he didn’t like the gingerbread men at Barb’s Bakery, which has been serving Phoenix for decades. We don’t need nega- tivity like that in our life. What we do need is one of those spicy, warm cookies from Barb’s, and we need one every week. Also a half-dozen of Barb’s butter cookies, iced just so and perfect with a glass of cold milk. Barb’s Orange Dreamsicle cupcake is the best thing we’ve ever tasted, next to her made-from-scratch cinnamon roll, sticky with sweet icing and nearly big enough for two. Except we don’t like to share our stash from Barb’s. Get your own. Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop 7350 East Stetson Drive, Suite C101, Scottsdale 480-994-6733 sweetdees.com A lot of people seem to think “You can’t even tell it’s gluten-free!” is the highest compliment you can pay a gluten-free baked good. We’re here to tell you: It’s not enough for us that our gluten-free goodies pass as “regular” treats. They had better be delicious, too. Sweet Dee’s never fails to live up to our standards; each day, its lineup of pastries includes a number of outstand- ing gluten-free options. We’ve tried the butterscotch chip brownie, moist and rich; a tart, smooth lemon bar; and exquisite macarons in flavors like matcha and dark chocolate pomegranate. Also gluten-free are Dee’s Nuts (LOL), the bakery’s mini doughnuts. Sweet Dee’s food menu, which offers light fare like quiche, avocado toast, sandwiches, and salads, also notes that any menu item can be made sans gluten. All in all, Sweet Dee’s is where we go for pastries with none of the gluten and all of the flavor. Essence Bakery 3830 East Indian School Road 602-296-4958 essencebakery.com If you’re lucky enough to get to Essence Bakery just as the pastries have come out of the oven, you’ll smell the chocolate crois- sant before you taste it. The first bite will stop you in your tracks. Although we’re talking about a pastry made with butter and stuffed with chocolate, Chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos’ pastry is exceptionally airy and flaky. You may have to take a cou- ple of bites to uncover the rich, dark choc- olate nestled within the pastry, but your teeth, and soon your fingers, will eventu- ally discover the utter softness within. Be- fore too long, you’ll have devoured the whole thing, leaving only pastry flakes on your shirt and butter and chocolate smeared on your fingertips. You may as well order another — this little bit of pastry heaven only costs $4. EEEEE Arizona Bread Company 7000 East Shea Boulevard, #101, Scottsdale 480-948-8338 arizonabreadcompany.com It’s not unusual for a bakery to make an ex- cellent kalamata olive loaf, which Arizona Bread Company certainly does, all chewy and stuffed with olives and sprinkled with cheeses. And there are several local baker- ies that offer a really good round raisin challah, too (though none half so dense and tasty as Arizona Bread’s). But can someone please help us find a tastier, more perfect loaf of Italian rosemary bread than the one baked at this longtime Valley fa- vorite? No, never mind. You can’t do it; we’ve tried and failed to find one we like more. Don’t take our word for it — try this aromatic, crusty loaf yourself. And while you’re there, don’t miss an opportunity to take home a hunk of Arizona Bread’s dark honey wheat bread, or to try their Paris- perfect baguette, with its hard, crisp out- side and chewy, soft inside. EEEEE Cotton Country Jams 3801 South Central Avenue 602-268-3181 cottoncountryjams.com/store.php 192 Step aside, Bonne Maman. Cotton Country Jams is in the house. Amanda Hawkins’ grandmother started this business in 2000; BEST OF PHOENIX 2021 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2021.C0M | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 B E S T CH OC OL A T E CR OI S S A NT B E S T GL U T EN-FR f AKo ERY EE B o d & dr i nk B ES T B REA D B ES T P RESE R V ES
