10 Best Bakeries in L.A.

Sugar Plum Dreams
By Barbara Bowman

In The Nutcracker, Clara discovers the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Kingdom of Sweets, which is filled with all sorts of goodies and spectacular treats. Even though a place like this doesn’t exist, there are numerous L.A. bakeries that offer sweet holiday delights that parallel those in E.T.A. Hoffman’s make-believe land. Here are some of our favorite picks, where one can load up on goodies for brunches and parties or when the afternoon munchies strike after a day of shopping. Listen. Is that Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy playing?

Bluebird Bakery
8572 National Blvd.
Culver City
310-841-0939
www.bluebirdcafela.com

Besides beautiful wedding cakes, small tarts and homemade specialty breads, this little Culver City bakery and café has gingerbread and Christmas sugar cookies, petits fours, Christmas cakes and cupcakes all decorated for the holidays. Perhaps you’re looking for something homey like a crisp or cobbler, both of which Bluebird offers in apple, mixed berry, peach and strawberry-rhubarb. Also look for the sea salt caramels and fresh vanilla marshmallows perfect for floating in your hot chocolate. While there, grab a grilled vegetable pizza or chicken melt with aged cheddar and tomato on olive bread at the café.

SusieCakes
11708 San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles
310-442-2253
www.susiecakesla.com

This Brentwood shop offers all-American desserts: think butterscotch toffee pudding, chocolate wafer icebox pie, iced molasses snap cookies and frosting-filled cupcakes plus seasonal and holiday treats. The sleek retro setting features mint green walls and linoleum tile floors.

Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave.
Century City
310-552-1080
www.clementineonline.com

This quaint bakery and café has the perfect goods for brunch such as blueberry sour cream coffee cake, mini scones in apricot-ginger and strawberry and breakfast baskets filled with a variety of breakfast pastries. For the holiday season, Clementine offers a wide assortment of holiday cookies to choose from like traditional decorated shortbreads, gingerbread men, apricot hamentaschen and crisp lemon poppy seed cookies. And don’t forget the Clementine citrus cake with hints of lemon, grapefruit and orange. Or take the option to give these treats as gifts arriving at your friend’s door neatly wrapped in a wooden box elegantly tied with a red ribbon. Just make sure to place your order at least 48 hours in advance to ensure your request gets processed in time.

Delice Bakery
8583 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles
310-289-6556
www.delicebakery.com

The only totally kosher French bakery in the U.S., Delice offers all sorts of petits fours, tarts, cakes and cookies. We recommend the chocolate ganache with chestnut mousse and meringue Herrisson Cake or the almond biscuit, almond meringue, crema vanilla, coffee mousse and cooked apples with cinnamon Ambre Cake. Other choices to consider are the tarte tatin and the colorful fresh fruit tart with kiwis, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries. Whatever choice you make, you really can’t go wrong.

Jin Pâtisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice
310-399-8801
www.jinpatisserie.com

In its Zen-inspired space, Jin Pâtisserie Pastry Boutique & Tea Garden offers—what else?—unique pastries and teas. Among their specialties are flavorful macarons in caramel, coffee, lychee, passion fruit, pistachio, rose and vanilla, which can be made into a macaroon tree decorated for the holidays. Or box up some chocolates to go like the chrysanthemum with dried herbal flower and crème and covered in white chocolate; and des concubines flavored with black and green teas, caramel, papaya and flower petals. Best of all, Jin is offering numerous gift boxes filled with either chocolates from their wide assortment or with cakes, cookies, chocolates and Stollen, a Christmas favorite.

La Brea Bakery
624 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles
323-939-6813
www.labreabakery.com

Certainly known for its breads, La Brea Bakery will also have numerous holiday sweets available like pecan tart with a bourbon glaze, sticky toffee pudding and the traditional Italian staple, panettone, in either apricot or cranberry. For cookies choose among iced raisin, linzer and gingerbread. Or buy frozen cookie dough to send a freshly baked scent of cookies throughout your home without too much hassle.

Rosebud Cakes
311 S. Robertson Blvd.
Beverly Hills
310-657-6207
www.rosebudcakes.com

Actually a cake design studio rather than a traditional bakery, Rosebud Cakes creates artistic cakes that would be perfect for bringing something truly unique to a holiday party. Cakes made with only natural ingredients come in chocolate, hazelnut, poppyseed, lemon, white, marble, banana, tiramisu and a special spice available for the holiday season. Almost endless choices for fillings include white chocolate hazelnut cream, praline and chocolate ganache; marzipan cream and apricot; and pistachio cream and raspberry. Cakes can be decorated in any number of ways like with a menorah, dreidel or snowman, so it’s really important to go to the studio and discuss what you are looking for with the staff. Prices for cakes begin at $300, and it’s recommended that you give them two weeks notice. Fourteen days may seem like a long time to wait, but it’s worth the impression you’ll leave with family and friends.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills
310-274-8765
www.sprinklescupcakes.com

Causing quite a stir when it opened, this Beverly Hills establishment seems to have a continual line out the door—somewhat reminiscent of Pink’s, only with cupcakes rather than hotdogs. Always offering an assortment of freshly baked mainstay and unique flavors—ranging from vanilla and a variety of chocolates to chai latte and ginger lemon—Sprinkles Cupcakes makes varieties reflecting the season with vanilla peppermint, chocolate peppermint and eggnog spice flavors. For something extra special, request getting some decorated with red and green Christmas trees or blue Stars of David. And to give as stocking stuffers, gift cards are available worth $20 or more.

Susina Bakery & Café
7122 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles
323-934-7900
www.susinabakery.com

Originally opened in 2002, this neighborhood bakery has become one of the top bake shops for many Angelenos. Serving café fare like sandwiches and salads, the bakery is the highlight of the place with glass cases of beautiful sponge cakes, tarts and other goûtes. Susina offers perfect brunch pastries for holiday guests like blueberry crumble muffins, raspberry swirl danishes and sour cherry and chocolate scones. For holiday specific items, order either a vanilla rum or chocolate coffee bûche de noël, both beautifully covered with meringue mushrooms and almond paste decorations. For pies and tarts, choose the apple quince tart with hazelnut crumble, cranberry orange tart or cherry almond tart, among others. And don’t forget about the hand-decorated sugar cookies in shapes of snowflakes, ornaments, mittens, presents and many others. Susina also offers a variety of gift baskets and gift certificates.

Sweet Lady Jane
8360 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles
323-653-7145
www.sweetladyjane.com

Open since 1988, Sweet Lady Jane is known for its use of pure ingredients like fresh fruits, natural butter and imported chocolate. No preservatives or hydrogenated fats are used, so the flavors are real. A full-on bakery, it offers all sorts of artisan breads, cookies and cakes like cream cheese puffs, spiced fruit bars and mini cheesecakes. For the holidays, items to pick from include a cranberry bread pudding, gingerbread cookies and chocolate candied orange layered cake, but we think the dulce de leche cake and the praline cheesecake would be a favorite at gatherings as well. Cakes can be special ordered to be decorated with holiday themes like Santa and the reindeer or to look like a Christmas tree or menorah. To ensure your cake gets made in time, order early.

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(Updated: 11/09/09 CT)