This article was originally published in the Welcome Home print issue of The Daily Utah Chronicle, originally in stands on August 25, 2024. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.

We’ve all seen the cartoons: A character smells the drifting scents of a freshly baked pie and begins floating right towards it. Mouth watering, stomach growling, we know how it goes. Salt Lake City has the perfect solution for you if you get stuck in a rut. Just like the cartoon characters, you’ll be floating right towards these bakeries in seconds. Here is a taste of SLC’s favorite local bakeries. 

SLC is Home to the Sugar Plum Fairy

Carol’s Pastry Shop takes us back to the golden age with their old-fashioned, homestyle bakery. Right in the heart of the Sugarhouse area, Carol’s makes you feel right at home. Owned by two brothers, Bob and Al Walkenhorst, Carol’s is one of the longest-running bakeries in Salt Lake dating back as far as the late 1940s. In a PBS episode highlighting Carol’s, regular customer Stan Schulze said, “It’s Al and Bob who keep people coming. And then it’s the eclairs.”

Unfortunately, Al passed away two years ago, but his legacy lives on in the hundreds of eclairs the shop makes every day. While the shop is best known for its eclairs, they make so many pastries and other desserts, you’ll be walking away with boxes full of delicious delicacies.

“Have a nice sugar and spice day!” is the slogan of Carol’s Pastry Shop. It is quite the treat to receive service from people who enjoy goodies just as much as you do. I guarantee your visit here will have you coming back again and again.

Tulie Bakery has a very simplistic style to their service, though still a great spot to indulge in some sweetness. The original bakery opened in the 9th and 9th area and they recently opened another location on 15th Avenue. I visited the location on 15th and 15th and it was not a letdown.

Tulie is a bustling business. As soon as I got there, there was a line out the door; not surprising in the slightest. During their open hours, they provide breakfast-style cuisine in their cafe along with an array of pastries to select from. You won’t want to miss out on what the bakers at Tulie have to offer.

Eva’s Bakery has a French cafe-style twist to their exquisite pastry line-up. The dining experience alone is a Salt Lake must-do, as the staff are incredibly hospitable. Upon just walking in, the waft of freshly baked dough and the laughter of joyous customers will bring a smile to your face again and again.

Right next door to Pioneer Park is Carlucci’s Bakery. On my visit, I had the opportunity to speak to the owner, Therese Martin, about the shop and what started it all.

“I’ve cooked my whole life … when I went to college I was cooking to pay my rent,” Martin said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do in school so I kind of just kept cooking.”

Though they do make wholesale bread for a few shops around town as well, pastry is their main focus. Their most popular items are the cheesecake, fruit tarts, carrot cake and the tiramisu.

“We try and work with the farmer’s market as much as we can. Right now I have apricots and cherries that are local which are very fun to work with,” Martin said.

Carlucci’s began in 2001, which made me curious about what their mission was and how the place has held up so long.

“It’s important to me to have a happy and healthy staff. I feel like that’s the best thing I can do is have a good, healthy workspace … it matters,” Martin said. “I feel like I’m a part of the community … My mom was a baker and my grandfather was a chef so it’s in my blood … you just want to make people happy.”

A Treat is All You Need to Make the World Go Round

A grocery store is easy, but a bakery is so much more. Each bite invites a little bit of home to life. Take a break and indulge in the goodness Salt Lake has to offer. The variety is endless from Carol’s Pastry Shop, Tulie Bakery, Eva’s Bakery and Carlucci’s Bakery — and that’s just a few the area has to offer. If you have a big sweet tooth like me, these are the perfect options to satisfy your craving.

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@laneypauline_