Sugar & Spice: Where to Get Holiday Treats in WashCo

Candy made by Mrs. Claus herself – what more could you want out of the holiday season? This nostalgic Christmas-themed shop in the heart of Monongahela is one we’ve been waiting to talk about in a Christmas blog for some time, as the store is named in honor of the owner’s 90-year-old mother who’s dressed up as Mrs. Claus for the past several years to keep her daughter’s love of Christmas going year-round. Sweets by Mrs. C is beloved locally for its homey atmosphere, 24+ flavors of soft serve and homemade hard ice cream, hand dipped chocolate and nostalgic candy offerings. If you’re thinking of anywhere to pick up Christmas treats, we absolutely suggest a trip down to Monongahela.

Is it a blog about holiday treats if we don’t mention Sarris Candies? A longstanding icon of Canonsburg and beyond, Sarris Candies is famous nationwide for its chocolate, but we think that if you stop by looking for holiday treats you might as well get yourself something from the retro ice cream parlor too, especially when holiday flavors like Egg Nog and Peppermint Sticks are in stock. Popular holiday specialties are the forever iconic chocolate-covered pretzels, peppermint bark, chocolate covered popcorn, peanut butter buckeyes, and a giant chocolate “Bashcake” filled with chocolate covered pretzels that, yep, you bash open with a wooden mallet.

Like Sarris Candies, Pink House Chocolates is a highly popular local hotspot for all things sweet. This woman-owned, small-batch chocolatier prides itself on using responsibly-sourced ingredients, as well as its various vegan, gluten-free and soy-free options. Best sellers include cashew milk chocolate bark, pretzel white chocolate bark, candy cane bark, chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate Santas and so much more. And yes, before you ask, the house actually is pink. 

Joe’s Bakery in downtown Washington is proper old-school. There’s no website and no Instagram (it does have Facebook though), you simply just have to know when to show up. The locals know, but we’ll spill the secret: It’s at 5:30 a.m., when this veteran-owned bakery opens for the day with tons of fresh goods on the shelves. Joe’s is famous for its donuts, pepperoni rolls, bread, homemade pies, coffee cakes and more. There’s always a line right on opening around this time of year for Joe’s Christmas cookies, but you’ve got to really be dedicated, as this bakery closes at 9 a.m. and everything is first come, first serve.

Opened in 2022 on West Pike Street, Canonsburg Cake Company is owned by a teacher-turned-pro-baker who’s made it her mission to bake some of the best cakes and cupcakes in the Pittsburgh region. We absolutely recommend stopping in the bakery in the historic Colaizzo building and checking out the famous cupcake wall, with flavors like “Lawfully Wedded Raspberry,” “Buckeye,” “Buttered Maple Syrup,” “Snickerdoodle,” “Spicy Hot Chocolate” and more all on display. If you’re not a Christmas cookie person, Canonsburg Cake Company might just save your holiday sweet tooth.

This one's a twofer - a bakery and a candy shop. Owned and operated by mom Naomi, her daughter Ashton and sister Connie, Sambol's Bakery & Candy Shop in Monongahela has it all: bakery goods, a daily lunch special, and a variety of candy. Local favorites include lady locks, cinnamon buns, eclairs, fresh donuts and more, but the Christmas cookies always come highly recommended. The bakery also takes custom orders, so if you have something special in mind, there's no doubt Sambol's can handle it.