Handcrafted Heavenly Sweets
Pastries on the Central Coast
Story and photos by Don Sonderling
The Central Coast can be called “foodie heaven.” There are many options to satisfy your taste buds around here. But sometimes — especially around breakfast time — the only thing that’ll do is a sugary, carb-loaded pastry. Luckily, we’ve got plenty of small, local bakeries that will please your sweet tooth and get your salivary glands working overtime. So, let’s explore some of these mouthwatering treats waiting for you to discover.
Ventura County
Emil’s Bake House is located on the southern edge of Ventura County, just a minute off the 101 Freeway at Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Emil, a Swiss master baker, started his business in West Los Angeles in 1962, where he built a reputation for creating European-quality pastries. After four decades, Emil sold the business to his longtime employee, Christian Kaufmann, an Austrian-trained baker, who continued producing high-quality, European-style baked goods. He eventually relocated the business to Agoura Hills in late 2019.
As Christian notes, “a few months later, Covid hit — tough times.” However, through dedication and a commitment to quality, Emil’s Bake House has firmly established itself in the community, building a well-deserved reputation. Now, you can enjoy these delicious treats in Ventura County. My advice: just go!
Emil’s reputation and legacy have endured over the years not only because of Christian but also because of Librado Mendoza, who began working at Emil’s as a teenager and specializes in quiches and Swiss tarts. Both Christian and Librado honor Emil and the time-honored profession of creating fine European pastries.
Step into Emil’s cozy space and let the sweet aromas excite your salivary glands. As you browse the bakery cases, you might want to order an extra to enjoy outside with a coffee. Their cream puff — with its lighter-than-air pastry filled with the sweetest, freshest cream imaginable — will take your taste buds to a place they have never been.
Whether it’s cakes, breads, quiches, or their signature croquembouche (a Christmas tree-shaped tower of cream puffs, drizzled with sugar and hard caramel), Emil’s is the place to go for amazing pastries that are as artistic as they are palate-pleasing. Most ingredients are imported from France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. And each individual pastry creation reflects the dedication to authentic old-world European quality and baking techniques — no shortcuts taken.
Emil passed away in 2023, but his legacy and reputation have endured, offering customers 64 years of exceptional flavor under the guidance of his longtime friends, Christian and Librado.
On a personal note, growing up in West Los Angeles in the ’60s, my parents would serve Emil’s Croquembouche at social gatherings and special events. Its name means “crunch in the mouth.” For me, it was always simply pure deliciousness.
Emil’s Bake House is located at 5005 Kanan Rd, Agoura Hills. For more: emilsbakehouse.com
Awkward Pastry in Ventura, a tight-knit ocean community, threw a party for my taste buds when I visited and sampled some of their baked goods. I’ll get straight to the point: Awkward makes the best, gooey chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever tasted. And if you’re a carrot cake fan, OMG! Jess’s carrot cake will blow you away. The light buttercream frosting alone can send you straight to heaven. And their chocolate pie! For chocolate lovers, this is definitely a place to visit.
The person behind the baked goods is Jess Baker (yes, that’s her last name!). Jess started her journey as a self-taught baker while in Poland for a year, craving “good old American sweet treats.” After moving back to the US a year later and spending time in Los Angeles for baking training, Jess began her business in her hometown of Ventura. Through word of mouth, Yelp, and pop-ups, her reputation grew.
Six years into working with special orders, including collaborations with commercial kitchens and other venues, Jess opened Awkward Pastry in mid-2025. On the day I visited, the daily sweets were: carrot cake with honey buttercream, chocolate cream pie, chai snickerdoodles, salty chocolate chip cookies, and a gluten-free lemon bar.
Walk-in days and hours are limited, so arrive early to avoid missing out. Awkward’s hours are Wednesday from 3 to 5 pm, Thursday and Friday from noon to 5 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to noon. You can also opt for delivery (for a fee) north to Santa Barbara and Goleta and south to Thousand Oaks. And when you drive down Main Street in Ventura, look for the Native Pizza sign hanging above Jess’s storefront. (Even though Native Pizza is no longer in business, the mural still makes the location easier to find.)
Awkward Pastry is located at 1751 E Main St, Ventura. For more: awkwardpastry.com
San Luis Obispo County
Just Baked, a dessert boutique, is located in downtown Paso Robles across from the park. Libby Ryan, owner and chief baker, started the business in 2010 as a single mom who couldn’t afford to buy a cake for her son’s birthday. Over the years, through dedication and hard work, Libby steadily built her business and reputation, moving into her current 12th Street location in August 2023. And what a sweet move that has been.
If you’re passionate about pastry and baked goods and haven’t visited yet, it’s worth making a special trip. My wife says the oatmeal raisin cookies are the best she’s ever had. We both agree that the cranberry muffins are unmatched and worth a special trip! And if you love almond croissants, look no further; this is the place to go.
Pastries are beautifully displayed and are works of art in their own right. There is a wide variety to choose from, including: Libby’s “Flagship” chocolate chip cookie (selling over 25,000 in the last year), plus about seven other flavors; muffins, muffins, muffins; five varieties of croissants; assorted cupcakes, coffee cakes, breakfast tarts, scones, cream puffs; and many other fresh-baked treats to satisfy your sweet tooth and hunger. There are also daily specials that magically appear.
Just Baked’s reputation has received recognition and several awards, including (but not limited to) Best Bakery in north SLO County, and Best Dessert in north SLO County. It has been featured on the Food Network, too.
Visit the website to see many of the individual items and events that Just Baked offers, from workshops and classes (for adults and kids alike) to special events catering for weddings or that special party.
Love pastries? Love great service? Walk, run, bike, grab a scooter, or drive to Just Baked — it’ll be a sweet trip. My only advice: get there early because Just Baked often sells out.
Just Baked is located at 725 12th St, Paso Robles. For more: justbakedslo.com