Poul's Bakery Costa Mesa: Custom Cakes, Cannoli, and European-Style Desserts

Poul's Bakery Introduce

Introduction / Overview

For over six decades, Poul's Bakery has been a cornerstone of Southern California’s baking landscape, a celebrated tradition that continues to thrive in its Costa Mesa location. Established in 1955 by Poul Johansen, an immigrant from Denmark, the bakery quickly became an Orange County landmark, weaving itself into the fabric of local family celebrations across multiple generations. Today, it remains a beloved, scratch bakery specializing in decadent, European-style desserts, gourmet cookies, custom cakes, and fine pastries that carry the legacy of quality and flavor.

Poul's Bakery is more than just a place to buy sweets; it is where countless memories are made. Locals in California often recount stories of having their wedding cakes made here thirty years ago or visiting the original location with their grandparents. This deep-rooted history and commitment to consistency have earned the bakery a special place in the community, evidenced by its recognition, including being honored in the "Best Bakery" category in the OC Register’s "Best of Orange County" People’s Choice Awards.

The core of Poul’s appeal lies in its diverse and high-quality offerings. It expertly blends European traditions—showcased in its famous Swedish Princess Cake and authentic Italian treats like cannoli—with popular American classics. The staff is known for their personal touch, often greeting clients by name and dedicating themselves to turning customers' 'dream cakes into a reality.' The current iteration of Poul’s proudly identifies as a women-owned business and is an explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly space, demonstrating a commitment to quality baking and community inclusivity.

Location and Accessibility

Poul's Bakery is conveniently situated in Costa Mesa, serving as a hub for Orange County residents looking for specialty desserts and custom celebratory cakes. Its location is designed for easy access, ensuring a smooth experience whether you are picking up a daily treat or a large custom order.

The bakery is located at:

2950 Grace Ln Suite A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA

Accessibility is a priority at Poul’s Bakery, reflecting its commitment to serving the entire community. The facility offers extensive accommodations to ensure a comfortable visit for all patrons. Parking is made simple with both a free parking lot and free street parking available nearby. For ease of movement and access, the location features a wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible parking lot, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating. Furthermore, the bakery promotes an inclusive environment with a dedicated gender-neutral restroom, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the California community.

Services Offered

Poul’s Bakery offers a comprehensive range of services, focusing on custom orders and convenient fulfillment options for every occasion, from a quick bite to elaborate wedding celebrations.

Custom Cake Design and Consultation: Specializing in transforming personalized visions into edible art for events such as Wedding Cakes, Bridal Showers, Quinceaneras, Corporate Events, and all Birthday Celebrations. Appointments are required for detailed consultations, and the bakery offers cake tasting kits.
Specialty European and Classic Cakes: A vast menu of European-style cakes is available for everyday enjoyment or as a celebration centerpiece. Signature offerings include the Swedish Princess Cake, Italian Rum Cake, Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Tiramisu, Black Forest, and Napoleon Millefeuille Cake.
Gourmet Cookie & Dessert Selection: In addition to cakes, the bakery functions as a full-service cookie and dessert shop, offering classics like the famous Angel Cookies, French Macarons, Linzer Tarts, various Pocket Cookies, and a wide array of petit fours, brownies, and cupcakes.
Authentic Italian Specialties: A dedicated focus on Italian desserts, featuring authentic Sicilian-style Cannolis (available in regular, mini, and as a DIY Cannoli Kit), Cannoli Cake, and the impressive Millefoglie wedding cake construction.
Convenient Order and Fulfillment: The bakery offers multiple ways to receive your order: Curbside Pickup, Delivery, In-store Pickup, and traditional In-store Shopping. They also offer phone orders seven days a week from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Bake-At-Home Products: For families who enjoy baking, unbaked or frozen items like Angel Cookie Dough, Apple Strudel, and Flaky Squares are available, allowing customers to enjoy fresh-from-the-oven quality at home.
Flexible Payment Methods: Customers can easily pay using Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments.

Features / Highlights

Poul’s Bakery stands out in the competitive Southern California market due to its rich history, unique product specialization, and commitment to the modern community.

