More and more people are discovering the benefits of a gluten-free diet. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are actually now more gluten-free products than ever, and gluten-free food sales are projected to surpass USD 17.05 billion by 2027.
If you’re in Winnipeg and looking for a delicious gluten-free cake, where do you go? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve put together a list of some of the best places to buy gluten-free cakes in Winnipeg!
Difference between Gluten-Friendly and Gluten-Free Products: Quick Disclaimer
When it comes to a gluten-free diet, you should be aware that there’s a difference between gluten-friendly products and gluten-free products.
“Gluten-free” foods, according to Health Canada, must not contain any intentionally added gluten sources and be less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten from unavoidable cross-contamination. This is a technical definition that manufacturers have to adhere to if they want to label their products “gluten-free”.
On the other hand, gluten-friendly has no technical definition that it needs to adhere to, which means it can mean anything from little to no gluten.
Please note that I am not a medical professional or an expert giving medical advice! I’m just a normal Winnipegger who’s doing my best to create a helpful list of places that are gluten-free or gluten-friendly. You should always check with the establishment to ensure they are gluten-free or gluten-free friendly as things may have changed since I last updated this post.
100% Gluten-Free Bakeries
Cocoabeans Gluten Free
If you’re looking for the OG gluten-free spot, this is it. Cocoabeans is a dedicated gluten-free bakery that was started in 2010 by Betsy Hiebert, who is one of seven in her family who have celiac disease.
That means she knows all about how hard it can be to find gluten-free food that doesn’t sacrifice taste or texture when she first started eating gluten-free 13 years ago. After a ton of research, hundreds of hours of baking (and failing), setting up shop at farmers markets and getting rave reviews from family and friends, Cocoabeans was born!
If you’ve never been here before, you’re in for a treat. Cocoabeans offers a wide variety of breads, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, tarts, and pies, and in recent years, they’ve also added a whole menu full of savoury food items.
Looking for French Onion Soup or a good ol’ burger? They’ve got it, and it’s gluten-free. They also offer sandwiches, salads, bowls and other brunch items in their café section, so you can grab a bite and a drink to go along with your sweet treat. They also offer dairy-free and vegan options for many of their menu items.
Planning on making something at home instead? They also have pizza and pie mixes in addition to their pre-packaged vanilla and chocolate cake mixes for sale. Check them out for some serious gluten-free deliciousness!
Location: 774 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0Y1
Hours: Tues to Fri 10.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-3pm
Gluten-Free Friendly Bakeries
There’s a long way to go before we have more 100% gluten-free bakeries, but in the meantime, here are some gluten-free friendly bakeries that are raved about by Winnipeg. Please note that these bakeries claim they do gluten-free cakes, and also that while they do their best to avoid cross-contamination, they do use traditional flour which contains gluten.
Some of these establishments also have a common kitchen where they bake all their products (with gluten and gluten-free) in a common oven, so as always, please note there may be a risk of cross-contamination.
Chocolate Zen Bakery
Co-owned by Betty Lai, Douglas Krahn and Barbara Rudiak, Chocolate Zen Bakery is a charming neighbourhood bakery in Osborne that specialises in creating beautiful wedding cakes and custom orders. Their gluten-free lemon raspberry cake is one of their best-sellers, even becoming a tradition at many family gatherings!
One thing to note is that their bakery is pretty compact. So while they do have individual treats behind the counter and ready-made cakes to go, they’re more for people who pre-order cakes for special occasions.
While they are not a gluten-free facility, they offer a pretty wide variety of gluten-free cakes. They’re also happy to accommodate other dietary needs like dairy-free, limited sugar-free and vegan dietary needs, as long as you give them three days’ notice. Many of their signature torte flavours are also gluten-free.
Please note that while they can provide nut-free tortes and pastries, their bakery does use and bake goods with nuts and flour, so you should be aware there’s a risk of cross-contamination if you have nut allergies.
Location: 553 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L 2B3
Hours: Tues to Sat 9.30am-3pm
Goodies Bake Shop
Established in 1984, Goodies is usually on the list of bakeries to check out when you’re in Winnipeg. Their bakery is on the corner of Ellice and Erin, and they offer a large selection of baked goods and treat you can walk in to pick up.
While they do have a lot of classic cakes, cupcakes and pastries, they also have gelati, pies, brownies and sweets available.
Their chocolate truffle cakes are made with chocolate instead of flour, such as the Banana Split, Chocolate Sin, Shmoo Truffle Cake with Caramel Sauce and more. Make sure to check out their Lemon Raspberry cake, which is their best seller.
One thing you should note is that they have a common kitchen and bake all their products in a common oven, so there may be a risk of cross-contamination when you purchase from their shop.
Location: 1124 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3G 0E4
Hours: Mon to Fri 9am-10pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Gluten-Free Products with no Storefronts
While creating this list of where you can buy gluten-free cakes in Winnipeg, I came across these other stores that sell gluten-free products that have no storefronts. Some are available at farmers markets (check out our list of farmers markets all around and in Winnipeg), some are made to order and others are available at the LCs.
MoNUTs Cafe
MoNUTs café opened up in Osborne Village in the midst of the pandemic in April 2020, and were thriving for a good while before recently closing their storefront permanently (their Instagram announcement). When they first opened, they served protein-packed, vegan and gluten-free doughnuts.
Maureen Gelvis-Pflueger, the owner of MoNUTs, first came up with the idea of a protein-based doughnut while she was participating in a women’s bodybuilding competition. While preparing for it, she went on a strict, vegan diet and started having all kinds of problems when she binged on junk food once the competition was over. That inspired Maureen to create healthy doughnuts that allowed her to indulge in her guilty pleasures without problems!
Fun fact: MoNUTs is a play on the Maureen’s name, who’s known to her family and friends as Mo Mo!
While their store is permanently closed now, MoNUTs is still available for pre-order and pick up at a few locations. For pre-orders, they are picked up every Friday at the RehFit Centre. If you can’t wait for your pre-order and need them right away, you can get them now at Wolseley Kombucha and at fruit de la vie juice co.
MoNUTs can be stored in the freezer for up to six months and because they contain no dairy, they stay fresh at room temperature for up to three weeks if they’re in a sealed container.
Piccola Cucina
Piccola Cucina, which is Italian for “little kitchen,” is an almond first & gluten-free bakery run by mother-daughter duo Anita and Pina Romolo. They first started their baked goods journey over 10 years ago using recipes from their home kitchen and their family recipe book, serving up allergy-friendly products.
All their items are made with almonds first, and their commercial bakery is a dedicated gluten-free and dairy-free facility that undergoes regular testing to ensure they are compliant with Health Canada’s guidelines (under 15 ppm (parts per million) for gluten). They’re also Kosher and HACCP certified, and their products are also peanut-free, corn-free, and soy-free.
Some of their highlights are Italian macaroons, almond tart shells, and their most recent addition, almond flour wraps. As they’re a commercial bakery, they don’t have a storefront for walk-in purchases, but you can pick up their products from Sobey’s Safeway, DeLuca’s, and Vita Health. You can also purchase their Italian-inspired healthy and indulgent creations online from their website, where they offer free local pick up.
For more information on what you can eat, check out this page by the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association.
