Made with Love in the Co-op Bakery

The Co-op bakery team makes every recipe by hand—cracking every egg, decorating every item, and packaging every dessert to make each treat as beautiful as it is delicious.

Like all our housemade sweets and savories, every syrup, frosting, ganache, and embellishment is 100% free of artificial colors, flavors, and GMOs.

Valentine's Day bakery orders accepted through Sunday, February 11.

Bleeding Heart

Our perennial Valentine’s Day (or any day) favorite. Moist, scratch-baked chocolate cake filled with our housemade raspberry sauce made with local berries, enrobed in vegan housemade chocolate ganache, and finished with a chocolate drizzle.

It is sure to capture you or your valentine’s heart.

Like all the housemade sweets and savories from our bakery, every syrup, frosting, ganache, and embellishment is 100% free of artificial colors, flavors, and GMOs.

Local raspberries and fair trade chocolate are the perfect combo.

It's vegan. Really. We swear.

Two Hearts Cheesecake

An adorable rich and creamy vanilla mini cheesecake decorated with two raspberry sauce hearts.

Beware! Due to extreme deliciousness you may want to buy two to ensure sharing.

This gluten-free cheesecake features local dairy and eggs. The raspberries are from Barbie's Berries in Ferndale!

To maximize flavor and freshness, we make our delicious gluten-free graham crust in house from scratch.

I Heart You & Chocolate Cake

A perfect dessert for sharing with a valentine.

Our unabashedly delicious chocolate cake is covered with our decadent housemade chocolate ganache and beautifully decorated for a love-inspired day.

Colored icings are created in-house using plant-based, all-natural products that are 100% free of corn syrup and synthetic dyes.

Made with fair trade chocolate and organic flour, sugar, and eggs.

Raspberry Vanilla Cheesecake & Chocolate Pot de Crème

Our New York style cheesecake—kissed with hints of vanilla and raspberry—when paired with Chocolate Pot de Crème is dessert perfection!

Both irresistible treats are gluten-free.

What is chocolate pot de crème? It’s not mousse, it’s not cake, it’s a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate dream come true!

The bakery team is skilled at hand-decorating and can fulfill nearly any heart's desire with a custom order.

It’s Not Thanksgiving without Pie

This Thanksgiving, leave the baking to us.

At the Co-op Bakery, we strive to offer choices that are good for you, the farmers, the local economy, and the environment.

With quality in mind, our ingredients are locally sourced and organic whenever possible, and are 100 percent free of artificial colors, flavors, and GMOs.

In the course of one year, the Co-op’s bakery team cracks open 150,000 eggs and uses 9,360 pounds of butter. In 2016, we baked 129,155 cookies and 20,197 scones!

During the holiday season, cookies and scones step aside as specialty pies take center stage. Every irresistible pie filling is crafted from scratch in our bakery kitchen using the
highest-quality ingredients we can source.

Pumpkin pie has long been the quintessential Thanksgiving pie, at least since 1844 when Lydia Maria Child penned her poem Thanksgiving Day (more commonly known today as the song Over the River and Through the Woods) with the closing line, “Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie!”

The Co-op bakers make the tastiest pumpkin pies in town, along with insanely delicious caramel apple pies and pecan pies.

If pie is not your favorite, the Co-op Bakery is ready to delight with traditional bakery treats, beautiful custom creations, and heavenly tasting allergen-free sweets and savories. Catering to specific dietary needs is our specialty and our talented bakers love a challenge—so dream big!

Catering to specific dietary needs is our specialty

To ensure you get the dessert of your dreams in time for Thanksgiving, or any occasion, place a custom order three days in advance and the Co-op bakers will have it ready and waiting for you to pick up.

Choose Your Pie

Pumpkin Pie

(traditional or vegan; gluten-free option for either)

The Co-op’s traditional and vegan pumpkin pies offer silky, smooth custards and the perfect blend of spices without being overly sweet.

$12.99

Caramel Apple Pie

Caramel apple pie is the trifecta of goodness with an all-butter crust and the perfect balance of sweet and tart apple filling dusted with cinnamon. The streusel topping provides a comforting buttery, oaty crunch.

$15.99

Pecan Pie

(traditional or gluten-free)

Our pecan pies are a beautiful marriage of crust and not-too-sweet, toasty pecan filling—salty and sweet, crunchy and chewy.

$17.99

New from the Co-op Bakery: Cinnamon Rolls

Our newest recipe is the cinna-bomb!

