Following a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in delicious baked goods and treats like the rest of the world. There are plenty of gluten free bakeries in California that cater to celiacs or those with gluten sensitivities, especially in some of our largest and most populated cities. These bakeries offer everything from gluten free cakes, pastries, and sweet treats to gluten free bagels, pizza, bread, and more..
If you’re traveling in California, try one of these amazing gluten free bakeries for your gluten free carb fix.
Humboldt County Gluten Free Bakeries
Arise Bakery
Arise Bakery makes the best gluten free baguettes I’ve ever had. They also make a wide variety of other freshly baked gluten free breads and products including bagels, sandwich buns, sourdough boules, sandwich bread (they use a great mix of grains and flours!) and more. You can buy from Arise Bakery directly if you visit their bakery, but the easiest way to get their products are to pick them at up at the various local businesses that carry them such as the North Coast Coop in Arcata and Eureka (a phenomenal natural foods supermarket/local chain), Los Bagels (to grab a toasted gluten free bagel-toasted up in a special separate ‘GF only’ toaster), or the local farmers’ market.
Raised Bakery
Raised Bakery, located in Eureka, is a bakery run by two women who were raised by natural food loving vegans. Their mission? To carry on the tradition their parents started, of cooking and eating good, real, and whole foods without any animal products or gluten. Raised specializes in yummy pies, bread, and cookies. You can order their cookies and bread via their online store but the pies must be bought at a local store (due to difficulties in shipping fresh pies!). Both the North Coast Coop and Eureka Natural Foods should always have a couple of flavors in stock in the freezer section.
San Francisco Gluten Free Bakeries
San Francisco has always been a city where you can find almost anything when it comes to food. It’s also a city chock-full of amazing vegetarian restaurants, vegan eateries, and organic cafes so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the city by the Bay also has a substantial list of great gluten free bakeries.
Kara’s Cupcakes Marina
Kara’s makes delicious cupcakes made in small batches with a focus on sustainability practices, gluten free, and organic products. This bakery offers fun seasonal novelties such as butterfly cookies for spring, halloween decor cupcakes, and more.
Mariposa Baking Company
This is one of the several bakeries that ship products to you. We suggest you try their gluten-free pizza, which is fresh and made-to-order, their scrumptious gluten free baguettes, gluten free bagels, or any of their smorgasbord of decadent pastries (which include everything from apple or cherry turnovers to cupcakes and cinnamon rolls). Aside from the delicious fresh goodies, there are gift packs, merchandise, and even gift cards to buy.
Odd Bagels
Odd Bagels is known for making the best New York-style gluten-free bagel on the West Coast (and maybe the country! I’ve never had a chewier gluten free bagel!). They are located in the Bay Area but don’t have a consumer storefront. You can order Odd Bagels crusty, chewy, gluten free bagels online via their website, or pick them up at one of the many locations in the Bay Area that carry them.
The Morning Dove Gluten-Free Bakery and Cafe
The Morning Dove Bakery and cafe is a great place to have breakfast and coffee. This place is 100% gluten-free, family-owned, eat-in, and offers take-away if you can’t stay. They’ll also take your special occasion and cake orders, offering a home-baked feel to your next event.
Wholesome Bakery
Mandy Harper and her team follow a completely sustainable and plant-based approach to baking. Their gluten free baked goods and products aren’t just good for you, they’re good for the planet! Wholesome Bakery specializes in decadent gluten free cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and other types of decadent sweet gluten free treats (two of their customers’ particular favorites are their Tiramasu cupcake and Apple Cardamom crumb cake-YUM!) but they do also make (savory) gluten free loaves of bread on a daily basis.
Wholesome Bakery offers delivery and pickup options, including a direct order and pick-up for what’s in-store right now.
Marin and Sonoma County Gluten Free Bakeries
Sonoma County (my home county) is a pretty gluten-free friendly place, though there are only a few gluten free bakeries here. You’ll find great gluten-free substitution options (not just dishes without the bread or pasta but awesome substitutions such as freshly baked gluten free buns, pizza crusts, sandwich breads, etc.) at almost every high quality restaurant here, as well as many naturally gluten-free dishes.
