Another one of my most requested blog posts… my favorite allergy-friendly treat spots in the San Francisco Bay Area! I’ve grown up in the Bay Area my entire life. Over the years, I’ve found some amazing spots that can accommodate my gluten and nut allergies. Some of my favorites include a nut-free cupcakery, an allergy-friendly matcha cafe, and a bakery that makes amazing top 8 allergen free scones and biscuits. Keep reading for all of my recommendations for allergy-friendly treats in the Bay Area!
Where to Get Allergy-Friendly Treats
There’s a variety of bakeries and ice cream shops across the San Francisco Bay Area to get allergy-friendly treats. Read the list to learn more about each spot and what allergens they are free from. You can also take a look at the Google map below to see where these places are located throughout the Bay Area!
1. Mariposa Baking Co.
With locations in Oakland and the San Francisco Ferry Building, Mariposa Baking Co. is the most famous Bay Area bakery. It is 100% gluten-free and peanut-free! Everything is also labeled with an allergen sticker to alert for items that contain dairy, eggs, tree nuts, and soy. Their pastries are so high quality and are definitely on my top 5 list of the best gluten-free treats I’ve ever found! Some of my go-to items are their incredible cinnamon rolls, croissants, and cherry turnovers. I always let the staff know that I have a nut allergy, so they change gloves, use fresh paper, and ensure my treats remain nut-free. They also have made to order breakfast and lunch sandwiches, as well as other savory food. When I’m in San Francisco, I always stop by the Ferry Building for a BLT sandwich and a cinnamon roll!
2. Sibby’s Cupcakery
Sibby’s Cupcakery is an amazing dedicated nut-free cupcakery in San Mateo! It is such a find for those with nut allergies looking for delicious and beautiful custom cupcakes! If you want custom cupcakes, you will need to order in advance, but they often have select “extras” for pick up at their storefront. They also have eight flavors that are gluten-free! While they can’t guarantee there will be no cross-contamination, as it is a shared kitchen with gluten, they do take a number of precautions, and I have personally never had an issue! For New Year’s Eve, I ordered a half dozen of my favorite gluten-free flavor: vanilla birthday cake which comes with chocolate frosting and confetti sprinkles!
3. Third Culture Bakery
Third Culture Bakery is a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free matcha shop and bakery in the Bay Area. With three locations, in Berkeley, Walnut Creek, and San Francisco, Third Culture is my go-to stop for an afternoon treat. All of theirpasteries are made with rice flour and are clearly labeled as containing milk and eggs. While they have brownies, muffins, waffles, and a variety of other sweet and savory items, my FAVORITE thing to get are their incredible mochi donuts! They have dozens of fun flavors including raspberry lychee, lemon, dark chocolate, matcha, and strawberry cream! Note: they do sell candied almonds in sealed containers, but those are produced and packaged in a separate facility. If you have a sesame allergy, they do have a number of items with sesame seeds. Definitely stop by Third Culture when you’re in need of a fluffy gluten-free donut and a fun matcha drink!
4. Smitten Ice Cream
Smitten Ice Cream is a fun, allergy-friendly ice cream shop with locations in San Jose and San Francisco in the Mission District. They have rotating seasonal flavors as well as a few staples, and all of them are very food allergy friendly! All the ice cream is made to order using liquid nitrogen, so there are no scoops that could cause cross contamination. They always have vegan and dairy-free flavor options made with coconut milk, and almost all of the flavors are gluten-free. Every location has an ingredient binder, and staff are extremely knowledgable about food allergies, so make sure to ask if you have questions. There are occasionally seasonal flavors with tree nuts (never peanuts!), but this is rare, and I’ve always felt extremely safe getting ice cream here. The toppings (except for one with almonds) are all nut-free, and they are in separate jars with dedicated scoops! They also use local Guittard chocolate for all their chocolate flavors, which is made in a nut and gluten-free facility. I love their vanilla ice cream and usually get it with chocolate sauce or sprinkles!
5. Sweet Freedom Bakeshop
Top 8 allergen free home bakery Sweet Freedom Bakeshop is one of my favorite Bay Area gems. The owner and her family manage celiac disease, so their entire home is dedicated gluten-free! All of their treats are also free of dairy, egg, soy, and nuts! Read their allergen FAQ for more information. While they are strictly an online order bakery, they often drop off treats at Inklings Coffee and Tea in Downtown Pleasanton. I love picking up their seasonal cookies (frosted ginger and sugar cookies pictured above!) as well as their cake pops and muffins. I also adore their custom birthday cakes! For my 21st birthday, I had a confetti cake with vanilla buttercream, pink and gold sprinkle medley, and edible white chocolate numbers! Highly recommend checking out Sweet Freedom Bakeshop if you need a custom cake or cupcakes for a birthday, wedding, or other occasion!
