One thing I miss is the freedom to walk into a bakery or cafe, peruse the baked goods in the glass case — over sized muffins, crumble-topped squares, spirals of cinnamon, scones flecked with some kind of berry — and… pick one. “No, I changed my mind. I’ll have that one instead.” Take it to go, or for here, and nibble at it as I sip my coffee or walk down the street to my next destination. That kind of experience abruptly disappeared when I started a gluten-free diet.
But little by little, bakers are bringing back that loving feeling by offering gluten-free goodness in those glass cases. Some have created bakeries dedicated to serving the gluten-free community. Others have “regular” bakeries but have begun to recognize the need to offer gluten-free items to their customers. Either way, I believe that we will see more and more gluten-free in the bakeries of the future.
And even now, you can find gluten-free treats at these California bakeries (in alphabetical order by name)…
ALMOND GLORY
Almond Glory gluten-free products are manufactured and can be purchased in Le Crumbs Bakery in Van Nuys, CA. Made using almond meal, products include: pizza crust, foccacia bread, brownies, muffins, scones, bagels and danishes. The bakery follows strict gluten-free guidelines for the manufacturing of Almond Glory products. Le Crumbs Bakery also makes specialty made-to-order gluten-free cakes. You can also order online.
AZNA GLUTEN FREE
Azna Gluten Free is located in Cameron Park. At their retail bakery, you can find waffles, brownies, pizza, scones (I love the maple pecan), cinnamon rolls, bread and rolls. They also offer cakes made to order. All products are gluten-free and vegan (dairy-free and egg-free). Their products can also be found at retail locations in northern California.
BEWITCHING ELEGANCE
Bewitching Elegance, located just south of San Francisco, creates made-to-order decadent cakes, including gluten-free wedding cakes. According to a blog post about gluten-free wedding cakes, they seem to have a very good understanding of cross-contamination. Minimum order for any kind of cake is $250, and for once gluten-free cakes don’t cost more than the others!
CRAVE BAKERY
Everything made by Crave Bakery in San Francisco is gluten-free and dairy-free. Crave is a wholesale bakery, meaning that you can’t walk in the door, but you can find their delicious products at nice grocery stores throughout California. Products include chocolate cake, monster cookies, cupcakes, lemon tart and brownies. Crave is also now offering made-to-0rder gluten-free and allergen-free wedding and event cakes!
FARMER’S KITCHEN CAFE
Farmer’s Kitchen Cafe, located in Davis right off the I-80, not only offers gluten-free and casein-free baked goods, but is a full restaurant serving soups, salads, pastas, pizzas and sandwiches (ask for gluten-free bread). You can purchase breads, bagels, pies, cheesecake, english muffins, hamburger and sandwich rolls, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chocolate dipped cookies and special occasion cookies and cakes that are made fresh daily. You can also find fresh homemade gourmet dried pastas, frozen ravioli, organic soups, gourmet tamales, fresh ready to heat entrees, quiche, pizza, handmade tortillas and ravioli in organic marinara sauce. There is even pasta dough and pie dough in the freezer case for you to take home and make yourself. Their products are now also being offered in Nugget markets.
GLUTEN FREE GOURMET
Gluten Free Gourmet is a wholesale bakery that is just getting started in Saratoga (south of San Francisco). Products include cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, pizzas, cheesecakes, muffins, soups and breads. If you are a carrot cake fan, you should try this one — it is delicious. Contact Gluten Free Gourmet to find out where to purchase products.
GRINDSTONE BAKERY
Grindstone Bakery is a small artisan wholesale bakery located in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. They bake their bread in a wood-fired brick oven. All their breads and cookies are wheat, yeast and dairy-free and they have a line of gluten-free ones also that are made in a separate facility using a separate, dedicated stone mill that prevents contamination with gluten-containing grains. Their products can be purchased online or found at stores around the Bay Area.
MARIPOSA BAKING COMPANY
Mariposa Baking Company is a dedicated gluten-free bakeshop in Oakland. Walk in and treat yourself to a variety of freshly baked goods or a slice of pizza hot out of the oven. You can also find some of their baked goods at stores all around California. Read about my first trip to Mariposa.
MUFFIN PHYSICS
Muffin Physics is a gluten-free and allergen-free (no wheat, dairy, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, sulfite, or yeast) wholesale bakery in San Diego. Their products can be found in retail stores in the San Diego area.
SWEET ADDICTIONS
Sweet Addictions Bakery, located in Montclair, CA, is a regular bakery with a wide variety of gluten-free bakery items that can be made to order. They have a small front retail space for walk-in customers, and they try to have at least one gluten-free item available. They are a shared facility but say, “we take our responsibility to our gluten-free friends very, very seriously” by having dedicated pans/utensils, quarantining their GF baking ingredients, and thoroughly cleaning preparation surfaces to avoid cross-contamination. Their gluten-free brochure looks fabulous, especially if you have a special gluten-free cake you want to order.
