Dough & Joe Introduce
Introduction / Overview
For Iowans seeking the authentic taste of a traditional, small-town bakery, Dough & Joe in Cresco is a delightful discovery. More than just a shop, it’s a local institution that has earned its place on lists of Iowa's best bakeries. Customers rave about the classic, homemade quality, often describing it as a "what Nana would bake" establishment. This is a place where you'll find a wide variety of delectable items that go far beyond the standard doughnut case, including an impressive array of Kolaches, Danishes, pillows, apple turnovers, and their popular glazed croissants and twists.
Dough & Joe is a quintessential Bakery that serves as a vital community gathering spot, pairing its freshly baked goods with high-quality Coffee offerings. It is a perfect destination for Breakfast, offering a warm and inviting space for customers to Dine-in, grab a treat for Takeout, or enjoy the Onsite services. The atmosphere is defined by friendly staff—the "bakery ladies"—who are known for working diligently to serve their loyal customer base with a smile. For those who prioritize quality, traditional baking, and a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere, Dough & Joe offers a pleasant experience that even travelers from hours away vow to repeat.
Location and Accessibility
Dough & Joe is centrally and conveniently located at 114 N Elm St, Cresco, IA 52136, USA. Situated in the heart of Cresco, this address places the bakery right in the center of the community, making it an easy and accessible stop for local residents and visitors traveling through Howard County. The downtown location gives it a charming, classic main street appeal that adds to the overall pleasant atmosphere.
Accessibility for all members of the Iowa community is considered at Dough & Joe. For customers driving to the location, the facility provides a dedicated Wheelchair accessible parking lot. This ensures that patrons with mobility needs can park conveniently, minimizing the distance to the entrance for picking up their orders or enjoying a relaxing meal inside. The setup is clearly designed to allow for a "Quick visit," making it easy for early commuters or busy individuals to secure their morning coffee and pastries without significant delay.
Services Offered
As a full-service local bakery and coffee house, Dough & Joe offers a variety of service options to accommodate its customers' preferences, whether they are looking for a quick grab-and-go item or a relaxed sit-down experience. The services available include:
- Dine-in Service: Providing a comfortable space with Seating where customers can enjoy their Breakfast or treats, and sip on their fresh Coffee.
- Takeout: Offering all pastries, breads, and coffee for customers to conveniently take with them for consumption off-premises.
- Onsite Services: The staff is available to assist customers with their selections and process custom orders for specialty items like cakes for all occasions, including photo cakes.
- Specialty Coffee Offerings: In addition to standard coffee, they offer specialty drinks like espresso, lattes, steamers, chai, and hot cider, along with whole bean coffee to go.
- Custom Baking Orders: Customers can place orders for a wide variety of baked goods, including custom cakes, buns, and larger quantities of their popular pastries and breads.
- Convenient Payment: Accepting Credit cards for quick and easy transactions.
Features / Highlights
Dough & Joe is highly regarded in the Iowa region for several key features that set it apart from typical bakeries, confirming its status as a local favorite and award winner:
- Award-Winning Status: Voted as one of Iowa's Best Donuts and consistently ranked among the top bakeries in the state, despite being a small-town operation.
- The Famous Cream-Filled Long John: This legendary pastry is a signature item that draws customers from across the region and has even been requested for weddings in place of traditional cake.
- Diverse Traditional Pastry Menu: Features a unique array of "Nana-style" baked goods, including Kolaches, Danishes, glazed croissants, glazed twists, pillows, and a wide variety of fresh breads and soft, chewy cookies (with Peanut Butter being a customer favorite).
- Comprehensive Baked Goods Selection: Offers far more than just donuts and pastries, including muffins, buns, and specialty cakes for all occasions, including photo cakes.
- Dedicated Coffee House: Provides a full range of specialty Coffee and espresso drinks, positioning it as a complete morning and mid-day destination.
- Small-Town Charm and Friendly Service: Known for its welcoming atmosphere and dedicated, hard-working staff who ensure a pleasant and friendly customer experience, embodying true Iowa hospitality.
Contact Information
For Iowans wishing to place an order for a specialty cake, inquire about the famous cream-filled long johns, or simply check the daily selection of fresh bread and pastries, Dough & Joe can be contacted at the following details:
Address: 114 N Elm St, Cresco, IA 52136, USA
Phone: (563) 547-2811
Mobile Phone: +1 563-547-2811
What is Worth Choosing
Dough & Joe is absolutely worth choosing for any Iowa resident who values quality, tradition, and community spirit. First and foremost, you are choosing an award-winning establishment that has been officially recognized as one of the best in the state—a major accomplishment for a small-town bakery. The quality assurance comes from the fact that they are known for baking their goods fresh daily, a practice that results in a superior, homemade taste that can't be matched by large, commercial operations.
The menu selection provides another compelling reason to choose Dough & Joe. Beyond the incredible variety of pastries—which includes unique regional favorites like Kolaches and their renowned cream-filled long johns—they offer a full range of products, from fresh, high-quality bakery bread (like their excellent sourdough) to cookies and custom cakes. This makes it a one-stop-shop for both daily treats and major celebrations. Furthermore, the ability to get a delicious pastry along with a specialty espresso drink or chai latte makes it a complete morning solution.
Finally, the enduring small-town customer experience is a significant draw. Customers are always "met with a smile" by staff who are visibly dedicated to their work. This friendly, patient, and welcoming atmosphere is what defines a great local Iowa business. By visiting Dough & Joe, you are not just buying a pastry; you are supporting a cornerstone of the Cresco community that delivers genuinely delicious food in a truly pleasant environment.
Dough & Joe Details
Service options
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Coffee
Dining options
- Breakfast
Planning
- Quick visit
Payments
- Credit cards
Dough & Joe Photos










Dough & Joe Location
Dough & Joe Reviews
donutscoffeecreamcashpillowsbagelscoconutcarameltownrolls
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1What a pleasant place with delicious coffee and pastries. It's also very reasonably priced. We live hours away but will stop again when we're in the area. We'll done!
August 17 · James JorgensenNot your typical bakery... More of a "what Nana would bake" bakery. They have all kinds of kolaches, danishes, pillows, apple turnovers, pockets, etc. It's not all donuts. Love their glazed croissants. Alot of what they have is good. I always go for the glazed twists and a lemon Danish. Bf likes the pillows and raised donuts. Sometimes I buy bread here... Want to make it more of a habit to buy bakery bread than the grocery store crap. Their sourdough works well for dipping in olive oil. Love their cookies! Soft and chewy! PB is my fave and my bf likes choc chip. Always met with a smile from the bakery ladies and you always know they are workn their butts off for customers. If they are busy just remember it is a small town bakery so have patience and manners!
May 25 · Cindy RobertsI love, love, love the bakery goods! Maybe a little too much... But I did limit myself to one items which is so hard to do. Glad that it took a little while to make my daughters and my drink so I could take my time deciding. With this covid thing you feel like you you need to rushso others cancome into the store too. This is a small place so not much room for many people. The latte I had was good also.
October 09 · lizajoyStopped in to get some sweets for the wife and myself, the staff were very friendly and helpful. This business has a very inviting atmosphere! I will definitely stop again. The prices are good to.
March 26 · Shawn DouglasThis was the last stop on a list of Iowa's Best Donuts I'd found a while ago and it did not disappoint! Fresh, delicious donuts in a variety of classic styles. Nothing fancy or weird, just great, simple donuts. Friendly staff as well that pointed me to the nearest ATM a half block away because they are CASH OR CHECK ONLY. Not a big deal, as I should have expected that.
July 20 · Drew Davis
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