We’ve also got a pretty huge assortment of gluten free products at our local markets. That said, nothing beats a freshly baked gluten free bagel, baguette, or morning pastry! The following Sonoma County gluten free bakeries will help you curb your carb cravings and live like a regular person (i.e. gluten-eater), if only temporarily.
Grindstone Bakery in Rohnert Park
Grindstone Bakery bakes up hearty and wholesome gluten-free breads from 100% stone-ground grains. No preservatives or gums, just grains. They do also make breads that aren’t gluten-free but they have two separate facilities for the baking. They are open to the public Friday-Sunday.
Mama Mel’s Gluten-Free Bakery
Mama Mel’s bakes up so many difficult-to-find gluten-free specialties! Crusty gluten-free bagels, gluten-free sourdough boules, baguettes, croissants, and more…
Mama Mel’s bakery isn’t open to the public but you can order their bread online or get on their email list to keep up to date with their baking schedule and pre-order bread to pick up at various local pick-up points, where you can select your product and pick-up point. You can also visit Melissa (Mama Mel herself) at one of the local farmers’ markets she hosts a booth (Santa Rosa Veteran’s hall market, Petaluma Saturday Farmers’ market, etc.), check her Instagram account or website to confirm which market she’ll be at the weekend you plan to attend.
Flour Craft Gluten Free Bakery
Flour Craft gluten-free bakery has two locations in Marin County-one in Mill Valley and one in San Anselmo.
Flour Craft is not only a bakery with a wide assortment of gluten-free breads, pastries, cookies, and scones but also a gluten-free restaurant/café offering a 100 % gluten-free menu! From breakfast pastries to tartines and salads and even avocado toast! Plus… you can order custom gluten-free cakes in a wide assortment of flavors and styles. This place is a gluten-free HEAVEN.
Flour Chylde Gluten-Free Bakery
This Novato-based gluten-free bakery offers a wide assortment of amazing gluten free baked goods from almond flour tortes and cakes to loaves, bagels (gluten free bagels??? Yes!), baguettes, boules, and more. Visit Flour Chylde at their bakery/cafe Monday through Saturday or find them at the San Rafael Farmer’s Market at the Civic Center on Sundays. They also offer door-to-door delivery on Tuesdays and Thursdays within Marin County.
Santa Cruz and Monterey Gluten-Free Bakeries
Nece’s Gluten-Free Baked Goods
Bakery owner, Nece, encourages the idea of sharing recipes and telling stories about her journey to better eating. Nece’s only offers a delivery option currently (no dine-in or in-store) but they are worth giving a try, even if it’s only to try their renowned S’mookies, two chocolate-chip cookies with a toasted marshmallow in between! Nece’s also bakes up gluten free cookies, pies, loaves, and other specialty items. They currently make deliveries to to Monterey, Salinas, Carmel, Seaside, Marina, and Moss Landing.
Melinda’s Gluten-Free Bakery
Besides being gluten-free, Melinda’s is also peanut-free and offers sandwiches and salads to boot. Melinda wants you to try new stuff here, like their spicy salami and manchego cheese twists, ginger-orange chocolate cookies, or strawberry-mango muffins?
Sacramento Gluten Free Bakeries
Sacramento is a great city for conscientious eaters. It’s known as one of America’s best “Farm to Fork” cities, due to its penchant for organic, locally sourced produce. If you’re also a coffee fanatic you should check out some of Sacramento’s excellent local coffee roasters and grab a cappuccino or macchiato to enjoy with your gluten free bagel or pastry.
Pushkin’s Bakery
Pushkin Gluten Free Bakery offers an evolving and changing daily menu, all inspired by the co-owner’s need to avoid gluten, wheat, and dairy. What started as a home business selling a single cookie to stores has now become a full (while still intimate with that neighborhood feel) bakery business offering a range of savory and sweet baked items from cakes and loaves to sandwiches and pastries as well as a full cafe (breakfast and lunch) menu.
