Our list of the best bakeries in Santa Cruz
Table of contents
PLEASURE POINT BAKERY
Gluten free. Vegan bakery items. Artisan breads and cookies, locally made and sold at the Farmers’ Markets.
EMOZIONI PATISSERIE
Patisserie Emozioni is the new patisserie in Santa Cruz. Not since we were in Paris have we seen pastries this pretty, that taste this incredible. Each one a surprise, and the flavors changing frequently.
A patisserie is a French term for a shop that sells French pastries and cakes. Crescenzo “Enzo” Pelliccia, the executive pastry chef at Dio Deka restaurant in Los Gatos opened Emozioni last year in Lago de Como restaurant.
After shopping at the Live Oak Farmer’s Market on Sunday, we crossed the street to top it off by checking out Emozioni. Stunning. Reminiscent of the creations of Cedric Grolet at Le Meurice in Paris. So nice to have such an upscale patisserie in Santa Cruz and convenient to have it so close to the Farmer’s Market.
EDITH MEYER WEDDING CAKES
I was so thrilled recently to find that Edith Meyer, of Edith Meyer Wedding Cakes, had designed the cake at the wedding where we were photographing. Her designs are so elegant and just so gorgeous. It is always a privilege to be photographing them.
THE GLASS SLIPPER GOURMET
The Glass Slipper Gourmet is actually located in Martinez, but this cake was so cute I had to include them. The cake designer used the brides artwork to create a very unique wedding cake for the couple.
GAYLE’S BAKERY
Opened in 1978, this bakery near Capitola, California serves more than 500 different pastries, cakes, cookies, and breads.
COMPANION BAKESHOP
“Companion was created in 2006 with the help of a supportive community and out of the love of hearty sourdough. In the early years Erin spent long days in the kitchen hand-mixing all of the dough, baking, packing and working the farmers markets.”
Companion is now a mainstay in Santa Cruz, found at farmer’s markets all over the county.
BUTTERCUP CAKES AND FARMHOUSE FROSTING
Tony and I had the pleasure of photographing at Buttercup Cakes and Farmhouse frosting at their shop in downtown Santa Cruz. It was one of the cutest cupcake shops I’ve ever been in. Recently, however, they suffered some unfortunate setbacks. The shop was moved, and then closed at the beginning of Covid. Later moved to Davenport, it burned during the fire.
However, they still provide cupcakes to order from their website, and they are a lovely addition to a wedding table.
MY CUPCAKE CORNER
My Cupcake Corner makes delicious cupcakes decorated for all sorts of occasions and events. They all have fillings that make them extra special.
They are local, vegan, organic, and she sells through the internet and at a pop-up stand.
THE BUTTERY
We do a lot of our own baking. But we also shop at small shops like The Buttery, a local bakery.
Some of the weddings at the Chaminade have featured cakes from The Buttery Bakery, one of the exceptional bakeries in Santa Cruz. Simple, elegant, and perfectly matched to the décor.
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Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography