The Best Gluten-Free Bakeries in Rhode Island
Living with celiac disease, an intolerance, or avoiding gluten for lifestyle reasons? Don't worry, here are six places to get the (baked) goods in and around Rhode Island.
A chocolate frosted doughnut, baked coffee doughnut and Swiss roll from Three Wishes Bakery. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
Three Wishes Bakery
Laura and Brian Meier opened Three Wishes Bakery in 2021 when they decided to leave their old careers behind for a sweet journey into baking. Laura, a former educator who grew up baking with her mother and grandmother, started following a gluten-free diet seven years ago to relieve the symptoms of an autoimmune disease and was “really tired of tiny toast and dried up stuff,” she says. After a summer baking out of Hope & Main, they moved into their current space on Greenville Avenue in Johnston. The gluten- and nut-free facility stocks nostalgic favorites like doughnuts, muffins, churros and whoopie pies, along with savory staples including sandwich rolls and Rhode Island-style pizza. Regular doughnut days feature additional flavors on top of the usual lineup, and Laura says her favorite treat is the chocolate Swiss roll. “We have customers that drive hours to get to us,” she says. Most items are soy-free, and select items are offered dairy-free. Laura says the “three wishes” in the bakery’s name stand for food inclusivity, safety and happiness. “I can tell the look on the face when people walk in for the first time,” she says. 39 Greenville Ave., Johnston, 642-7819, threewishesbakery.com
Zeppole at A&J Bakery. (Photo courtesy of A&J Bakery)
A&J Bakery
A&J Bakery is the original gluten-free bakery in Rhode Island. Amy and Joe Hitzemann founded the business as a nut-free bakery in 2007, adding the gluten-free label two years later. In addition to the sweet treats in the pastry case, the bakery carries gluten-free staples like bread, bagels and prepared foods to heat and eat at home. Need a dessert for your holiday table? A&J stocks a long list of seasonal items, from gingerbread house kits to Irish soda bread and allergen-free zeppole. The store also has a small market area featuring staples like imported Italian pasta and Rhode Island clam cake mix. A&J focuses on creating an allergen-friendly environment, with many items available free of soy, dairy and sesame in addition to gluten and nuts. Along with the Cranston store, you can find A&J products at a range of markets around Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the Northeast, with a list on their website. 1458 Park Ave., Cranston, 228-8696, aandjbakery.net
Wildflour Vegan Bakery and Café offers outdoor seating. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
Wildflour Vegan Bakery & Café
Though not a gluten-free facility, Wildflour Vegan Bakery & Café offers an extensive selection of gluten-free, vegan pastries, making it an ideal choice for those trying to avoid multiple allergens. Among the rotating cupcake flavors are coffee milk (filled with a creamy coffee milk filling) and chocolate peanut butter, and favorites like blueberry scones and chocolate chip or lemon cookies are always available. Wildflour also clearly marks allergens including nuts and soy on its online menu and in the bakery, eliminating some of the stress in choosing treats. The in-house cafe serves dairy-free versions of all the coffeehouse classics, and indoor and outdoor seating is available until 9 or 9:30 p.m. most nights. For a caffeine-free treat, try the Café Faux Lait — featuring roasted chicory and dandelion root blend from Black Leaf with your choice of nondairy milk — and pair it with a blueberry coffeecake muffin out on the patio. 727 East Ave., Pawtucket, 475-4718, wildflourbakerycafe.com
Please note: Wildflour is not a gluten-free facility, and customers should address any concerns about cross-contamination with staff.
May’s Gluten Free Market features gluten-free products along with bakery items and prepared foods. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
May’s Gluten Free Market
Celiacs and gluten-avoiders had reason to rejoice last year with the opening of May’s Gluten Free Market in East Providence. Celeste King Bremer opened the space to create a one-stop shop where individuals could find all their favorite gluten-free items in a single store. The selection ranges from breads and baking mixes from all the major gluten-free brands to hard-to-find snacks to locally made products from Rhode Island businesses like Chi Kitchen and Caribe & Co. Bremer also offers prepared foods and sandwiches daily as well as fresh bakery treats that she makes herself. International offerings like Portuguese pasteis de nata, Japanese mochi doughnuts and Korean corn dogs set May’s apart from the competition and make every visit feel like an overseas trip. Check the weekly specials on social media to find out what’s in stock. 7 Forbes St., Riverside, 410-7475, maysglutenfreemarket.com
Peach scones from Wickford Gluten Free. (Photo courtesy of Wickford Gluten Free)
Wickford Gluten Free
For gluten-free treats in Washington County, look no further than Wickford Gluten Free. Ellen Cullom founded the cottage bakery in 2023 after being disappointed with the dessert options at her favorite restaurants. “Every time I go to a restaurant, I get a little bit upset about the dessert offerings,” she says. “I just had this fire burning, and I was watching “The Great British Bake Off” show. I started doing everything they were doing, but just gluten-free.” Cullom sells her creations at the South Kingstown Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Tilted Barn Brewery Summer Market on Wednesday nights. She also takes special orders via social media for cakes and other goodies. Her weekly selection often includes cookies and quick breads, as well as seasonal treats like peach scones and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. Many of her items are offered dairy-free, and Cullom is in the process of setting up a Shopify account for online orders. “I’m very passionate about gluten-free,” she says. wickfordglutenfree.com
Eggs Benny at Duke’s Bakery. (Photo by Lauren Clem)
Duke’s Bakery
OK, so it’s technically not in Rhode Island, but Duke’s Bakery in Fall River is a must-stop for any gluten-averse visitors to the East Bay. The full-service breakfast and lunch restaurant (a completely gluten-free menu!) also features a bakery serving up sweet classics including cookies, cupcakes, muffins and whoopie pies. The menu offers all-day breakfast along with salads, burgers and sandwiches, with many menu items available dairy free. Indulge in chicken and waffles with candied bacon and drizzled maple mustard, or sample the eggs Benny without a second thought for the gluten-free, dairy-free roll. On your way out the door, don’t forget to choose from more than a dozen cookie varieties, or grab some biscotti or paleo doughnuts to go. The restaurant also offers mocktails made with Ritual Zero Proof gluten-free alcohol alternative, as well as a holiday ordering menu featuring everything from cookie trays to chicken parm. 1082 Davol Sq., Fall River, Mass., 508-617-4105, dukesbakeryglutenfree.com
RELATED ARTICLES
Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants in Rhode Island
Is Gluten-Free Really All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
The Best Spots for Brunch and Breakfast in Rhode Island
