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Appleton’s Sweetest Legacy: This Family Bakery Has Been Crafting Cookie Magic Since 1967

Published: July 25, 2025

Since 1967, Simple Simon Bakery has been the Fox Cities’ go-to destination for everything from show-stopping wedding cakes to those perfect morning donuts that make your coworkers jealous.

What started as Sylvester Simon’s vision has blossomed into a true Appleton institution, now lovingly run by Scott Simon and Dawn Ebert.

You’ll discover that this isn’t just another bakery – it’s a place where grandmother Gladys Simon’s original sugar cookie recipe still creates thousands of Christmas treats each year, and where paczki day has become their absolute busiest celebration.

Signature Sweets & Daily Delights

The Legendary Christmas Cookies: These aren’t your average decorated cookies. Using a three-generation family recipe for both the sugar cookie dough and satin icing, you’ll find these beautifully dipped treats are crafted with a technique so efficient that their general manager can decorate hundreds in a single day with minimal breakage. Each cookie gets the perfect balance of sweet, buttery cookie and smooth icing that melts in your mouth.

Award-Winning Donuts: From classic glazed to show-stopping orange creme donuts that out-of-town visitors specifically return for, their daily selection never disappoints. You’ll find everything from rich chocolate triple chocolate donuts to creative seasonal varieties, plus crullers that locals specifically seek out year after year.

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Custom Wedding Masterpieces: Their wedding cakes aren’t just desserts – they’re edible art pieces. Whether you’re dreaming of classic elegance or contemporary designs with fresh flowers and fondant accents, Dawn (their wedding consultant extraordinaire) works with you to create something that perfectly matches your vision. Couples consistently rave about how their rustic-style cakes with fresh flowers exceeded every expectation.

Gourmet Cupcakes & Specialty Treats: You’ll discover display cases absolutely stuffed with an incredible variety of cupcakes, from simple vanilla to elaborate themed creations. Their birthday cake donuts (complete with individual candles) have become legendary for office celebrations, and their cheesecake bars disappear faster than you can blink at wedding receptions.

Artisan Breads & Rolls: Beyond sweets, their hamburger and brat buns earn consistent praise for quality and freshness. You’ll also find unique options like their twice-baked potato loaf that surprisingly tastes exactly like the real thing, plus classic coffee cakes that regulars grab every Monday for just $7.

Bakery Atmosphere & Special Touches

Classic Neighborhood Feel: You’ll step into a warm, traditional bakery atmosphere with that unmistakable homey charm. The display cases create an impressive visual feast that draws you in immediately, packed floor to ceiling with colorful pastries, elegant cakes, and tempting treats that make choosing nearly impossible.

Family Legacy Tradition: The space feels authentically family-owned, where three generations of baking expertise shows in every detail. You can sense the pride in traditional recipes and time-tested techniques, especially when you learn their Christmas cookie process hasn’t changed since the 1960s.

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Early Bird Paradise: Opening at 5 AM most days (3 AM on weekdays!), you’ll find this is the perfect spot for grabbing fresh pastries before work or surprising colleagues. The early hours mean everything is incredibly fresh, often still warm from the ovens.

Practical Considerations

Pricing Sweet Spot: You’ll find their pricing extremely reasonable compared to other bakeries in the area. Corporate cookie orders, wedding dessert bars, and daily treats all offer excellent value, with many customers specifically noting how affordable their services are without sacrificing quality.

Custom Order Magic: They excel at bringing your wildest ideas to life. Whether it’s 250 corporate cookies with your logo printed perfectly, or an elaborate themed birthday cake that seems impossible, they consistently deliver exactly what you envision. Email them a week ahead for custom cookies, and they’ll handle the rest.

Fundraising Champion: They’ve revolutionized community fundraising by managing everything online – from order forms featuring your organization’s logo to payment processing and pickup coordination. Local preschools and organizations consistently choose them because the process is so seamless.

Perfect Timing: Wednesday is cookie day with special deals, while Mondays feature $7 coffee cakes and $13 dozen muffins. Christmas season and paczki day represent their absolute busiest times, so plan accordingly if you want their seasonal specialties.

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Wedding Planning Excellence: Dawn’s consultation process includes a room filled with sample cakes of various sizes, so you can visualize exactly what you’re ordering. They’re incredibly accommodating for out-of-town couples, though scheduling might require some flexibility around their standard business hours.


Simple Simon Bakery
📍 218 E Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI 54911

Writer: Alicia Verville
Contributor

I love writing and I love Minneapolis! My favorite places to explore are charming small towns, vibrant arts scene, and hidden gems anywhere outdoors. Fall foliage with a good documentary is my version of heaven.