Co-op bakers worked for over a year to perfect this recipe. These beauties set the gold standard for fluffy, tender, cinnamon rolls; proofed overnight to enhance flavor, baked fresh every morning, and topped with a butter glaze.

And when we say gold, we’re hinting at an extra-special ingredient: organic Yukon gold potatoes. (Think old-fashioned Thanksgiving potato rolls.) It’s the taters that take this traditional dough from delicious to scrumpdillyicous. Only $2.99.

Entertaining? The Co-op makes it easy!

The Co-op is here to make entertaining a breeze! Every department in our stores is stocked with carefully selected items to make your gathering special: bakery, deli, specialty cheese, wine and spirits, produce, meat, and grocery.

Choose from a wide variety of made from scratch, delicious sweets and savories for your next gathering.

From the Co-op Bakery

The Co-op bakery has you covered with all types of goodies from custom cakes to cookie trays.

bakery, co-op bakery, cupcakes, custom, holiday

From the Co-op Deli

The Co-op deli-to-go offers trays and entrees to keep your guests fed and happy. Veggie, fruit, cheese, meats, kabobs, sandwiches ... choose your tray! Or, order an entree of your choice that is ready to heat and eat: spinach lasagna, veggie and bean enchilada, chicken enchilada, or vegetable frittata (recommend serving cold). Or you can simply stop by the deli service case or specialty cheese case and choose from our ample selection!

Do It Yourself

Choose from our large array of scratch-made dips and spreads, cheese, charcuterie, olives, crackers, and other goodies to create a finger-food panoply that your guests will love. Need advice on pairings? Just ask our cheese buyers or deli counter staff. We're happy to help! Consider adding a bottle of wine or spirits!

Get Ready to Gather Around the Thanksgiving Table

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

thanksgiving, gathering, table, community, sharing

The Co-op has everything you need to make your Thanksgiving dinner the best it can be—from decor to dessert!

Thanksgiving is the Olympics of food, family, and traditions. The rituals and foods we eat on Thanksgiving evoke memories of years gone by, and set traditions that future generations will carry forward: laughing and working together in the kitchen, preparing beloved family recipes, savoring the aroma of a favorite entree as it wafts through the house, setting the table for a sit-down dinner with friends or neighbors, or opening a special bottle of wine saved particularly for this holiday celebration.

The Co-op knows how important this meal can be, and we have carefully selected the very best ingredients to help you make this Thanksgiving memorable, and manageable. We’re here to lend a helpful hand with appetizers, side dishes, entrees, desserts, and wine.

Deli

The case will be brimming with delicious salads, stuffings, gravies, side dishes, and even roasted turkey and other entrees. Every item is prepared from scratch in the Co-op kitchens using the highest quality ingredients we can source. Ask to taste a sample of any item in the case.

Deli To Go

Our deli also offers a variety of prepared trays—veggie, fruit, cheese, Mediterranean, meat and cheese, sandwich, or kabobs. Housemade entrees are also available by the pound—spinach lasagna, veggie and bean enchilada, chicken enchilada, or vegetable frittata.

Bakery

Our bakers are at the ready to create the dessert of your dreams. Pies, cakes, and myriad other delights are available to pre-order with 72 hours advance notice. Or just stop by the store to pick up your favorite! Our bakery cases will be full of delectable goodies, including vegan and gluten-free options.

Specialty Cheese

Peruse our carefully curated selection of cheese, charcuterie, jams and jellies, and fancy crackers for all your entertaining purposes, as well as chocolate for holiday baking and decorating. We also have butters, mascarpone, ricotta, crème fraiche, and cream cheese for those mouth-watering holiday recipes.

Meat Department

We are pleased to once again offer a large selection of Mary’s Free Range Turkeys. We’re also happy to suggest other options for folks who would rather forgo the bird.

Produce Department

Revel in the abundant selection of fresh organic produce to make your holiday meal shine. And pick up a beautiful floral bouquet for the table.

Grocery and Bulk

Find all the extras you need to spice up your meal and take it to the next level of deliciousness. Experiment with new spices and ingredients from bulk, and shop for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and other specialty organic grocery items.

Wine, Beer, and Spirits

Shop the vast selection of the best local, imported, and specialty adult beverages. There is something for every budget, and our wine and beer buyers are happy to make pairing recommendations that will perfectly complement your meal.

Mercantile Department

Explore our selection of one-of-a-kind goods: kitchenware, tableware, serving dishes, wine glasses, candles, and distinctive decorative items to set the perfect mood.

