The Outer Banks' Orange Blossom Bakery & Café® set to open in Berlin, Maryland

If you've ever traveled down Highway 12 on North Carolina’s Hatteras Island, chances are you've followed the sweet scent of fried dough and fresh-baked bread to the legendary Orange Blossom Bakery & Café® in Buxton. A beloved coastal staple known far and wide for its towering Apple Uglies™ and overstuffed breakfast sandwiches, Orange Blossom isn’t just a bakery—it’s a pilgrimage.

Porch at original Buxton, NC location

Sign at original Buxton, NC location

Apple Uglies™

Ceramic mugs

Assorted baked goods

Orange Blossom Cook Book

Now, beachgoers a little further north have a reason to celebrate: Orange Blossom is preparing to open its second location at 8435 Stephen Decatur Highway in Berlin, Maryland, just across from Frontier Town, and perfectly positioned en route to Assateague Island National Seashore.

Founded in the 1950s as the Orange Blossom Motel by Walter Barnett, named for the orange trees that once flourished on the property, the Buxton original evolved into a full-fledged bakery and café in the decades that followed. In 2007, Lisa and Charley Pereira took over the business with a mission: keep the magic alive. And they did just that.

From the recipes to the rustic charm, the Pereiras have honored the roots of the brand while making a few welcome upgrades (like adding air conditioning to the kitchen and the decadent Myers Rum Raisin Cinnamon Roll).

Let’s talk about the star of the show: Apple Uglies™. If you know, you know. If you don’t, prepare your appetite. The Apple Ugly™ is a local legend in pastry form: an enormous, crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside apple fritter. We promise one bite, and you’ll understand why they have a cult following. They’re available fried (the traditional method and fan favorite) or baked, and if you’re feeling a little extra, try the Chocolate Ugly™ – affectionately nicknamed a “Krupa.”

Of course, it’s not just the Uglies that draw the crowds. Their breakfast sandwiches are built to fuel a day at the beach, exploring Assateague, visiting friends, or fishing (which, coincidentally, the Pereiras can also accommodate aboard their 57-ft, 55-mph “Sushi” charter boat).

• Mondo: Bacon, sausage, egg & cheese on your choice of fresh-baked bread.

• Buxton: Not for the faint of heart—3 sausage patties, 6 pieces of bacon, 3 eggs, tomato, and mayo on homemade bread.

• Donut Holes: Glazed, chocolate, or both. You’ll want a dozen. Or two.

• And More: Cheese Danish, Apple Turnovers, Cinnamon Twists, classic Cinnamon Rolls—and don’t skip that Rum Raisin version.

Follow @orangeblossombakerycafe on Facebook for the latest on when they’ll be opening. Their full menu is available on their website at www.OrangeBlossomBakery.com 

Whether you’re a longtime Outer Banks devotee or a first-time visitor to the Eastern Shore, one thing is certain: Orange Blossom Bakery & Café® has found the perfect second home here on the Eastern Shore.