THE ART CAFE AND BAKERY
The Art Cafe and Bakery, located in Atascadero, offers freshly baked gluten-free (and dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free) items every day — but they sell out fast! Baked goods include cookies, banana bread, cinnamon raisin bread, frosted brownies, bread, dinner rolls and more. Bakery items can also be ordered online for pick up at the cafe or to ship to you.
THE SENSITIVE BAKER
Located in Culver City near LA, The Sensitive Baker is a 100% gluten-free and dairy-free bakery that offers a variety of baked goods, including breadsticks, crusty rolls, pizza crusts and sweet treats. They also do special holiday things like gingerbread houses and decorated cookies.
Do you know of another gluten-free bakery in California? Email me and let me know!
Jennifer B says
Great round-up of CA gluten-free bakeries!
Donna says
Thank you for including the art cafe, we are a small city bakery BUT I have worked long and hard to perfect my recipes. I have gluten free dairy free egg free nut free and soy free products as well as using agave nectar in place of sugar! So if you have an allergy look us up we can help!
seamaiden says
Excellent article. I’ve done some in-depth review of a few of these GF bakeries- there are some real gems here in California. Just wish they were closer together and closer to Meeee in Sunnyvale. 😉
-Sea
donna says
Hi
I am very aware that finding gluten free baked goods that actually taste great is rare.I have taken 2 years to perfect my recipes and i am very proud of my accomplishments. I lost my 52 yr old aunt to colon cancer as a result of celiac disease and it has been my mission ever since to provide great treats to celiac diagnosed people!!!! It has been very challenging and yes even me as a trained chef…..I have made my hard,dense, bricks!! BUT I prevailed and I have great treats and breads for everyone to enjoy…..please try them, if you do not agree let me know….I will refund your money!!! I even have cinnamon rolls!!! alkl my gluten free products are also made with agave necter…no sugar! as well as dairy free egg free soy free and nut free!! I use rice milk. If you have any other allergies let me know I will tailor a product to your needs. I am a R.N. and I am personally committed to this disease, email me and I will do all I can for you! http://www.artcafeandbakery.com
Betty B. says
Is there anything in Carmel? I will be going this weekend and wondered about places to buy GF items.
Sandy says
The Sensitive Baker makes delicious cakes. My daughter just had one made for our 30th wedding anniversary. Everyone who tasted it could not believe it was gluten-free and dairy free. They sent the cake somewhere else to be decorated. They are pricey but worth it. They use some soy in their baked goods so if you are allergic to soy it is good to ask which ones have it. When I was in Culver City I stopped in at the bakery and tried some of their breadsticks (delicious) and cupcakes were wonderful. It is a small bakery but well worth stopping. They close early on Fridays and are not open Saturday. Open on Sunday tho.
suzy says
check out flour chylde bakery in Novato, CA, they offer gluten free tortes that are amazing! i found them at the san carlos farmer’s market. http://www.flourchyld.com/Tortes.html
Ingrid Hohe says
Gluten free wedding cakes anywhere in San Diego or a list of them?
My daughter is getting married 5/1/10 and can’t even test any cakes as they are not gluten free.
Her email is mollsmakeup@yahoo.com
Thanks
Ingrid
alison says
Ingrid,
Not sure if these work, but have you tried:
http://www.asweetdesign.info/
http://dessert-by-design.com/
Or, if you can get a chef to make it for you, here is a wedding cake guide using Pamela’s
Products.
http://www.pamelasproducts.com/media/Weddingbrochure.pdf
john says
just wanted to tell you guy about johannsbakery.com
or the bakery itself locateed in vista ca they make by far the best gluten free bread out there i have it shipped to me all the time..its a must.you can order online at johannsbakery.com or call (619)869o-6541
john
Andrea says
Hi Alison. Thanks for the great list of gluten free bakeries. I realize now that you wrote this over a year ago. Nice to see there were so many places to get high quality gluten free items back in Feb of 2009. I am originally from CA, but have been on the East Coast for the last 8 years (during which I found out about my own allergy).
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I invite you to come check out Zest Bakery in San Carlos. I currently work there and think our products are really fabulous. We bake breads, cookies and muffins every day and are still working on rolling out new products. Here is our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/zestbakery?ref=ts
Sugar and Scribe Bakery says
Hello Alison,
Sugar and Scribe Bakery does gluten free cakes, pies, and tarts. Sugar and Scribe is a family owned, old school, hand crafted bakery. Daily, we offer a few gluten free baked items. However, all of our cakes and pies can be ordered gluten free. In addition, we have gluten free cobbler and banana bread to order. We would appreciate your help in letting the community known about our gluten free options.
Many thanks,
Sugar&Scribe!
Alison says
Sugar&Scribe,
Since you make regular gluten-full foods, do you take care to prevent cross-contamination for very sensitive people?
Misty says
Try Sensitive Sweets in Fountain Valley & San Clemente. They also ship 🙂 http://www.sensitivesweets.com