Orange County Legacy Since 1955: With over 60 years of operation, Poul's is an established and trusted brand, a multi-generational favorite that many California families rely on for their most important celebrations.
World-Class Custom Wedding Cakes: A key highlight is their expertise in large, custom wedding cakes, specifically the Millefoglie (traditional Italian wedding cake). They offer the unique and breathtaking service of live cake construction at the wedding venue, a feature that has made them the 'highlight' of many celebrations and created unforgettable moments for Orange County couples.
The Famous Angel Cookie: This is Poul's best-selling cookie since 1955, described by customers as "addictive." These white cookies with chocolate chips are an essential item and a perfect example of the bakery's signature, high-quality, scratch-made products.
European and International Specialization: The menu is rich with delicious and expertly crafted international desserts, from the Scandinavian Swedish Princess Cake (a top seller) to the New York classic Brooklyn Blackout Cake, and classic Austrian and French tortes like Sachertorte and Fraisier, all featuring a decadent flavor and 'mild sweetness' characteristic of European-style baking.
Inclusive and Community-Focused: The business proudly identifies as women-owned and maintains a publicly welcoming environment, being designated as an LGBTQ+ friendly and Transgender safespace, reflecting modern California values of diversity and inclusion.

Contact Information

For custom cake consultations, placing large orders, delivery requests, or for general inquiries, please use the following contact details.

Address: 2950 Grace Ln Suite A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA

Phone: (714) 532-5101

What Is Worth Choosing

When visiting Poul’s Bakery in Costa Mesa, you are encouraged to experience the specialties that have cemented its status as an Orange County landmark. To truly appreciate the breadth of their expertise, start with one of their celebrated layer cakes, move on to a classic cookie, and finish with an authentic Italian delicacy.

For a slice of Poul’s history, your first choice should be the Swedish Princess Cake. This cake is a top seller and a historical favorite, featuring vanilla sponge, raspberry jam, vanilla cream, and a distinctive green marzipan covering. It offers a wonderfully mild sweetness and a decadent, light texture that is perfectly suited to Southern California palates.

Next, grab a handful of the bakery’s most famous confection: the Angel Cookies. Customers have been enjoying this highly addictive chocolate chip cookie since the bakery’s inception in 1955. They are a simple, delicious testament to Poul's dedication to scratch baking and a fantastic treat to enjoy on the go.

Finally, explore their Italian specialties. The authentic Sicilian Cannolis are a customer favorite, freshly filled to order with Italian cheese and your choice of topping. If you are ordering for a crowd, the Italian Rum Cake or the impressive Napoleon Millefeuille Cake are excellent choices. For those planning a major celebration, particularly a wedding, consider discussing the bespoke options like the live construction of a Millefoglie cake at your venue—a truly special, breathtaking feature that Poul's Bakery is uniquely qualified to provide.

Poul's Bakery Menu

Specialty Cakes
Italian Rum Cake $0.00
3 Layers of vanilla sponge cake soaked with rum, filled with vanilla and chocolate pastry cream, frosted with whipped cream and coated with almonds. Comes in many sizes. Available for online ordering!
Brooklyn Blackout Cake $0.00
New York's famous dessert. Rich chocolate cake filled with chocolate cream, frosted with chocolate buttercream and covered with chocolate crumbs. Comes in many sizes. Can be ordered online.
Strawberry Cheesecake $0.00
New York style cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries. Order online!
Cookies N Cream Cake $0.00
Moist devil's food chocolate cake with cookies n cream filling and frosting. Decorated with whipped cream rosettes and Oreo cookies. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online.
Croquembouche $0.00
A tower of choux pastry puffs and bound with chocolate.
Napoleon Millefeuille Cake $0.00
The classic French dessert Millefeuille in a cake size. Alternating layers of buttery puff pastry and vanilla pastry cream, topped with fondant icing and chocolate ganache.
English Trifle $0.00
Bring your own bowl and we will build your English trifle with vanilla sponge cake soaked in liquor, vanilla pastry cream, fresh fruits and whipped cream.
Millecrepe Crepe Cake $0.00
Layers of thin and tender French crepes, filled with pastry cream, piled up to make a flavorful, soft and creamy cake. Fresh fruits available by request.
Pineapple Upside Down $0.00
A fruity and gooey cake, full of flavor, baked upside down.
Buche de Noel - Yule Log $0.00
Traditional French Christmas cake shaped and decorated as a log. Comes in different sizes and flavors. Decoration may wary. Also available to order online.
Chantilly Berry $0.00
Vanilla sponge cake, strawberries, crème Chantilly.
Strawberry Shortcake $0.00
Vanilla cake layers filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Excellent summer dessert!
Marzipan Cake $0.00
Devil's food chocolate cake with French pastry cream filling, covered with homemade marzipan.
Chocolate Banana Walnut $0.00
German Chocolate $0.00
Devil's food chocolate cake filled with decadent coconut filling, frosted with chocolate buttercream.
Brownie Cake $0.00
A decadent fudge chocolate brownie sized as a whole cake.
Mosaic Cake $0.00

