‘Tis the season for holiday sweets! It’s the time of the year where you can—where you must, really—indulge yourself and your kids with seasonal goodies. January is for turning over a new leaf. December is for eating the whole yule log. Therefore, we’ve rounded up the best treats you can only find in L.A. that will satisfy your winter sweet tooth.
photo credit: Mimi P. via yelp
La Mousse Desserts, Sawtelle
You may have indulged in Le Mousse’s delectable pastries and cakes in coffee shops around L.A. or at the Nordstrom Cafe. But you can also get your goodies directly from the source in their bakery warehouse. For the holidays, dig into fan faves like their Christmas log cakes, pumpkin cupcakes and cheesecakes.
11162 La Grange Ave, West LA
Phone: 310-478-6051
Online: lamoussedesserts.com
photo credit: bigsugarbakeshop.com
Big Sugar Bake Shop
Home of the first doughnut muffin and rated #19 on Food and Wine’s list of best cupcakes in all of America, Big Sugar has an extensive holiday menu including molasses cookie sandwiches, gingerbread people, dogs and cats, Hanukkah decorated cupcakes and peppermint brownies. All those individual portions are perfect for school (or home) holiday parties.
12182 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (there’s also a location in Downtown LA)
Phone: 818-508-5855
Online: bigsugarbakeshop.com
photo credit: Porto’s Bakery via twitter
Porto’s
No L.A. treats list would be legit without Porto’s, ranked #5 on Yelp’s list of best restaurants in the country. People drive from everywhere to taste the deliciousness served here, and for the holidays Porto’s doesn’t disappoint with Christmas logs, and our favorite, the Christmas Tiramisu.
3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank (plus locations in Glendale and Downey)
Phone: 818-846-9100
Online: portosbakery.com
photo credit: Myrna Litt via flickr
Disneyland/California Adventure
What do you get when you combine the happiest place on earth with the happiest time of year? Tons of adorably happy sweets, is what. From caramel apple snowmen to homemade candy canes to hot cocoa served in Santa-themed Mickey cups, it might take a week at Disney to try them all (good luck!).
1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Phone: 714-520-5060
Online: disneyparks.disney.go.com
photo credit: Sweet Rose Creamery via facebook
Sweet Rose Creamery
Who loves eggnog, raise their hands! How about eggnog ice cream? Then up the ante with an eggnog ice cream pie with a spiced ginger cookie crust with a dash of nutmeg! Other Sweet Rose holiday hits are the malted chocolate hazelnut pie made with chocolate malt ice cream and caramel sauce, and the peppermint sundaes made with brownie bits, hot fudge, and homemade peppermint crunch candy. Only in LA is ice cream actually a seasonally appropriate holiday treat, so take advantage of tasty cool treats. In fact, celebrate with an extra scoop.
826 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica (plus locations in Brentwood and Mid-City)
Phone: 310-260-2663
Online: sweetrosecreamery.com
photo credit: Semi Sweet Bakery via instagram
Semi Sweet Bakery
Known for their “ding-a-lings” (basically a grown-up version of the Hostess ding-dong), and the originators of the “crullant” (a French culler combined with a croissant), during the holidays Seme Sweet knocks both out of the park when they transform them into holiday themed sweets. They also offer lemon sugar cookies you can have customized with a name. Come early in the day for the biggest selection.
105 E. 6th St., Los Angeles
Phone: 213-228-9975
Online: semisweetbakery.com
photo credit: Sweetesbakeshop.com
Sweet E’s Bake Shop
Sign up to decorate a gingerbread house at Sweet E’s Bake Shop and have an interactive treat that involves the whole family. Bonus, keep the gummy candy and frosting off your floor at home. But if you can’t make one of their class times, you can order a gingerbread house or gingerbread man decorating kit that includes everything you need to decorate the most adorable abode or people you’ve ever seen. Too busy for that? They also make them all decorated for you to bring home for your holiday party and just enjoy and then eat! (Comes in house or mansion, because this is LA.)
1417 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles
Phone: 323-422-8885
Online: sweetesbakeshop.com
-Shannon Guyton
And we didn’t even mention that yearly addiction, the Eggnog Latte! What’s your holiday-themed sweet fix?
