It had been over four and a half years since I lived in my apartment on Summit Avenue on Milwaukee’s East Side and last indulged in treats from the neighboring gourmet bakery. After returning there on multiple recent trips, I can wholeheartedly say that was too long of an absence from this one-of-a-kind bakery that creates “treats that are safe and healthy for most every body”. Thus, I am eager to share my next Small Business Spotlight: Blooming Lotus Gourmet Bakery.
What makes Blooming Lotus unique is that it is a vegan bakery whose products are free of many of the most common food allergens. They proudly produce and sell a wide array of delicious baked goods in a kitchen that is grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, peanut-free, egg-free and cane sugar-free. On a recent visit, I asked how many other bakeries can make this same claim about their entire menu. I was told that last they checked, they were the only bakery in Wisconsin and one of the few places in the US to offer such a menu!
Susan Goulet opened the East Side location in the historic Clock Tower Building at 2215 East North Avenue in 2015. Since the bakery’s opening, Milwaukee has benefitted from her knowledge of food that can be enjoyed by everyone, but most especially by those with severe dietary allergies. As someone with a sweet tooth who has tried A LOT of desserts, I can wholeheartedly state that even those without dietary allergies or restrictions will enjoy the treats – they are delicious!
So just what do they make? Breads, crackers, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, scones, bars, whoopie pies, pastries, cakes, pies, granola and even pizza crusts. Looking for something different? Their creations have included Funky Monkey Scones, Cranberry Coconut Pecan Bars, Pistachio Cardamom Scones with chocolate chips, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, and Samoa inspired Whoopie Pies. Doughnuts are made fresh on Thursdays and Saturdays and regularly sell out!
A specialty vanilla cupcake with blueberry frosting, Pecan Cherry cookie, and Frosted Ginger cookie, and Turtle Brownie 
Cashew Butter Cookie, Pecan Cherry cookie, Carrot Cake Cupcake, Cashew Indulgence Bar, and Lotus Cookie
To broaden their reach, in October 2020 they opened a second bakery in Shorewood at 3948 North Maryland Avenue just off Oakland Avenue and next door to Goulet’s Milwaukee Yoga Center. In addition to the display cases at the bakeries, you can also find select Blooming Lotus products at Outpost Natural Foods and some Sendik’s stores in the area.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking that because their bakery is free of grain, gluten, egg, dairy, cane sugar, oils, soy, and yeast it will be lacking in flavor. I’ve tried their Lotus, Cashew Butter, Frosted Ginger, and Pecan Cherry cookies; Carrot Cake and specialty cupcakes; Dream and Cashew Indulgence bars; Funky Monkey and Cardamom Pistachio scones; and Turtle Brownie.
My absolute favorites to date are the Pecan Cherry and Frosted Ginger cookies and the Dream and Cashew Indulgence bars.
The Pecan Cherry cookie 
A Frosted Ginger cookie
Blooming Lotus Gourmet Bakery uses certified-organic ingredients whenever possible and only bakes with whole foods, so their flours are derived from nuts and seeds and there are no added oils. “We understand dietary challenges from personal experience and make foods that can be eaten with pleasure and without worries by most people.” This even includes their chocolate chunks which are made from cocoa, cocoa butter and maple syrup.
Since your mouth is likely watering by now, I’d recommend checking out Blooming Lotus’ Instagram and Facebook pages for their daily menu and specials and then make sure you visit them at either their East Side or Shorewood shops. You won’t be disappointed!
From Cities To Trails 