Fall and baked goods go together like peas and carrots, so it’s time to forget about calories and treat yourself. Sure, it’s fun to bake at home, but when a craving for something strikes and you don’t feel like using your kitchen—or you want something above and beyond your skill set—look to this list. According to locals, these spots “rise” above the rest!

Posh Baking Company

The small-batch, artisan pies at Posh Baking Company are the brainchild of home baker Marni Branz. You can feel good about the ingredients, too: house-made vanilla, real butter, from-scratch crusts, locally sourced fruit, and natural dyes—nothing artificial or synthetic here. Order a caramel apple pie or roasted pear pie with a chai spice blend, or swing by The Fig Tree Coffee, Art, & Music Lounge to try their fig cinnamon swirl or chicken pot pies. Pro tip: upgrade your order with a cornucopia or leaf overlay design for an extra special fall touch. Roseville, 916-799-1120, poshbakingcompany.com

Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant & Bakery

You’re in for a delicious meal with a side of history at Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant & Bakery. Sited in a Victorian home, one of the first on Placerville’s Main Street that dates back to the 1860s, means the ambiance is above average. But the food is also exceptional! For breakfast, munch on olallieberry pancakes, Belgian waffles, or biscuits and gravy; for lunch, sandwiches on house-made whole wheat, white, or rye bread are calling your name. Most of their items are made from scratch, so you can’t go wrong—and certainly won’t leave hungry. 577 Main Street, Placerville, 530-642-0128, sweetiepiesrestaurant.com

Pushkin’s Bakery & Café

Those with allergies can have their cake and eat it, too—you won’t find any gluten, dairy, or wheat whatsoever in any of the products at Pushkin’s Bakery & Cafe. In fact, they’re a dedicated bakery, so none of their items even come into contact with these ingredients. Grab a chocolate chip cookie (the inaugural item that started it all); slice of coffee cake in unique, rotating flavors (orange cardamom, anyone?); or a savory breakfast sandwich. 1220 Roseville Parkway, Suite 140, Roseville, 916-886-5050, pushkinsbakery.com

Fans of donuts with off-the-wall toppings flock to BAD Bakers for kronuts and both cake and raised offerings with names like Bananarama, Unicorn Clouds, Couch Potato, and Smorgasbord. Don’t see exactly what you want? Order a syringe of jelly and fill your own donut to your liking. Fear not, flavor purists; their buttery STAXX bread (the “BAD” in their name stands for bread and donuts, after all) is proof that less is more (delicious!). 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 180, Roseville, 916-883-2253; 195 Placerville Road, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-790-8042, badbakers.com

If you’re a lover of both bakery treats and gelato, then Shorty’s Gelato & Bakery is the place for you! Choose one or choose both; or, for a real treat, try the crowd-pleasing gelato-stuffed croissant. All their gelato (flavors regularly rotate but past offerings have included berry cheesecake and tiramisu) is made by an Italian chef, and all the baked goods are made from scratch. For fall, order the pumpkin cheesecake that’s topped with pumpkin mousse and vanilla bean cream for an extra autumnal punch. 1216 Broadway, Unit A, Placerville, 530-313-8652 shortysgelatoandbakery | shortysgelatoandbakery

Early birds will get the carbs at BJ Cinnamon—a Folsom hotspot that opens at 5 a.m., the earliest available of our roundup. As their name suggests, “cinnamon” is a main ingredient in many of the fan favorites: cinnamon rolls, cinnamon roll donuts, apple cinnamon rolls, and cinnamon twist donuts. For savory fans, an extensive croissant breakfast sandwich menu also awaits. 402 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-608-8824

bjcinnamonfolsom  |  bjcinnamon 

Another viable option for gluten-free gluttony is Flourless Bakery—where owner Richard Moore uses a special proprietary flour blend consisting of potato starch, tapioca starch, rice powder, and whey protein to create treats sans wheat. Try a blueberry or raspberry cheese Danish; you can also order a weekend breakfast box to get a plethora of treats (think cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and scones) or “assorted items for a party” like eclair puffs, opera cakes, and bourbon orange canelé. 451 Main Street, Unit 5, Placerville, 530-391-7917, flourlessbakery.com

Karen’s Bakery & Café does it all: we’re talking ho-hos, crocodiles (pastry bars loaded with pecans), vegan apple walnut muffins, gingersnap cookies, and a bevy of brownies. If you’re wanting something more, the real showstoppers are their cakes. Stop by for a slice—or a whole cake—in flavors like tiramisu, raspberry and white chocolate, and dulce de leche. 705 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom, 916-985-2665, karensbakery.com 

French fare made from high-quality, fresh ingredients abounds at Julian’s. From tempting Parisian pastries (croissants, cookies, and cakes, oh my!) to fruit tarts, it’s their authentic crepes we’re especially crazy for. Sweet tooths will adore the lemon blueberry, Nutella, and caramel apple choices, while those craving something savory can expect plenty of salty, cheesy, veggie-filled delights. 6610 Folsom-Auburn Road, Suite 7, Folsom, 916-936-4735; 1490 Eureka Road, Suite 170, Roseville, 916-474-5475, julianscafe.com  

by Caitlin Emmett
Posh Baking Company photo by Jason Branz Photography. Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant & Bakery photo by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Pushkin’s Bakery & Café photo by Olga Turner. BAD Bakers photo courtesy of BAD Bakers. BJ Cinnamon photo by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Julian’s photo by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. Karen’s Bakery and Café photo by Elle Jaye.