When Jodie Hawthorne took over Great Harvest Bread Co. in the fall of 2017, she was still trying to get a handle on running a bakery when the holidays were upon her. She had no idea what to expect and found herself running to the store constantly to restock her kitchen. 

“We managed to get all our orders out on time, but it was crazy,” Hawthorne said. “Hopefully we’ll be a little less crazed this year.”

Great Harvest, 5327 Oleander Drive in Wilmington, bakes up all manner of holiday sweets including stollen, panettone, babka and gingerbread. Also on the holiday menu: cinnamon rolls in the shape of Christmas trees, (now available in two sizes), teddy bear-shaped breads and apple streusel and cranberry orange teacakes.

Whole pies are available, as well as a rotating selection of sweets such as cookies, muffins and scones that the bakery carries on a regular basis. Hawthorne explained that the holiday menu offerings are in addition to the regular bake schedule and all items can be ordered in advance. 

“The best way to insure customers get exactly what they’re looking for at the holidays is to place an order,” Hawthorne said. 

Last call for orders will be Saturday, Dec. 22, with pickup available 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve.

This is also the first holiday season that the café menu is available, offering customers the opportunity to order sandwich and sweet trays, as well as salads, for 12 or 24 guests. 

Great Harvest also carries Carolina Coffee Company whole bean and ground coffee, including seasonal favorites Pumpkin Dream Pie and Carolina Christmas, and Frontier soup mixes in flavors such as potato leek, tomato basil and squash and lentil. 

The full holiday menu and bake schedule are availabe on the bakery's Facebook page.

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