Our friend “E” is looking for a specialty cake, ala “Cake Boss” or “Ace of Cakes.” We’ve dished about plenty of area bakeries that whip up tasty treats and might dabble in this kind of confection, but we weren’t sure of any that specialize in turning a birthday cake into a Fendi handbag or Fender guitar, for examples.

Anyone have any ideas? Please share below.

By Courtney Buell
Photography by Cody Buell

Specialty bakeries are all the rage. Cupcake shops and gourmet cookie boutiques are popping up along the Wasatch Front faster than spring tulips. But now, elevating the humble donut from breakfast junk food to dignified delicacy is South Jordan’s Beyond Glaze. The dressed-up donuts at this joint might have neighboring cupcakes shaking in their pretty little liners.

There’s a time and place for chocolate-covered and jelly-filled fritters, but any afficionado knows the true test of a donut maker’s prowess lies in his execution of the plain, glazed, yeast donut. At this shop, the basic round has a texture that falls somewhere between Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts: light enough that no beverage is necessary to finish swallowing, but not so light that it dissolves as soon as it hits your tongue. That isn’t to say that Beyond Glaze’s recipe lacks sophistication. Theirs is substantial and indulgent and quite unlike any donut we’ve tried before with its simple, buttery sweetness—which also makes the perfect canvas for creative toppings.

There are too many flavors to name, but every combination comes up delicious, possibly because each component is homemade. Blueberry frosting is made with (you guessed it) fresh blueberries and pineapple icing really comes from pineapples. Other favorites include German chocolate (chocolate, caramel and coconut), chocolate peanut butter and key lime. And unlike most donuts, Beyond Glaze’s are pretty enough to serve at your next baby shower.

Not only does this pastry shop take it beyond when it comes to glaze, they also go beyond donuts. Chocolate-covered croissants, ham-and-cheese scones, and soft cinnamon or orange rolls slathered in frosting also make mouth-watering appearances. Those of us with less than Herculean will power and a penchant for pastries should be warned … and bring extra bags.

{Infinity and Beyond}

Beyond Glaze
177 W. 12300 South
Draper, Utah
(801) 809-5791
www.beyondglaze.com

Writing and photography by Stephanie Brubaker

We’re all familiar with the saying “there’s room for everyone.” This certainly applies to the booming bakery scene in Salt Lake City. More and more, the Beehive State serves as a destination for those who seek-out sugar confections.

The newest addition to the Salt Lake list is Tulie Bakery. Located near popular nail salon Nailed and the lively Cafe Trio where Xocolate used to be (fare thee well, Xocolate!), Tulie’s bright and spacious interior evokes refreshment equal to its neighbors. The communal tables at this bakery add its comfortable, casual vibe.

To dress it up, lovely details include letterpressed cards, simple-but-elegant packaging, antique bread boards, exposed brick walls and French bistro seating. Little succulents in terracotta pots? Yes, you’ll see those too.

But a good bakery can’t rest solely on its good looks. Good thing Tulie offers a bevy of temptations. Favorites include quiche (any flavor), bran muffins and their signature banana cream tart. Tulie prides themselves on use of high-quality ingredients (think hormone-free local milk, premium chocolate, pure vanilla, fresh eggs) which serve to make their treats even more enticing. There’s much to be said for simple, quality ingredients—just ask our friend Michael Pollan.

Don’t leave without ordering one of the gorgeous cakes baked up by owner Leslie Seggar. No one in town comes close to these triple-layer beauties in taste nor presentation. But don’t take our word for it….

{Tasty Tulie }

Tulie Bakery
863 E. 700 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
801-883-9741
www.tuliebakery.com

By Lacey Jane Pappas

Sampled: Milk Chocolate Torte for true choco-holics and other savory treats at chic Salt Lake bakery

Where: Tulie Bakery and Cafe (863 E. 700 South, Salt Lake City)

High and Low: Those of us with an extra sweet tooth or two are likely to feel overwhelmed at Tulie’s counter, where the hard part is deciding which decadent sweet your taste buds will enjoy the most. Chocolate lovers won’t go wrong with the Milk Chocolate Torte. This rich, smallish cake with icing and chocolate bits on top is priced on the high side, weighing in at over $6, so next time we’ll be looking to sample the bakery’s cupcakes and cookies—which look too good to pass up, and are less likely to leave you feeling guilty when you can’t polish off the entire treat. Then again, when you see your goodies wrapped in Tulie’s cute to-go packaging, that guilt becomes much less likely to follow you home, anyway.

