dozens of other Orkney favourites produced by all the bakers on the islands.
Local bakeries
Argo’s Bakery in Stromness makes biscuits, bread, cakes and fancies and the ever popular Orkney Fudge. This confection, which comes in several flavours including a Highland Park Whisky variety, is well known outside Orkney. Here it is the key ingredient of one of the most popular desserts – Orkney Fudge cheesecake. Elsewhere, the Westray Bakehouse hit the headlines when it created the Westray Wife shortbread, in the shape of the 5,000-year-old figurine found at a nearby archaeological dig. The firm also makes Fatty Cutties, a traditional biscuit with currants, which hails from the island. Argo's and the Westray Bakehouse's products are also available in outlets in Kirkwall. Rendall's Bakery in Kirkwall's Willow Road is another well supported local baker with a range of innovative and traditional breads and cakes, and a special range of delicous biscuits, Baikies Biscuits. Many local bakery products are made with beremeal, Orkney's Viking grain, milled at the Barony Mill in Birsay.
Artisan breadmakers
In recent years, two smaller producers have begun baking breads and other goodies in Orkney. The Eviedale Bakehouse creates a range of sourdough breads and croissants which can be purchased from its honesty shop in Evie, where it also has a pizzeria with an incredible menu on offer. It also makes pizzas that can be baked at home. In Kirkwall, the Orkney Sourdough Company bakes its breads and cakes to traditional Swedish recipes which delicious results.
Superfoods
Known across Britain is the Stockan's Orkney Oatcake, baked in Stromness. These distinctive triangular oatcakes are made using a traditonal recipe and are also available in flavoured mini rounds as well as a wheat-free variety. Stockan's heritage range adds a number of ingredients too, including chilli and spelt.
Sweet treats
There are some talented home bakers in Orkney, with incredible birthday, anniversary, and wedding cakes available from makers like Callum's Cakes and Brough Bakes. Odin's Kitchen brings a taste of the continent to Orkney too with a delicious range of French macarons available to buy locally or order direct. In Birsay, the JP Orkney Honesty Box has become an attraction in its own right, offering biscuits, bakes, chutneys, condiments and much more.
