Pastry vs. Bakery — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 11, 2023
"Pastry" refers to a specific type of baked good made primarily of dough, butter, and sugar. "Bakery" is a place where various baked goods, including pastries, are made and sold.
Difference Between Pastry and Bakery
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Pastry" is a term that focuses on a specific category of baked goods that are often sweet and made with ingredients like flour, sugar, and butter. "Bakery," on the other hand, refers to a physical location or establishment where a wide range of baked goods, not just pastries, are produced and sold.
When it comes to ingredients, pastries usually involve more fats and sugars, making them rich and flavorful. "Bakery" doesn't refer to a type of food but rather a place that could offer not just pastries but also bread, cakes, and other baked goods.
"Pastry" can be further divided into various types such as tarts, pies, and croissants. A "bakery" can be a setting for not only making these pastries but also an assortment of other items including cookies, bagels, and even savory products like sandwiches or pizzas, depending on the bakery's specialty.
Usage-wise, "pastry" can be both singular and plural, often depending on the number of items you're referring to. In contrast, "bakery" is a singular noun that can represent a whole range of baked products and the place where they are made.
In culinary arts or cooking, "pastry" skills might refer to the specific techniques required for creating such delicate, often intricate, baked goods. A "bakery," conversely, would require a broader set of skills, ranging from bread-making to decorating cakes.
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Comparison Chart
Type
Food Item
Place
Range
Specific
Broad
Skills Needed
Specialized
Varied
Grammatical Use
Singular & Plural
Mostly Singular
Examples
Pie, tart
Bread, cake, tart
Compare with Definitions
Pastry
Has subtypes like pies and tarts.
The bakery offers a variety of pastries including pies and tarts.
Bakery
A place where baked goods are made.
The bakery opens at 6 a.m.
Pastry
Requires specialized skills.
Making pastry is an art.
Bakery
Can be a business.
She owns a successful bakery.
Pastry
Often made with layers.
The flaky layers of the pastry were delightful.
Bakery
Offers a range of products.
The bakery sells bread, cakes, and pastries.
Pastry
Pastry is a dough of flour, water and shortening (solid fats, including butter or lard) that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as bakers' confectionery.
Bakery
Requires diverse skills.
Running a bakery is not easy.
Pastry
Dough or paste consisting primarily of shortening or another fatty substance mixed with flour and water, often baked and used as a crust for sweet foods such as pies and tarts.
Bakery
Can specialize in certain goods.
The bakery is known for its artisan bread.
Pastry
Baked sweet foods made with pastry
Viennese pastry.
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment that produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cookies, cakes, pastries, and pies. Some retail bakeries are also categorized as cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.
Pastry
One of these baked foods.
Bakery
A place where products such as bread, cake, and pastries are baked or sold. Also called bakeshop.
Pastry
(Informal) A sweet baked good.
Bakery
A shop in which bread (and often other baked goods such as cakes) is baked and/or sold.
Pastry
(countable) A baked food item made from flour and fat pastes such as pie crust; also tarts, bear claws, napoleons, puff pastries, etc.
That pastry shop sells not just pastries, but all kinds of baked goods.
Bakery
The trade of a baker.
Pastry
(uncountable) The food group formed by the various kinds of pastries.
That pastry shop sells not just pastry, but all kinds of baked goods.
Bakery
The trade of a baker.
Pastry
(uncountable) The type of light flour-based dough used in pastries.
Bakery
A place for baking bread; a bakehouse.
Pastry
A place where pastry is made.
Bakery
A workplace where baked goods (breads and cakes and pastries) are produced or sold
Pastry
(uncountable) The act or art of making pastry.
He learned pastry from the great Gaston Lenôtre.
Pastry
Desserts of all kinds, whether or not these incorporate the baked item made from flour and fat, or that section of a kitchen that prepares these.
I used to work in the fish section, but now I've been moved to pastry.
Pastry
The place where pastry is made.
Pastry
Articles of food made of paste, or having a crust made of paste, as pies, tarts, etc.
Pastry
A dough of flour and water and shortening
Pastry
Any of various baked foods made of dough or batter
Pastry
A dough-based sweet baked good.
I ordered a pastry with my coffee.
Pastry
Can be sweet or savory.
The pastry could be filled with fruit or meat.
Common Curiosities
Can the word pastry be plural?
Yes, it can be both singular and plural.
Are all pastries sweet?
Most are, but pastries can also be savory.
Is a bakery a business?
Typically, yes, it's a business establishment.
Can a bakery specialize?
Yes, some bakeries specialize in certain types of baked goods.
What is a Pastry?
A pastry is a type of baked good, often sweet.
What is a Bakery?
A bakery is a place where baked goods are made and sold.
Is a croissant a pastry?
Yes, a croissant is a type of pastry.
Is pastry-making difficult?
It often requires specialized skills.
Do bakeries only sell bread?
No, they usually offer a range of baked goods including pastries.
Do all bakeries make pastries?
Most do, but it can vary.
Is pastry used in desserts only?
Mostly, but it can also be used in savory dishes.
Can you buy pastry at a bakery?
Generally, yes.
Is a pastry chef different from a baker?
Yes, a pastry chef specializes in pastries, while a baker has a broader range of skills.
Is puff pastry the same as pastry?
Puff pastry is a type of pastry.
Can a bakery be a cafe too?
Yes, some bakeries also serve as cafes.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