How Much: Milk Chocolate Torte is $6.50; other items like cupcakes and cookies are $1.50 with full-size cakes at $20

Writing and photography by Lacey Jane Pappas

You don’t always have to travel to California to visit Beverly Hill’s. You can meet the real deal (or at least Utah’s version) at a little bakery tucked behind 900 East and Logan Avenue in Salt Lake City. Though you won’t be perusing the likes of Chanel or Louis Vuitton, you can indulge in a different type of rich instead: baked goods and sweets.

Walking into this yellow-brick bakery you’ll find small window displays stocked with cupcakes, eclaires, tortes, cookies and brownies. Counters are decked out with gluten-free muffins, sticky buns, chocolate-filled croissants and scone. And I haven’t even mentioned the pot pies yet.

The charming ladies behind the counter are eager to help—they’ll hand out their favorite suggestions and with those in tow, we walked away with three bags full of goodies. So what should you order? Our favorites ended up sharing the same ingredient: chocolate. Beverly’s famous cream cheese marble brownies didn’t earn that name for nothing. They’re a nice marriage of their brown-and-cream ingredients—the sharp flavor of cream cheese is masked by a decadent swirl of chocolate. Next, go for the flourless chocolate cake torte. This round piece of heaven is chock full of the sweetest chocolate that’ll slowly melt in your mouth.

Another tempting treat is the mocha meringue torte with almonds. It’s like nothing we’ve ever tasted. Your tastebuds will have a little party with this trio of chocolate, hints of mocha and salty almonds.

And to wrap things up, Beverly Hill’s treats you like the star you are—all goods packaged in lovely green boxes that could be considered designer-worthy.

{Head to The Hills}

Beverly Hill’s Bakery
902 E. Logan Avenue
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 746-4454
Open Thursday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
www.beverlyhillscakes.com

Only a few places on the stretch of Highland Drive north of 3300 South still make our hearts pitter patter. Even the classic Villa Theater took a hit, and succumbed to walls covered with rugs rather than moving pictures. What we wouldn’t give to watch Pixar’s latest on that big, old screen.

But just next door there is a little diamond in the rough still holding strong. A place that oozes with the appeal of yesteryear with its old-timey neon sign and paned windows. Though some slight remodeling has occurred (mostly interior), Glaus Bakery or “Frency Pastry Shoppe” refuses to modernize too much … especially when it comes to its menu. We love them for it.

Glaus has been around for nearly 70 years and the crew is still using the recipes that made it a favorite treat spot back in the day. Here, you can sample a wide selection of pastries and sweets like Danishes, cupcakes, petit fours ($2.09 apiece, and our favorite), eclairs (94 cents apiece), butter wafers, thumbprint cookies and freshly-baked bread.

Or go for a full-on cake, made with raspberry or pineapple filling. It’s the Chocolate Rum Pineapple that made them famous. Though they seem a little on the pricey side ($15.95 for a 6-inch), you’ve got to remember that Glaus is still using the ingredients your grandma used to bake with in her kitchen like real butter and fine sugar. Does a better combination exist? We think not.

{Glaus & Found}

Glaus French Pastry Shoppe
3100 S. Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 486-5908
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

How come we’re the last to hear about Hagermann’s? We crawled out of our caves this afternoon and visited the locally-owned eatery during lunch hour and we’re pretty sure all of Sandy and Draper were there, picking out tasty treats for lunch.

In this light, it’s kind of fitting that all-accommodating Hagermann’s is called a bakehouse as opposed to a bakery. Not only does it offer homemade breads and treats (brownies, cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies), it also makes some of the best sandwiches this side of the Great Salt Lake, if not the Mississippi.

Ask the friendly guy at the counter. He’ll tell you Hagermann’s has the best sandwiches in the solar system. Take a bite, and you’ll find that it’s hard to dispute such a claim. Forget the Milky Way, these are the kinds of sandwiches you take trips to New York City for. (You say you don’t like jalapeno jelly, but just wait til your tastebuds get ahold of Hagermann’s.)

