As you explore North Carolina, refuel at these cafes and bakeries serving sweet treats for a variety of dietary needs.
After a holiday staycation in Uptown Charlotte earlier this year, I committed to a gluten-free diet. The idea that I might be sensitive to gluten was planted in my head a few months prior when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease, a common autoimmune disorder that may be exacerbated by gluten for some people.
The weekend “away” gave me the space to notice how my gut reacted after a meal containing bread or pasta. I felt bloated, my stomach was hard to the touch, and my digestive system wasn’t moving like it once did (that’s all I’ll say about that).
My husband of 28 years offered to go gluten-free with me until he found out gluten is in foods made with barley, rye, and wheat, such as bread, crackers, cookies, muffins, pasta, and pizza. Since letting him off the hook, he’s gained back any points lost by trying my gluten-free recipes and shopping for gluten-free treats to replace some of my favorite foods.
During the first week I went gluten-free, I started a food journal and noted when I felt different. My body deflated, and my clothes fit better. Internal systems came back online. The reward far outweighed the sacrifice.
For the second week, I traveled to Jacksonville, North Carolina, to tour the new Carolina Museum of the Marine. A longtime friend who has been gluten-free for more than 10 years joined me. She introduced me to the Find Me Gluten Free app and used it to review our dining options throughout Jacksonville. We ate all our favorite dishes without consuming an ounce of gluten.
Finding replacements for bagels, cookies, and pizza helped me stay on track. Knowing I’d have access to these foods made it easier to follow the lifestyle.
As I head into my third month gluten-free, I’m still learning. I’m asking better questions about which dishes may be gluten-free, vegan, or made with less sugar because future readers may be interested in what’s out there, and I hope to be a resource.
As you travel across the state, look for these locally owned cafes and bakeries with gluten-free-friendly and vegan treats:
1. Bravory Bakehouse
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a frontline fudge brownie at the Bravory Bakehouse, a veteran-founded and military spouse-owned business. These rich treats are gluten-free and handmade in small batches.
Location: 974 S. Bennett St., unit A, Southern Pines
2. Breezes Delight
This gluten-free bakery specializes in dairy-free, keto, and vegan baked goods. Breezes Delight typically has a selection of sourdough breads, brownies, cakes, cookies, focaccia, and muffins. Dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free options are often available.
Location: Find them at the New Bern Farmers Market and the Onslow County Farmers Market.
3. City Lights Cafe
Hidden on a side street in western North Carolina’s Sylva is City Lights Cafe and City Lights Bookstore. Choose from a variety of gluten-free or vegan treats such as bagels, coconut macaroons, chocolate banana muffins, and crepes.
Location: 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva
4. C.Cups Cupcakery
When Janell Canino’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she experienced firsthand the emotional and financial drain on a family. Canino wanted to give back so she used her love of baking, learned from her mom, to open C. Cups Cupcakery. The bakery offers a daily selection of gluten-free brownies, cakepops, cookies, and cupcakes.
Location: 105 Cherokee Road, Suite 1E, Pinehurst and 125 NE Broad St., Southern Pines
5. Cravings
Cravings’ 100% gluten-free kitchen serves croissants, chocolate donuts, cinnamon buns, and peanut butter jelly cookies. The new fall menu includes pumpkin muffins and pumpkin donuts. Most products are vegan, and all are soy-free.
Location: 240 Princess Street, Wilmington
6. Dom Bakeries
In downtown North Wilkesboro, Dom Bakeries is a welcome surprise. Its gluten-free game is strong, with cauliflower-crust pizza, gluten-free bread, and desserts like the whoopie pie and cookie sandwich.
Location: 908 D Street, North Wilkesboro
7. Donut I Love U
Order fresh donuts, made in a 100% gluten-free environment, while you wait. Donut I Love U opened a brick-and-mortar location in my neighborhood this year, across from my coworking space. Donut flavors include American Pie, Are You Snickering?, and Or E Uh Oh!. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a donut sundae.
Location: 908 E. 35th St., Charlotte
8. Dough Re Mi Artisan Bagels
Buy an everything or plain gluten-free bagel at Dough Re Mi Artisan Bagels. Find these hand-rolled bagels outside of Hickory at Summit Coffee locations, Davidson Farmers Market, Foothills Farmers Market, and Watauga County Farmers Market.
Location: 2419 Springs Road NE, Suite 108, Hickory
9. Gail’s Garden & Bakery
Purchase cinnamon rolls, muffins, sourdough breads, scones, and more from Gail’s Garden & Bakery, a 100% gluten-free kitchen. Look for gluten-free and vegan goodies at the bakery’s booth at Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Simpson Farmers Market, and Uptown Farmers Market in Charlotte. Custom orders are accepted.
