Sweetness with a Spark
At Short N Sweet Bakery Café in Hilo, Hawai‘i, we believe every day deserves something a little sweet.
Founded by Maria Short, a nationally recognized pastry chef and proud competitor on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, our bakery is where island flavors meet serious pastry skills.
Maria’s Story
Maria’s love for baking started long before the bakery opened its doors. From experimenting in her family’s kitchen as a kid to earning honors at L’Academie de Cuisine, she has always been fascinated by the alchemy of butter, sugar, and flour. Her career has taken her from teaching culinary skills at sea to crafting signature desserts that celebrate Hawai‘i’s unique flavors.
Over the years, Maria has honed her artistry by blending classic European techniques with the fresh, bold ingredients of the islands—think lilikoi, macadamia nuts, and tropical fruits. That passion for flavor and detail eventually caught national attention, landing her on the Food Network stage in the Holiday Baking Championship.
Recognition & Awards
Maria’s creations have been featured on the Travel Channel’s Delicious Destinations, in Pacific Weddings, and in Honolulu Magazine.
Most recently, Short N Sweet has proudly been voted one of the Best Bakeries on Hawai‘i Island by HAWAII Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards—every single year since 2021.
Why Locals (and Visitors) Love Us
Award-Winning & Island-Approved: Best Bakeries on Hawai‘i Island, Readers’ Choice since 2021.
Food Network Fame: Maria brought her bold flavors and aloha spirit to the national stage on Holiday Baking Championship.
From Hilo with Aloha: Every pastry, cake, and cookie is made from scratch with local love and fresh ingredients.
Community at Heart: We’re more than a bakery—we’re part of the daily celebrations, milestones, and sweet moments of Hilo.
So whether you’re here for a buttery croissant, a slice of Maria’s signature strawberry cream cake, or a custom creation for life’s biggest celebrations, Short N Sweet Bakery Café is ready to make it unforgettable.
PRESS
HAWAII MAGAZINE - 5 BEST BAKERIES ON THE BIG ISLAND
Be sure to visit Short N Sweet Bakery & Café hungry. Located in downtown Hilo, the neighborhood bakery specializes in incredible custom cakes and one-of-a-kind desserts. From handcrafted macarons and fluffy cupcakes to lilikoʻi bars, you’ll be tempted to try all the sweet treats. - Read the full article.
EATER – THE 16 ESSENTIAL RESTAURANTS IN HILO, HAWAII
“You’ll find a variety of pastries and luxurious made-to-order cakes, including the bestselling Hilo Bars: freshly ground macadamia nut flour, from sister company Kipuka Mills, added to an oatmeal cookie base, topped with a chess pie-like butterscotch filling, and sprinkled with more crunchy macadamia nuts. The Liliko‘i Bar, another local favorite, combines a shortbread base with liliko‘i curd, made with fruit sourced from East Hawai‘i Farms. Come hungry; you’ll want to try everything.” - Read the full article.
TRAVEL CHANNEL - 2018
Delicious Destinations host Andrew Zimmern heads to Hawaii's Big Island to take in its laid-back cuisine. From ancient traditions like lau lau and opakapaka fish to new traditions like the loco moco and sweet bread, he dives deep into the island's food culture... MORE
PACIFIC WEDDINGS - 2018
Maria and her husband Dien fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe in Hilo, Hawaii. They create delicious works of cake art from scratch using the freshest ingredients.... MORE
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES - 2017
A guide to the the best of the Aloha State. The largest of all the islands, Hawaii Island continues to grow in size as lava flows into the sea. Beyond the volcano, there's so much to experience here, from cowboy country, luxury resorts to eco-adventures.... MORE
HAWAII TRIBUNE HERALD - 2016
Short n Sweet Bakery &Café was the top vote-getter, winning the People’s Choice award at the Rotary Club of South Hilo’s 12th annual Hilo Huli.Short n Sweet offered a decadent banana dessert as its winning entry.... MORE
HONOLULU MAGAZINE - 2011
While all our previous sweets can be found on Oahu, an unexpected find in Hilo reveals a high-quality bakery that we wish would move to Honolulu. Short n Sweet makes an assortment of breads, croissants, pies, cupcakes.... MORE