Other Inspiration

Be on the lookout for tastings and other special events prior to the holiday. We wish you a festive and scrumptious holiday with your loved ones.

Special Orders

Don’t forget that Co-op member-owners can special order items from most any department by the case for a 15 percent (or greater) discount off shelf prices. Just ask at the service desk and learn more about how you can save with special orders.

At the Service Desk

Have questions? Need help finding something? Just ask our friendly service desk staff. They are always happy to help!

Baked from Scratch with Love: The Co-op Bakery

by Lisalyn Osborne, Bakery department assistant manager

The Co-op bakery team takes pride in preparing baked goods from scratch, using top-quality ingredients, like these melt-in-your-mouth vegan chocolate truffles. Co-op bakers also excel at creating beautifully decorated and delicious custom treats—tailored to customer specifications.

Co-op bakery staff had a very busy year, whipping up several new tempting treats that quickly became popular staple items in our bakery cases.

If you haven’t yet tried the expanded selection of muffins or brioche (mouthwatering creations both sweet and savory), that is an oversight you might want to correct immediately.

Other edible masterpieces coming from the bakery ovens included custom-made birthday cakes and specialty delights that were as beautiful as they were delicious, including an adorable Thomas the Tank Engine cupcake cake and a stunning winter wonderland scene of chocolate ganache-topped cupcakes with sugared thyme and cranberries and meringue mushrooms. Oh, my!

Co-op bakery staff also made some very special birthday boys and girls happy with treats made to satisfy specific dietary requirements, because everybody deserves a sweet celebration on their birthday. Vegan, grain free, sugar free, dairy free, paleo—bring your special request to our talented, experienced baking team and they will create something spectacular to meet your needs.

because everybody deserves a sweet celebration on their birthday

Every February, keep an eye out for decadent specialties to woo your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, including Hearts of Darkness, Bleeding Hearts, Truffles, and I Heart You and Chocolate cakes.

Each and every cookie, cupcake, pesto Parmesan brioche, pumpkin cloud cake, and chocolate caramel cream pie—from the simply sublime to the dazzlingly divine—was made from scratch in our kitchen using the highest quality, non-GMO, and organic ingredients we can affordably source. You’ll never find any artificial colors, antibiotics, or hormones in any of our bakery goods.

The new bakery kitchen, completed in 2016, has 1,300 square feet, about three times the size of the bakery’s former work space. And added some long-wished-for new equipment including ovens that adjust for humidity and a steam kettle (which is basically a giant bain marie or double boiler) for making custards and other recipes that require a gentle heat.

Having a dedicated space also made the rigorous cleaning process prior to the gluten-free bake more efficient.

Oh, and windows! The Cordata kitchens were lovely, but sort of lacking in the window department. Downtown, passers-by can peek behind the scenes and see bakery staff at work through the large windows along Holly Street that also bring some welcome natural light into the bakery work space.

We hope you enjoy eating the delicious goodies that result from the magic (and heartfelt work) that goes on behind the Co-op bakery kitchen doors.

Co-op Bakery Cafe: Beyond Great Food and Coffee

by Tasha Kerr, Retail Bakery Café manager

bakery cafe, baristas, coffee, espresso, smoothies, holly street, tasha, ciara,

Baristas (from left) Tasha Kerr, Ciara Sana, and Danica Paddock invite you to try a tasty treat from the Co-op Bakery when visiting our new café on Holly Street. Our organic coffee and smoothie bar features fair trade and locally sourced ingredients.

Building Community at the Co-op Bakery Cafe

For those of you that have not yet visited our Co-op Bakery Café on Holly Street, I would like to personally invite you to visit and experience our stunning recently remodeled eatery.

This beautifully efficient building is filled with light, vibrant energy, and most importantly, our high-quality baked goods and coffee. Not to mention the popular outdoor seating on our deluxe patio with an amazing view of the heart of Bellingham.

We proudly showcase our spectacular scratch bakery that produces some of the best pastries in town ...

... freshly baked scones, sweet and savory brioche, muffins, cookies, macaroons, and the list goes on.

For those of you that depend on us for plentiful gluten free and vegan goodies, we’ve got you covered.

Our extremely popular deli supplies us with fresh house-made salads and sandwiches every day. We carry a whole case of quick grab-and-go drink options like kombucha, natural energy drinks, teas, and sodas, as well as your favorite Twin Brooks organic chocolate milk. Along with energy bars, chocolate bars, savory snacks, chips, and so much more.

Let’s not forget our delicious espresso and smoothie drinks.