Location: 5923 Waxhaw Highway, Mineral Springs
10. JP’s Pastry
Joe Parker (JP) opened JP’s Pastry with an understanding of how gluten can affect a person’s body. As a kid, he suffered for days after being exposed to gluten. Later, as a dentist, he commiserated with clients who had the same experience. Parker went back to school and learned to bake without gluten. The bakery’s three locations sell a variety of gluten-free and vegan breads, desserts, and muffins.
Locations: 111 S. Railroad St., Benson; 7072 NC Highway 75, suite 108, Durham; and 2310 Bale St., suite 104, Raleigh
11. Lutra Cafe and Bakery
While wandering around the American Tobacco Campus, grab gluten-free or vegan items such as the ganache brownie, brown butter financier (soft almond cake with lavender), and oatmeal cream pie cookie. Lutra Cafe and Bakery uses Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour and sources from local farms.
Location: 312 Blackwell St., Noell Building #102, Durham
12. Marchand’s
This 100% gluten-free bakery tempts everyone with chocolate-dipped cupcakes, cheddar biscuits, and Oreo cheesecake. Marchand’s, a family-operated business, offers some dairy-free options and an order-ahead menu.
Location: 32 E Depot St., Angier
13. Pies By Di
Diana Casteel grew up baking pies with her family, so when she opened Pies By Di, she used what she learned to make small-batch pies, cakes, breads, and cheesecakes. The shop is 100% gluten-free, and she strives to decrease sugar in recipes by 50%. She bakes without tree nuts and soy, and about 80% of her recipes are dairy-free.
Location: 3632 Brevard Road, Hendersonville, and moving down the road to 3754 Brevard Road, Suite 102, Hendersonville, this fall.
14. Ocracoke Coffee Company
For more than 30 years, Ocracoke Coffee Company has been keeping the island caffeinated. Gluten-free granola bars are popular, but new options rotate throughout the week, at least one a day.
Location: 226 Back Road, Ocracoke
15. Old Europe Pastries
Prepare to wear baggy pants to Old Europe Pastries to indulge in the Devil’s food chocolate cupcake, a vegan and gluten-free dessert topped with a rich coconut milk-based chocolate ganache. Or feast on a peanut butter mousse cake, a gluten-free chocolate sponge cake. Many more sweet treats make the menu.
Location: 18 Broadway St., Asheville
16. Sumosa’s Cakery
Sumosa’s Cakery specializes in gluten-free jumbo cookies and jumbo stuffed cookies. They bake brownies and pies and also accept custom orders for gluten-free and vegan cakes and cupcakes.
Location: Order online or find them at Hickory Farmers Market.
17. Sweet Dough Bake Shop
Visit Lil’ Sally, the Thomas Dambo Troll in High Point, and then indulge in gluten-free caramel fudge brownies and chocolate chip cookies from Sweet Dough Bake Shop.
Location: 2758 NC-68, High Point
18. Sweet Imalda’s Vegan Bakery
Meet the woman behind Sweet Imalda’s Vegan Bakery at Uptown Charlotte Farmers Market every Saturday. Choose from vegan banana pudding, brownies, cobblers, and cupcakes. Imalda takes orders for gluten-free products.
Location: Uptown Charlotte Farmers Market and online orders
19. Sweet July Cafe
Author and restaurateur Ayesha Curry opened Sweet July Cafe this summer in The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. Curry’s Clementine Olive Oil Cake is a gluten-free, Mediterranean-inspired citrus cake. Fresh clementine zest is the standout in this dessert.
Location: 201 E Trade St., Charlotte
20. The Table
After shopping in downtown Asheboro’s antique and consignment boutiques, walk to The Table for gluten-free tea cakes. The vanilla cakes are topped with vanilla bean buttercream and finished with seasonal flavors such as fresh strawberries or tart lemon curd.
Location: 139 S. Church St., Asheboro
21. Tilted MAP
Tilted MAP (Mountain Aid Project) launched after Hurricane Helene to support local businesses. The nonprofit provides gluten-free baked goods throughout the week, from savory to sweet. All proceeds are “reinvested into the mission to uplift our community.”
Location: 318 Bouchelle St., Morganton
22. Tullio’s Bakery
Tullio’s Bakery makes gluten-free items such as cakes, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, crème brûlée, sandwich bread, muffins, and “My Dad’s Gluten Free Cookies,” as well as vegan graham cookies. They take special orders for gluten-free cakes.
Location: 1187 Duck Road, Duck
*Most of the cafes and bakeries listed use gluten-free ingredients and prepare items in a kitchen where gluten is also present. If you’re concerned about gluten exposure, ask individual businesses about celiac disease-friendly practices and gluten cross-contamination. For more information about celiac and dining out, check Celiac Disease Foundation.
