Long Beach Baked Goods

Life is sweet any time of year. Still, certain seasons are associated with certain sweets: summer screams for ice cream, while the fall months call for something soft and flaky. You’ll find lots of soft and flaky choices in Long Beach, where the bakery scene is experiencing a renaissance. Check out a few sweet things to curl up with.

PAIN AU CHOCOLAT, Doly’s Delectables

This downtown bistro/bakery features all manner of amazing chocolate creations, from chocolate almond croissants to chocolate chip muffins. But Doly’s Delectables (245 E. Broadway) is arguably best known for its take on pain au chocolat, a French

masterpiece said to have been introduced to the nation by Marie Antoinette. A delicious crossing of puff pastry and croissant, it’s filled with rich chocolate that sits light on the palate as it explodes with flavor.

KOUIGN AMMAN, Colossus Bread

One of the city’s most celebrated bakeries, Colossus Bread’s (4716 Second St) signature creation is their kouign amman, a croissant made in-house with imported French butter caramelized with sugar, butter, vanilla bean, and a pinch of salt for a gooey middle and a flakey caramel bottom. It’s the perfect marriage of salty, sweet, gooey and flakey.

PURPLE UBE BROWNIES, Foodolgie

Foodologie (195 Claremont Ave), which opened in Belmont Shore in 2023, is the place to go for delectable cookies and brownies. Owner Maria Leyesa blends her love of Filipino and American baked goods into creations like uniquely purple ube brownies and indulgent s’mores cookies made with graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallows. You can also share a goodie box with a loved one who lives out of town because Foodologie ships nationwide.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT/TRI-BERRY SCONES, Sconeage Bakery

Family-owned Scoenage Bakery (4339 E Anaheim St) specializes in scones, granola, and cookies, though it may be their scones that are most beloved, particularly these fruit and chocolate creations. Made fresh daily, the scones have the perfect amount of crumble and are sweet without being sugary. One sign of the Tri-Berry (filled with fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries) and Chocolate Walnut’s popularity is that they sometimes run out of these delicious beauties.

CUTIE PIES, Laurie’s Pie Bar

Not surprisingly for a place that has all kinds of pies – pot pies to quiches, vegan to gluten-free – Laurie’s Pie Bar (450 Pine Ave.) also produces a sweet creation that people can take on the go and enjoy at their own speed. Cutie Pies are basically pies created in glass jars that can be uncovered, enjoyed all at once or gradually. (Though we’d like to meet the person who can stop eating once they start.)

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.