Alternative Baking Company
It’s in the name. Strongly focused on vegan and gluten-free items (though they do not make 100% gluten free products, they do have a different line of gluten-free and vegan cookie), their specialty is cookies. Alternative’s chocolate decadence and chocolate chip cookies are especially unique and decadent. Alternative Baking Co’s healthy gluten free cookies are available to order online via their website, or you can find them in a variety of stores and specialty supermarkets. Look for the Alternative Baking Company label.
Rick’s Dessert Diner
Rick’s blends the retro touch with a modern healthy sensibility. It’s got a somewhat 50’s theme running in the decor and uniforms, much like the classic 50s diner you see in movies these days. While Rick’s isn’t a completely gluten-free establishment, these guys have got a huge gluten-free cake, torte, and dessert menu including incredibly decadent items such as their Frangelico torte, chocolate rasberry mousse torte, flourless chocolate cake with Kahlua ganache and rasberry puree, and chocolate cheesecake.
Sun Flour Baking Co & Distribution
What’s better than a gluten-free cookie? A gluten-free cookie sandwich! That’s right – two cookies with a delicious filling in between – all with no trace of gluten at all. Sun Flour Baking Co. lists all of their gluten free baked products on their website, focus on packaged cookies, and sell online only.
Gluten-Free Santa Barbara Bakeries
Santa Barbara is all about outdoor dining with views. No reason why you can’t enjoy baked goods the same way. Our suggestion is to grab a gluten free sandwich, gluten free bagel, or gluten free sweet treat and take it with you to enjoy at the beach or on a hike… 🙂
Lilac Pâtisserie
Lilac Patisserie makes a playful claim that you’d never know their cakes were 100% gluten-free, unless they mentioned it, and it’s true. This bakery’s gluten free cakes are so beautiful, it’s hard to take that first bite, but rest assured Lilac’s incredibly creations are just as are just as delicious as they are picturesque! The patisserie also offers a selection of other pastries, and a breakfast and lunch cafe menu that includes egg dishes (for breakfast), pastries, quiches, sandwiches, and salads (all 100% gluten free).
The Andersen’s Gluten Free Danish Bakery & Restaurant
Andersen’s is a Danish restaurant and cafe that offers a substantial selection of unique gluten free desserts, including their decadent Fløde Bolle (a meringue dipped in dark chocolate, and a fresh strawberry fragelite), Dutch apple cake, and a variety of beautiful marzipan creations. While their bakery and restaurant aren’t completely gluten free, gluten free diners or those looking for a special treat will enjoy Andersens’s gluten free bakery offerings, and if you do choose to dine at their restaurant, they also have several gluten free dishes which are noted on the menu.
Gluten-Free Los Angeles Bakeries
LA is regarded by some as America’s best food city. And this impressive list of gluten free bakeries in Los Angeles makes them also one of the best cities for gluten-free peeps seeking out freshly baked (and sometimes even healthy) gluten free breads, cakes, pastries, and more.
Bougie Bakes
Self-dubbed as ‘Fancy Organic, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free baked goods’, Bougie Bakes whips up sweet treats for those who want to indulge without as much (or any) guilt about consuming too many refined carbs or sugar. How do they do it? Bougie Bakes sweetens their baked goods up with naturally sweet fruits such as dates or with keto-friendly sugar-free sweeteners such as Erythritol and makes sure to use high-quality ingredients that add a lot of richness and flavor (such as high-quality cocoa, himalayan sea salt, etc.) so their customers don’t feel like they’re missing anything without refined flour and sugar.
Bougie bakes up brownies, cookies, bars, and muffins. You can order from these guys online (they don’t have a physical location open to consumers). They offer free delivery on local orders $45 and up.
Rising Hearts Bakery
One of the most extensive gluten-free bakeries that ships products nationally. Order online from this family-run bakery specializing in gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher & vegan bread, baguettes, pizza crusts, desserts & cakes. Best of all, the items listed on their site are categorized accordingly, so you find exactly what you are looking for.