We tried the Turkey Pomodoro and were immediately impressed with the flavor and quality of ingredients. This crowd favorite includes fresh roast turkey breast, havarti cheese, lettuce, slow-roasted tomatoes, cucumber and cranberry jalapeno jelly on Hagermann’s authentic Italian Peasant Loaf ($6.69 half, $8.69 whole). The tomato bisque is dee-lish, as are the generously-decorated sugar cookies with their almond flavoring. You can see what else is on the menu here.

A note to “Mr. Hagermann”: Salt Lake City is ready and waiting for you. We recommend a second location in Sugar House or Millcreek, or even downtown.

{Fall in Love with Hagermann’s}

Hagermann’s Bakehouse Cafe320-9562
684 E. 11400 South
Draper, Utah
(801) 495-9332
15 W. South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 320-9562
Open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.; closed Sunday
www.hagermanns.com

So you like baked goods. So do we, as if you couldn’t tell. Especially breads. Artisan breads, like Alpine Sourdough, Asiago Cheese, Rustic Country Loaf and even homemade focaccia—each handcrafted in a two-day process to ensure a precise and perfect consistency. You’ll find these and more at American Fork’s Flour Girls & Dough Boys. Other “specialty” breads at this homespun bakery include Pumpkin Patch Sourdough, Kalamata Olive and Sundried Tomato. Interested?

Well there’s more. This place is also a cafe, which means you can enjoy signature sandwiches like Tomato, Mozzarella and Pesto (on French baguette, $4.99), and hot panini sandwiches like Chicken and Avocado (marinated chicken breast, sundried tomatoes, creamy avocado spread and provolone on focaccia, $5.99). Or you can choose a soup and sandwich combo deal for $6.59.

OK. But let’s get serious and talk about the sweets. Here, you’ll also find pastries like hot cinnamon rolls with cream-cheese frosting, pumpkin bars with large chocolate chips, chocolate candy-flavored muffins and fudge brownies. And our friends at Flour Girls and Dough Boys claim that they have the best cookies in the WORLD, made with none other than 100 percent real butter. (Options include shortbread, molasses spice, coconut oatmeal, snickerdoodle and more.)

Plus, free Wi-Fi.

{Grab a Bite}

Flour Girls & Dough Boys Artisan Bakery and Cafe
35 N. Barrett Avenue (150 West), American Fork
(801) 763-9232
Open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

*All images courtesy of Jonathan Canlas

Mrs. Backers has the best signage on South Temple, hands down, if not the best in the valley. It also has the best chocolate rum bars.

Bakin’ up a storm since 1941, this little Salt Lake pastry shop is packed with kitsch and tasty treats. Mrs. Backers might be best-known for its full-size cakes, but we opt for the take-along variety of cookies and signature cake bars/triangles that come in flavors like German chocolate, raspberry cream, and strawberries ‘n’ cream. They’re $2.88 apiece, but prove worthy when it comes to impeccable texture and flavor. Plus, they’re doused in sprinkles on all sides. Olivia says the little lemon cakes are worth trying, too.

While you’re there, you might want to pick up some seasonal pumpkin cookies (with frosting!) or plum bars. You’ll probably need a box. And a fork.

{Wanna Taste?}

Mrs. Backers Pastry Shop
434 E. South Temple
Salt Lake City
(801) 532-2022
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
BakeryFinder.com

When we compiled our list of our favorite places for lunch, we purposefully left this one off. Not because it isn’t a favorite, but because it’s too much of one. It deserved its own pretty little space, we decided.

As our friend Marta would say, Bakers de Normandie (4679 S. Holladay Blvd.) is absolutely twee. Lori introduced us to the picture-perfect pastry shop years ago, but it wasn’t until semi-recently that we really took a liking/loving to it. The cute Holladay bakery serves up fresh everything: deli sandwiches on focaccia bread, intricate salads with cranberry and pear, cheese-topped French onion soup—and a meal will usually only cost you somewhere between $5 to $10.

At Bakers de Normandie, it’s impossible to skip dessert. The display of sweet delicacies like brownies, triple-thick Hello Dollies and sizeable new cupcakes is enough to make you want to skip lunch, instead. (Though you shouldn’t.) Try the “Butterdream” cookie: a soft and sweet sugar cookie topped with a walloping dallop of buttercream frosting. You won’t regret it. But if your stomach is too full, the gals at the counter will be happy to box something up—even a fruit tart to share with friends—and send it home with you. Enjoying it later is like giving yourself a cute little present.