Cakes, cookies and bagels: the best gluten-free bakeries in LA

More and more people are switching over to a gluten free-lifestyle: by 2032, the market is projected to be valued at $14 billion. That's a lot of would-be buyers looking for gluten-free sanctuaries, especially bakeries.

But finding stomach-safe eateries still poses a significant challenge — I say this as a gluten-free person who is rarely ever able to eat once I leave my apartment. Even trying to find recommendations on where such fabled gluten-free bakeries and restaurants exist is a Herculean task in and of itself.

But never fear, friends: in honor of all the kindred souls out there with dietary woes, I’ve rounded up my favorite bakeries in the city that cater to the gluten-free crowd. So kick back, grab a coffee and prepare to rejoice in the magic of a well-made baked good.

Baked Bar LA (Culver City)

An array of baked goods, including muffins, bagels and breakfast sandwiches, from Baked Bar LA.

(

Janelle Lassalle

/

LAist

)

Chances are no matter what time of day it is you’ll find a small crowd of people jonesing outside Baked Bar LA — and for good reason. The spot was founded four years ago by pastry chefs Anthony Nigro and Thomas Velasquez, who wanted to take their extensive experience working at places like Rockenwagner and Farmshop and set up their own neighborhood bakery.

They’ve now developed a loyal following, not just for their conventional offerings, but also — hurrah — a strong selection of gluten-free baked goods.

Nab yourself a coffee and indulge in a decadent in one of the many house favorites like the gluten-free Marscapone Cake, a more decadent chocolate cake or go full Monty and say yes to a breakfast sandwich made with GF bread buns and the works. There’s also delicious, freshly baked gluten-free bread options available for a steal at $12 a loaf. Be warned: it gets packed in here pretty quickly, so you may want to enjoy your treat on the go.

WOW Bakes (Santa Monica)

The gooey, rich chocolate cookie from WOW bakes.

(

Janelle Lassalle

/

LAist

)

In all of my years of being gluten-free, I never dared to dream of eating cookies as crispy, chewy and melty as their glutinous counterparts — but here we are. Founded by Sharon Overfield in 2020, WOW Bakes specializes in producing “without wheat, gluten-free artisan sourdough” as it says on its site.

Overfield was initially inspired to set up her endeavor because of her daughter’s gluten allergy. Frustrated that she had to sacrifice either taste or quality when she went shopping, she turned to her own kitchen.

Choose from a variety of tantalizing options including the cutest gluten-free “Happy Tarts” you’ve ever laid eyes on, cakes, cookies, bagels, pre-made mixes and even pizza dough. Everything is incredible — I don’t think I’ve ever had a gluten-free pop tart before — but be sure to get the chocolate chip cookies no matter what you do as they are simply far too heavenly to be missed out on.

WOW Bakes is technically a cottage based bakery, so there’s no physical storefront, but guests can place orders for local pickup via their website here. You can also contact Sharon to inquire about arranging delivery via Uber courier for customers in Santa Monica as well. Delivery requires a minimum order of $50.

Erin McKenna's Bakery (Larchmont Village)

Gluten-free bagels at Erin McKenna's bakery.

(

Courtesy Erin McKenna's bakery

)

Can gluten-free folk dare to dream of a world where all the offerings are up for grabs? Erin McKenna's Bakery takes that dream and manifests it into a delicious, sweet reality with her Larchmont Village bakery. Founded in 2005 by a desire to “create more than just a bakery,” Erin viewed her bakery as the start of “a movement — a delicious rebellion against the notion that 'free-from' meant free from flavor.”

Everything in the bakery is gluten free , so you don’t have to worry about rifling through a menu or pastry cases looking for safe bets. Another sweet bonus? McKenna’s bakery tailors their recipes to offer vegan, gluten-free and kosher “treats for everyone” with allergen information easily available on the site.

“We're here for the health-conscious, the allergy-aware, and especially for those kids who rarely get to indulge,” McKenna says on her website.

Gluten-free products available include cakes, cupcakes, donuts, donut holes, pastries, bagels, cookies, brownie bites, cake pops and an assortment of pre-made mixes (chocolate chip cookie, cornbread, butter biscuit mix).

Sweet Lady Jane (various locations)

With several spots across the L.A. County area, Sweet Lady Jane is known for its high-end desserts using premium ingredients. There's a lavish spread of conventionally prepared baked goods, but there's also a generous amount of gluten-free offerings, including cakes (Triple Berry Cake, Chocolate Triple Berry Cake and a flourless chocolate cake), cookies (Dark Chocolate Coconut Macaroon, Coconut Macaroon, walnut cookie), a cupcake option and even brownies.

Watching your sugar levels? Enjoy a slice of their new sugar-free Triple Berry Cake.

Sweet E’s (Van Nuys)

The Rose & Macaron cascade cake at Sweet E's bake shop

(

Courtesy @sweetesbakeshop

)

If you’re looking for a treat that’s as visually stunning as it is tasty, look no further than Sweet E’s. Based in Van Nuys, Sweet E’s Bakeshop has it all: cakes, cookies, cupcakes and everything in between, including a generous assortment of gluten-free goods.

But the cakes are really what shine here. Each cake is more visually stunning than the last, full of fun, texture and color in a style reminiscent of Christina Tosi’s Momofuku treats.

Choose from a litany of options including a Chocolate Lover's cake, Ultimate Confetti Birthday Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cake, a “Custom Selfie Cake” where you can upload your own artwork, a Dulce De Leche cake and perhaps the most stunning GF cake I’ve ever seen, the Rose & Macaron Cascade Cake.

While Sweet E’s began as a storefront, COVID pushed the business to pivot to its current status of pickup orders only. Nationwide shipping is also available on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays via UPS two-day turnaround time.

Toluca Bakery (Toluca Village)

Located in Toluca Village, Toluca Bakery is a small, unassuming family-owned bakery that specializes in vegan goods of all shapes and sizes. It also offers a distinct pastry case of gluten-free offerings, separate from all the other goods to minimize contamination.

Get your mitts on a number of treats including the GF house specialty, tiramisu; gluten-free tarts in a number of flavors (apple, pear and strawberry) or cookies (available in chocolate chip and sugar cookie/jam varieties). There's also pastries, cake, brownies, cupcakes, pies and muffins.

Levant Bistro + Bake Shop (Echo Park)

For the unfamiliar, ‘Levant’ refers to the countries located along the eastern Mediterranean shores, and levantine culinary culture is full of tasty surprises and classic staples. One classic is manoush, a type of flatbread that’s usually spiced and seasoned with a variety of toppings including goat cheese and fig jam, a meat r even just a humble zaa'tar and labneh (a type of yogurt).

If you have yet to try the warm, opulent bliss that is eating a manoush out of the oven, get your shoes on and head over to Echo Park’s Levant Bistro + Bake Shop. What once began as a food blog helmed by CEO Anita Khalek has since blossomed into an established sit-down eatery that caters to many types of dietary restrictions.

“A blog was not enough,” Khalek writes on her site. “My own personal experience with my health had taught me that. It was hard enough to survive without a diagnosis, but there was no reason why it should be difficult for someone with any type of dietary ailment to not be treated to quality foods and quality meals dining out.”

Everything here is organic, non-GMO, soy-Free and gluten-free. A variety of manoush is offered daily, available in both meat-free and more meat-centric options, as well as brunch items like pancakes with pistachios and garlic cheese bread with a garlic herb oil.