There aren’t many places that my son with allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat can eat out, so when we find a vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free bakery that is not only allergy-aware, but also ridiculously delicious, I feel the need to share my positive experience with everyone!
Last weekend our family took a trip to Burlington, Ontario, which is a little less than an hour west of Toronto, to spend the afternoon near the lake and to eat some dairy-free soft serve ice cream and cupcakes at Kelly’s Bake Shoppe.
Kelly’s Bake Shoppe boasts healthy and delicious baked goods that are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and peanut-free. They use only natural and whole-food ingredients in their products and do not use any lard or nuts. While they are a fully nut-free facility, they use Bob’s Red Mill flours that are processed on equipment that packages hazelnut, almond, and soy. Bob’s Red Mill power washes their machinery and discards the initial 30 pounds of flour between runs in order to minimize the risk of cross-contamination, but people with tree nut allergies should be prudent and follow their comfort level.
I was surprised to see a line-up that almost curled out the entrance door. We fell in line and immediately understood the hype when we saw the amazing display of cupcakes, cookies, bars, donuts and cake pops. They also had dairy-free soft-serve ice cream with a selection of allergy-friendly toppings like cookie dough, chocolate or caramel sauce. If your heart isn’t already thumping with excitement, they also serve Balzac’s brand coffee with a selection of dairy-free creamers.
We ended up buying ice cream for the kids, a case of 12 cupcakes for everyone to share and some coffee to wash it all down. They have a few small tables for you to enjoy your treats there, and benches outside. Kelly’s Bake Shoppe is also located just a short walk away from the Burlington Lakeshore where there are picnic tables, lots of green space and the beautiful view of Lake Ontario.
We chose to eat in the store to enjoy the lively atmosphere, and walked down to the lake after our snack. We had a few cupcakes leftover that we decided to freeze. We ate them a week later and after an hour of defrosting, they were just as moist and delicious as the ones we ate in the shop. Everything was delicious!
Thank you Kelly’s Bake Shoppe! Not only is it great to have safe, healthy and delicious options for my kids, but the fun atmosphere and unique bake shop experience you offer is unmatched! We will definitely be back!
