If your New Years resolutions are anything like ours, then you’ll be prioritizing LOCAL FOOD and CARBS in 2025! Northwest Washington is rich with delicious breads, pastries, and grains. Often, these grains are grown and processed right here in Washington State – sometimes even down the road from the folks who bake the treats! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite breads and pastries in our quest to fulfill our New Years resolution of “Eat Loaf-al First”!
This blog was inspired by a Sustainable Connections office bake-off, when bakers on staff showed off their skills to be crowned Star Baker. We were so grateful to Cairnspring Mills, a local flour mill, for donating their incredible flour for us to give as prizes to the winners.
We love Cairnspring Mills’ mission to create field-to-flour products, highlighting why local grains are so important – for both flavor and nutrition. They’re “going back to the old ways of milling, with a modern twist” by reimagining the supply chain. Fairhaven Mill is another wonderful local option, providing flour that’s been batch milled by craftsmen for optimal flavor and nutrition since 1974. Fairhaven Mill is farmer-owned and locally-operated.
Dang! No wonder bread and pastries made with local flour taste so good.
Local grains create delicious, nutritious Cairnspring Mills flour. Photo credit: Amy Kumler
Without further ado, here are our TOP CAN’T–MISS BAKERIES in Northwest Washington:
Water Tank Bakery
Water Tank Bakery creates wholesome bread, cookies, and more. Bread is the cornerstone of the bakery’s offerings, making bread the slow way with long fermentation, sourdough levain, and locally sourced ingredients. This slow process ensures the development of maximum flavor complexity, consistency, and exceptional eating experience. All their products are baked exclusively with NW grown grains, milled at Cairnspring Mills (right next door on Water Tank Road). By taking advantage of produce and other ingredients available from local hard-working farmers and millers, Water Tank Bakery creates food that tastes of the unique abundance of the Skagit Valley.
Breadfarm
Founded in July of 2003 by Scott Mangold and Renée Bourgault, Breadfarm is an artisan bakery focusing on naturally leavened breads, rustic pastry and pantry staples. Every item they make is hand crafted. Their breads are naturally leavened using wild yeasts, and their European influenced pastry and cookies are made in small batches by staff with carefully tending hands.
They’re located in the small village of Edison, Washington, just off scenic Chuckanut Drive in beautiful Skagit Valley, and pride themselves on using the highest quality ingredients in their baked goods.
Raven Bakery
Raven Bakery sells simple, delicious, place-based food, including their own wholegrain, sourdough breads and pastries and a small grocery selection from their local farmers and processors. They bake for their community, to bring you your daily bread; for themselves, to earn a living producing beautiful food; and for the food system, to strengthen the connections between farmers, millers, bakers, and eaters. They operate the bakery by bicycle. You can find them at Bellingham Farmers Market and in their brick-and-mortar shop in downtown Bellingham.
Great Harvest Bread
For over 30 years Great Harvest Bread has been using long, traditional methods of baking to create breads that are truly one-of-a-kind, simple, wholesome, and delicious. They still fresh mill their 100% whole grain flour every day. In addition, they always offer a free slice with butter while you choose what to order!
Shambala Bakery
At Shambala Ancient Grain Bakery, you can enjoy delicious options baked at their dedicated gluten, soy, and peanut free facility using their own non-GMO whole grain ingredient blends sourced locally in the PNW. Their expansive, allergen-smart bakery menu is dedicated to accommodating folks with variety in their scrumptious GF & Vegan breads and pastry recipes, that include their own fresh milled Ancient Grain Blends of millet, sorghum, teff, amaranth, quinoa, and flax.
Barn Owl Bakery
Barn Owl Bakery on Lopez Island is a wood-fired craft bakery and grain farm making artisan breads, scones, cinnamon rolls, bagels, croissants, cookies, crackers, and more with island grown heritage grains and produce from Lopez farmers. Everything is made with organic ingredients, whole and sprouted grains, using sourdough fermentation for baked goods that are both delicious and nourishing.
Dough’s Bakery
Dough’s Bakery opened up in March of 2023 in Bellingham, WA. The bakery, specializing in a variety of baked breads, is owned and operated by Joey Slaugh, who was lovingly called “Dough” by his family and friends growing up. At Dough’s Bakery, Joey uses only local ingredients and traditional baking techniques to create mouth-watering treats that are sure to delight the taste buds of all who visit. You can find their bread at the Bellingham Farmers Market or by ordering on their website.
And you??
Who’s your favorite baker in the area? And if it’s you – tag us (@eatlocalfirstnw) with your bread-tastic creations!