Sugar Plum Dreams
10 Best Bakeries in L.A.
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.bluebird-bakery.com. Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

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.

Boule
(420 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, 310-289-9977, www.boulela.com. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

In a modern, clean, sky blue space near the Beverly Center, chocolates, confections and pastries abound at Boule. They carry gift boxes of goodies pre-packed for when you’re in a rush, but it’s more fun to peruse the glass displays of delights. Choose from what seems like endless chocolates, such as the white chocolate with pistachio and candied ginger, dark chocolate with candied orange, apricot and hazelnuts or Earl Grey-raspberry. Or try something special, and grab a dozen or so of the spectacular macaroons that come in a spectrum of flavors, from the tart passionfruit and slightly sweet chocolate to more festive flavors like pecan pie, apple butter-gingerbread and pumpkin. They also make pâte de fruits (French fruit jellies) like griottine cherry, kalamansi (sour Asian lime), mango-togarashi (Japanese seven-spice with chile, orange peel, ginger, seaweed and a variety of seeds) and grapefruit-Campari. Oh, and don’t miss the vanilla bean-fleur de sel caramels or the spiced pear tart. This will be a difficult trip, and your arms will likely be filled with their signature sky blue boxes when you leave.

Clementine
(1751 Ensley Ave., Century City, 310-552-1080, www.clementineonline.com. Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed December 25-January 2)

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. Hours: Sunday 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.)

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. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)

In its Zen-inspired space, Jin Pâtisserie Pastry Boutique & Tea Garden offers—what else?—unique pastries and teas. Among their specialties are flavorful macaroons 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. Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Wednesday by appointment only)

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. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

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. Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m.)

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. Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.)

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 reindeers or to look like a Christmas tree or menorah. To ensure your cake gets made in time, order early.

(Updated: 01/23/07)