The holidays are a time of bustling about and making merry. Why not let the professionals bake for your friends and family this year? These delectable San Diego bakeries have everything from traditional bûche de Noël and croquembouche to inventive salted milk chocolate tarts to satisfy your whole family’s hankerings for sweets.
Photo: The Cravory
The Cravory
Begun as a farmer’s market cookie experiment, this lovely local cookie shop and has flavors that range from peppermint bark to pancakes and bacon to birthday cake, and they’re all scrumptious. Take a selection to your holiday cookie swap party or include as part of a teacher gift and enjoy the smiles.
3960 W Point Loma Blvd., Suite G
San Diego, Ca 92110
619-795-9077
Online: thecravory.com
Photo: Deejay on Flickr
Babycakes
Known for flavors like maple bacon, caramel apple and the holiday-only creme brulee cheesecake, Babycakes is the perfect spot to pick up festive cupcake treats. Babycakes also serves up a mean Taco Tuesday. So perhaps coordinating pick up of your sweets on a Tuesday may be in order.
Hilcrest
3766 5th Ave
San Diego, Ca 92103
619-296-4173
Imperial Beach
874 Seacoast Drive
San Diego, Ca 91932
619-575-2253
Online: babycakessandiego.com
Photo: Extraordinary Desserts
Extraordinary Desserts
If you’re looking for classic holiday desserts like bûche de Noël, look no further than Karen Krasne’s Extraordinary Desserts. With two locations, they make it easy to pick up tasty treats from anywhere in San Diego. Need a gift to ship? Their delicious cookie dough ($14.95 lb.) or gourmet cake kit (regular or gluten free, $24.95) make for perfectly sweet little acknowledgements.
1430 Union St.
San Diego, Ca 92101
619-294-7001
2929 Fifth Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92103
619-294-2132
Online: extraordinarydesserts.com
Photo: Chad Ivan M. on Flickr
Hans and Harry’s Bakery
Most famous for their fruit strudels that are filled with the freshest fruit available and Bavarian cream, this South Bay bakery also serves up other goodies like Oregon hazelnut cake, caramel walnut tart and more muffin varieties than your overnight holiday guests will be able to gobble up.
5080 Bonita Rd.
Bonita, Ca 91902
619-475-2253
Online: hans-harry.com
Photo: Frank Farm via Flickr
Heaven Sent Desserts
Owned by a United States Air Force veteran who remembers the simple indulgence of desserts that he and his fellow soldiers enjoyed while serving, Heaven Sent Desserts is known for its yule log cakes that come in chocolate with angel mousse or white chiffon with raspberry mousse. This year, they’ve got cake in a jar to gift (and eat!) plus they make holiday cookies like spiced shortbread that will please any palate. Is your mouth watering yet?
3001 University Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-793-4758
Online: heavensentdesserts.com
Photo: Anna on Flickr
The French Gourmet
Have you ever had croquembouche? Little cream puffs filled with vanilla custard or chocolate mousse are piled on top of one another, coated in simple syrup and shaped into a Christmas tree to make a gorgeously edible holiday table centerpiece. If you want something simpler, kiddos will go crazy for the hand-crafted gingerbread houses. Any of The French Gourmet’s desserts are as yummy as they are beautiful.
960 Turquoise St.
San Diego, Ca 92109
(858) 488-1725
Online: thefrenchgourmet.com
Photo: Brittan McGinnis on Flickr
Bread & Cie
Why, yes, this is the very same Bread & Cie you’ll find in some supermarkets around San Diego. While theirPanettone (the candied and crystalized fruit and raisin bread) will dazzle, their everyday breads will warm the hearts of your family, friends and neighbors. Plus, they offer holiday sugar macarons, cinnamon rolls, eclairs, tarts…the list goes on and on.
350 University Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92103
619-683-9322
Online: breadandcie.com
What are your go-to places to buy holiday treats? Tell us in the comments.
— Allison Stabile
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