At our cafe you’re not just buying a tall vanilla latte, you are buying 12 ounces of a handcrafted espresso beverage made with organic beans that have been locally roasted and fairly traded. We use Fresh Breeze organic milk delivered from Lynden. And our house-made vanilla syrup is made with love. All of our syrups and specialty drinks, such as chai and ginger lemon tea, are all made in our very own kitchen.

Dairy isn’t your thing? That’s okay! We offer five dairy-free alternatives at no additional charge.

We proudly brew up your favorite local roasters ...

... Bellingham Coffee Roasters, Tony’s Coffee, and Hammerhead Coffee Roasters—every day from 7 am to 8 pm. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should try our Toddy cold brew coffee. Cold brew takes 24 hours to make and is worth every second.

While you’re here, meet our talented, experienced, and ridiculously friendly baristas. You may recognize a few of us from across the street at our Downtown store, but there are some new faces to meet. We’ve been having a good time getting to know our member-owners and customers and we look forward to seeing even more new faces.

Your Community Food Co-op is known for providing a vibrant and healthy shopping environment for our beautiful and environmentally conscious community, and our new bakery café is no exception.

In fact, we are one of the places where those important community-building conversations happen.

Not just between our customers and our friendly staff, but between our local vendors, musicians, artists, and farmers. We absolutely love our new eatery, and we know that you will too.

bakery cafe, specials, seasonal, espresso, smoothies,

Keep an eye out for seasonal specials and recommendations from our baristas. They are always brewing up something new in the espresso and smoothie bar! Or, you can create your own smoothie!

Bleeding Hearts

by Habiba Sial, Outreach Department

When was the last time you ate a bleeding heart?

I just did. No big deal. And it was SO GOOD.

First off, it is a dessert. A seriously divine dessert. A small heart-shaped cake, to be exact.

This cake relies on the classic flavor combination of raspberry and chocolate, made from two heart-shaped layers of chocolate cake filled with raspberry sauce and covered with a thin layer of tender chocolate ganache. The chocolate cake was moist with a perfect crumb. The raspberry sauce is made in-house from locally grown Barbie’s Berries.

While I often have Game of Thones daydreams, this one was particularly vivid. Was I in the office or was I eating this succulent treat from my bare hands on a raised dais in front of my people while raspberry sauce ran down my chin? Nope, just eating this at my desk while critiquing a group project. Phew. Anyway, we can’t all be Daenerys and I really don’t want to live in Westeros. Yikes.

Little known fact: cake makes critiques better.

Share this with your sweetie, your bestie, or just keep it to for your self. This Bleeding Heart is a love bomb.

Baked from Scratch with Love

by Lisalyn Osborne, Bakery Team

Co-op bakery staff had a very busy year in 2014, whipping up several new tempting treats that quickly became popular staple items in our bakery cases. If you haven’t yet tried the expanded selection of muffins or brioche (mouthwatering creations both sweet and savory), that is an oversight you might want to correct immediately.

Vegan, grain free, sugar free, dairy free, paleo—bring your special request to our talented, experienced baking team and they will create something spectacular to meet your needs.

In February, keep an eye out for decadent specialties to woo your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, including Hearts of Darkness, Bleeding Hearts, Truffles, and I Heart You and Chocolate cakes.

Each and every cookie, cupcake, jalapeno feta brioche, pumpkin cloud cake, and chocolate caramel cream pie—from the simply sublime to the dazzlingly divine—was made from scratch in our kitchen using the highest quality, non-GMO, and organic ingredients we can affordably source. You’ll never find any artificial colors, antibiotics, or hormones in any of our bakery goods.

Just imagine what the Co-op bakers will be able to accomplish when they move into their sleek new bakery production facility in the new Co-op Connections Building!

The new bakery kitchen will be 1,300 square feet, about three times the size of the bakery’s current work space. And we’ll be adding some long-wished-for new equipment including ovens that adjust for humidity and a steam kettle (which is basically a giant bain marie or double boiler) for making custards and other recipes that require a gentle heat.

Once the bakery is settled into its own space, it will also make the rigorous cleaning process prior to the gluten-free bake more efficient.

Oh, and windows! The Cordata kitchens are lovely, but sort of lacking in the window department. Downtown, passers-by will be able to peek behind the scenes and see bakery staff at work through the large windows along Holly Street that will also bring some welcome natural light into the bakery work space.

Until then, you’ll just have to be satisfied with eating the delicious goodies that result from the magic (and heartfelt work) that goes on behind the Co-op bakery kitchen doors.