Chicago has some of the best dedicated gluten-free bakeries in the Midwest. One has been baking gluten free since 2010, one is a certified dedicated bakery in the western suburbs, and one makes vegan, refined-sugar-free treats in River North.
Here are the gluten-free bakeries in Chicago, where they are, and what to know before you go.
Photo: Pannet, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Dedicated gluten-free bakeries in Chicago
Defloured
1477 W Balmoral Ave, Andersonville. Chicago’s best-known gluten-free bakery and the top-rated one on Yelp. It started in 2010 and opened its shop in 2016. Cakes, cookies, pies, and pastries. Hours vary by source, and the bakery has run pickup-only at times, so check its website before you go.
Wheat’s End Cafe & Bakery
543 W Diversey Pkwy, Lincoln Park. A 100% dedicated gluten-free café and bakery whose roots go back to 2013. It’s carry-out and delivery only, with no seating, Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Good for a breakfast sandwich and baked goods to take with you.
ingrained
108 W Chicago Ave, River North. Everything here is gluten free, vegan, and free of refined sugar. It’s known for frozen dessert bars that sit somewhere between ice cream and cheesecake, plus cookies, brownies, and cakes. It’s highly rated on Yelp and DoorDash, and it also sells gluten-free vegan bread through its direct-order page.
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Sweet Ali’s Gluten Free Bakery
13 W 1st St, Hinsdale. A certified, dedicated gluten-free bakery that Ali Graeme started in 2009. It began in wholesale before opening its bakery, and it has a second location in Glenview. It’s worth the trip to the western suburbs, and its cinnamon rolls show up at other Chicago-area cafés, including Egg Harbor in Evanston.
Not sure if it’s open: Rose’s
Rose’s Wheat Free Bakery in Evanston was a well-known gluten-free bakery and café, but the most recent coverage we found is from 2013, and at least one listing shows it as closed. Don’t plan a trip around it without calling first.
Tips for gluten-free bakeries in Chicago
Check hours online. Defloured’s hours change, and Wheat’s End is takeout only and closes at 3 p.m.
“Gluten-free option” isn’t a gluten-free bakery. Many Chicago bakeries sell a gluten-free item from a shared kitchen. If you have celiac disease, start with the dedicated bakeries above.
Make it a day. Wheat’s End and Chicago’s Pizza, which makes gluten-free deep dish, are both in Lincoln Park. See our Chicago gluten-free restaurant guide for the full plan.
Quick Reference: Gluten-Free Bakeries in Chicago
| Bakery | Area | Status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defloured | Andersonville | Dedicated gluten free | Cakes, pies, cookies |
| Wheat’s End | Lincoln Park | 100% dedicated, takeout only | Breakfast and baked goods |
| ingrained | River North | 100% GF, vegan, no refined sugar | Frozen dessert bars, cookies |
| Sweet Ali’s | Hinsdale, Glenview | Certified dedicated gluten free | Cinnamon rolls, cupcakes |
More bakery guides: Minneapolis, Nashville, and the best gluten-free bakeries in the US.
Sources
- Defloured, Wheat’s End Café, and Sweet Ali’s (official sites)
- Meet Ali Graeme of Sweet Ali’s Gluten Free Bakery (VoyageChicago)
- ingrained (Yelp)
- Gluten-Free Bakeries in Chicago (Find Me Gluten Free)
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