6. Meadowlark Dairy
Meadowlark Dairy is a historic landmark in Downtown Pleasanton that serves amazing, allergy-friendly soft serve ice cream! They have a variety of milk-based and dairy-free flavors, and all of them are nut-free. Their staple flavors are milk -based vanilla and chocolate and top 8 allergen free strawberry and orange dole whip. They also always offer rotating seasonal flavors, like cake batter, pumpkin, and pineapple dole whip, which is my personal favorite during the summer months. While they don’t have gluten-free cones, let the staff know that you are gluten-free, and they will put your ice cream in a cup with a spoon. I love getting the strawberry and pineapple swirled with vanilla! A fun thing about Meadowlark Dairy is it’s a drive thru and walk up stand, so the next time you’re driving or walking through Downtown Pleasanton, stop by the get some ice cream!
7. Melinda’s Gluten-Free Bakery
A little ways South of the Bay Area, Melinda’s Gluten-Free Bakery in Capitola is dedicated free of gluten and peanuts with many other allergy-friendly options. While they do have some treats with tree nuts, Melinda the owner has a strict process to ensure nut-free items are free of cross contamination! I’ve only visited once, but I loved the chocolate donut, chocolate eclair, chocolate croissant, and chocolate monkey bread bun! I also loved the ham and cheese breakfast sandwich on their amazing homemade gluten-free biscuits! Make sure to alert the staff of your allergies, so they can find items that are safe for you. Definitely stop by Melinda’s if you’re in Santa Cruz County and grab some treats to enjoy by the beach!
8. Biscuits and Buns
One of my personal favorite treat shops is Biscuits and Buns in San Rafael. Biscuits and Buns is a dedicated gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, soy-free, and legume-free bakery with amazing sweet buns and savory biscuits. The owner and her family manage food allergies, so they are knowledgable about ingredients and all things food allergies. They have an adorable shop in Downtown San Rafael and also sell at local farmer’s markets. I am OBSESSED with their dozens of fun flavors of sweet “buns”. On the left is chocolate sprinkle, lavender, lemon, and birthday cake, and on the right is cinnamon sugar, lemon, and strawberry! I love all the flavors I’ve tried and can’t wait to go back to enjoy some of their savory “biscuits!”
9. Sweet Diplomacy
Located in Los Altos, Sweet Diplomacy is a dedicated gluten-free and peanut-free patisserie that accommodates a range of allergies and special diets. While they do have a few items with tree nuts (including walnuts, almonds, and pecans), the owner is well-versed in food allergies, and all items are clearly labeled for the top 8 allergens. Make sure to alert the staff if you have tree nut allergies, and they can help advise what treats are safe. All their cupcakes are always tree nut free! Another fun note: they ship nationwide! I got a box of their amazing cookies and brownies shipped to my apartment for my birthday that was free of the top 8 allergens. If you visit, you have to try their gingersnapperdoodle cookie (pictured above).
10. Johnny Doughnuts
With multiple locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Johnny Doughnuts is a dedicated nut-free donut shop with some of the best donuts I’ve found! Their doughnuts are known as handcrafted classics – they sell traditional donuts in chocolate and vanilla glaze with a variety of sprinkles, as well as old fashioned donuts, apple fritters, cinnamon rolls, and cronuts. All their doughnuts are nut-free, and they also have several that are vegan. I adore their one “Wheat-Free Doughnut.” This doughnut has texture similar to their old fashioned but is packed with fruit and topped with a vanilla glaze. Please note Johnny Doughnut’s allergen notice: “Because our facility uses wheat, this doughnut may not be ideal for treat seekers with Celiac.” Take extra caution if you have a severe gluten allergy as they do fry their wheat-free donuts in the same fryer as their wheat-containing ones. I highly recommend visiting if you have nut allergies!
Thanks for reading my guide to allergy-friendly treats throughout the San Francisco Bay Area! For more bakery recommendations, check out my Allergy-Friendly Treat Guide to Los Angeles. And make sure to follow my Instagram where I share daily eats and travel finds! Let me know in the comments which treat in the Bay Area you want to try most!