Cake Girl
Cake Girl is a fun daily tradition of selecting ten flavors of cupcakes to feature. There are also eight flavors of ice cream. Everything here is gluten, wheat, egg, dairy, nut, and soy-free. If you want to order for an occasion, best do so at least three weeks in advance. These folks are in demand. But that’s not surprising, their novelty cakes are especially delightful.
Karma Baker Vegan and Gluten Free Bakery
Not only are they a great plant-based, gluten-free bakery, but they’re also unashamedly on a mission to show the world that vegan and gluten-free eating is not just possible but awesome. Everything Karma Baker makes is egg free, dairy free, wheat free, and gluten-free, and 100% delicious. Order one of their vegan, gluten-free dessert goodie boxes for delivery within Los Angeles or to be shipped to wherever you are.
Breadblok
Gluten-free life runs deep for the founding family of this establishment. Three generations ago, the Charliers developed an organic and sustainable lifestyle for themselves on their farm in France. It carries over today in their Los Angeles gluten-free bakery. Breadblok has been featured in Forbes and LA Weekly lists of what to eat in LA, so clearly the Charliers are making waves with their gluten-free bread! Love making sandwiches but can never find fresh gluten-free bread that has the right consistency? Breadblok is the place for you.
Gluten-Free San Diego Bakeries
It shouldn’t be a surprise that San Diego has a few gluten free bakeries to choose from (though it took quite some years for this to be the case!). That said, a lot of folks in coastal areas of California are still on the low-carb or no simple carbs kick, so maybe it’s understandable why it took so long to see a few gluten-free bakeries crop up (and survive). At least they are here now, so if you’re in San Diego please go and support these guys so they can stay open and keep feeding hungry celiac and gluten-sensitive peeps.
The Gluten-Free Baking Co,
Get your soy-free, dairy-free, vegan, and gluten free bagels, bread, cookies, and cakes here. The bakery was inspired by the owners’ life-changing trip to a gluten-free bakery in France. Here, whether it’s sweets or bread, they’ve got you covered, just like in that special bakery in France where the baker told Gluten-Free Baking Co. founder Roana Canete: “Here, you can eat everything.” Note the store is debit card only – no cash.
Starry Lane Bakery
This amazing outlet declares itself a proudly top 10 allergen-free bakery. This means no gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, mustard, or sesame. It’s been listed in Food & Wine magazine as one the most allergy-friendly bakeries in the city, and voted “#1 allergy-friendly sweet shop in America” by Allergy Eats. You can pick up Starry Lane’s cakes, pies, cupcakes, or pastries in person at their store or order their products online to be shipped.
Deanna’s Gluten-Free Bakery
Everything here is gluten-free, but the pizza is a particular draw. Deanna’s Gluten Free Bakery also bakes up gluten free flatbreads, loaves (try the cinnamon raisin bread), cookies, pie crusts, and other treats. Enjoy baking yourself? Pick up a bag of Deanna’s all-purpose, gluten free party and pancake flour.
Sweet Cheeks Baking Company
The sassy name gives you an idea of the fun attitude at Sweet Cheeks, which isn’t a completely gluten-free bakery, but they do put a focus on providing specialty vegan or gluten free cakes and desserts for special occasions – think weddings, parties, anniversaries, or birthdays. You can ensure that everyone who attends your next special event gets to enjoy the cake (or pie, or baked confection), with Sweet Cheeks special made-to-order cakes!
Do You Know of an Amazing Gluten-Free Bakery in California?
Do you have a favorite gluten free bakery in California that I haven’t listed here? Somewhere where you can get a great gluten free bagel, gluten free donut, gluten free sourdough bread, or other special freshly baked gluten free baked goods? Please let me know, I’d love to add them to this list.
And if you’re traveling abroad, take a look at these guides for gluten-free travel in Italy, Spain, and London!
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