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Bakersfield, CA

Building a daily retail bakery storefront to expand artisanal sourdough breads and handcrafted pastries.

• Artisanal sourdough and pastries: Baking Encanto produces artisanal sourdough loaves and handmade pastries, including cinnamon rolls and conchas.
• Brown butter cookie base: The bakery’s cookie line uses a brown butter base to support a distinct flavor profile.
• Swiss meringue buttercream cakes: Cakes are frosted with Swiss meringue buttercream as a key differentiator in product finish.
• Storefront renovations to expand capacity: Proceeds will fund a gas line installation and other necessary renovations to prepare the space for retail bakery operations and daily production.
• Owner-led pastry expertise: Maria Pelayo leads operations, combining formal pastry and sourdough training with experience in decorative techniques and cake production.

Baking Encanto is a specialty bakery producing artisanal sourdough loaves and handmade pastries. The menu includes traditional items such as cinnamon rolls and conchas, along with a signature cookie line made with a brown butter base. The bakery also prepares macarons, cupcakes, banana pudding, and breakfast pastries for same-day retail sales. Cakes are frosted with Swiss meringue buttercream, a preparation used to differentiate texture and finish across offerings. Since launching in 2018, the business has broadened from a core set of baked goods to a wider catalog of sourdough and specialty desserts, while maintaining emphasis on ingredient quality and specific preparation methods.

Proceeds are intended to establish a fully functional bakery storefront that can operate during business hours and increase sales volume beyond a home-kitchen setup. Funding will be used to install a gas line and complete other necessary renovations for the space, enabling daily baking and walk-in purchasing. The plan focuses on higher production capacity so customers can buy multiple items in a single visit. Operations are led by owner Maria Pelayo, a first-generation Mexican American entrepreneur and graduate of Bakersfield College. Her culinary training began with baking as a child under her older sister’s mentorship and continued through formal pastry and sourdough work, including decorative techniques and cake production with Swiss meringue buttercream.

Company Info

Baking Encanto is a specialty bakery making artisanal sourdough breads and handmade pastries, including brown butter cookies and Swiss meringue buttercream cakes.

Baking Encanto is a specialty bakery producing artisanal sourdough breads and handmade pastries, including cinnamon rolls and conchas. Its catalog also includes a signature cookie line made with a brown butter base, along with macarons, cupcakes, banana pudding, and breakfast pastries. Cakes are finished with Swiss meringue buttercream.

The bakery’s preparation methods emphasize consistent textures and flavors across items, supporting recognition for both sourdough and decorated pastries. It is operated by owner Maria Pelayo, whose training and hands-on baking experience inform daily production, inventory, and quality control. Baking Encanto serves customers through its retail presence, offering in-person purchasing during business hours for a range of baked goods and specialty desserts.