Specialty Cakes
Boston Cream Pie $0.00
An American classic Boston cream pie is not a pie but a cake. Moist vanilla sponge cake layers filled with pastry cream, topped with rich chocolate icing and decorated with whipped cream rosettes. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online.
Cannoli Cake $0.00
3 Layers of vanilla sponge cake filled and lightly frosted with our famous chocolate chips cannoli cream. Comes in many sizes. Can be ordered online!
Limoncello $0.00
Light and refreshing sponge cake infused with Limoncello liquor made with lemons from Southern Italy, frosted with Italian Mascarpone cheese, topped with white chocolate shavings. Mildly tart, rich and creamy, excellent for dessert. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online!
Limoncello Cupcakes $0.00
Light and refreshing lemon cupcakes infused with Limoncello made with lemons from Southern Italy, frosted with Italian Mascarpone cheese, topped with white chocolate shavings. Mildly tart, rich and creamy. Available to order online.
Coconut Cake $0.00
Vanilla sponge cake with coconut cream filling, covered with coconut flakes.

Specialty Cakes
Swedish Princess Cake $0.00
Our best seller! A world famous Scandinavian cake created for Swedish princesses. Vanilla sponge cake, raspberry jam and vanilla cream filling, frosted with whipped cream and covered with homemade green marzipan. Custom color marzipan offered. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online
Galette des Rois - Kings Cake $0.00
Originated in France, and associated with Epiphany for the holiday season, it is comprised of two layers of puff pastry filled with delicious frangipane almond cream infused with rum. It comes with a paper crown and has a trinket (we use a whole almond) in it. Whoever gets the slice with the trinket becomes the queen or the king for the day. Available to order online.
Tiramisu $0.00
One of Italy's iconic dessert! Espresso soaked lady finger cookies layered between fluffy creamy mascarpone cheese, dusted with cocoa powder and decorated with lady fingers. Excellent after a nice meal! Comes in 2 sizes. Available to order online.
Burnt Almond Cake $0.00
Vanilla sponge cake filled with almond pastry cream, whipped cream frosting, covered toasted almonds and dusted with powder sugar. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online.
Fraisier $0.00
The French version of the strawberry shortcake, topped with our homemade marzipan.
Sachertorte $0.00
Our version of the famous Austrian cake. Apricot jam filled chocolate cake, covered with dark ganache, decorated with chocolate shavings and toasted almonds. Available to order online.
Black Forest $0.00
Traditional German dessert. Chocolate cake soaked with rum, filled with cherry jam and Bavarian cream, frosted with whipped cream, decorated with chocolate shavings and maraschino cherries. Comes in many sizes. Available to order online.
Carrot Cake $0.00
Double layer super moist carrot cake with tons of grated carrots, raisins, nuts and cream cheese filling.

Gourmet Cookies
Angel Cookies $0.00
Our best selling cookie since 1955, we have sold millions of these white cookies with chocolate chips. They are addictive!
Mini Angel Cookies $0.00
The bite size, mini version of best seller Angel cookies, sold by 2. Perfect for parties.
Hamentaschen $0.00
Triangle shaped butter cookies to celebrate the Jewish holiday Purim. Available in 3 flavors.
French Macaron $0.00
Meringue based most famous French cookies made with almond meal. Gluten-free, flour-free. Assorted flavors
Florentine $0.00
Lacy, nutty and crispy almond cookies drizzled with chocolate.
Chocolate Chip Cookies $0.00
Linzer Tart $0.00
Almond cookie from the city of Linz, in Austria. Raspberry jam, apricot jam or chocolate hazelnut is sandwiched between 2 almond butter cookies and dusted with powder sugar.
Raspberry Pocket $0.00
Melt-in-your-mouth Danish butter cookie filled with raspberry jam, dusted with powder sugar.
Apricot Pocket $0.00
Melt-in-your-mouth Danish butter cookie filled with apricot jam, dusted with powder sugar.
Lemon Pocket $0.00
Melt-in-your-mouth Danish butter cookie filled with refreshing lemon jam, dusted with powder sugar.

Gourmet Cookies
Snickerdoodle $0.00
Danish butter cookies topped with cinnamon sugar.
Thumbprint $0.00
Shortbread cookies topped with chocolate fudge.
Snowballs - Wedding Cookies $0.00
Also called Russian tea cakes, the wedding cookies are buttery, crumbly shortbread type dough with grounded walnuts and rolled in powder sugar. Available to order online.
Cookie Cake $0.00
Madeleine $0.00
One of the most famous French cookies. These cake cookies are dipped in chocolate and topped with nuts.

Gourmet Cookies
Coconut Macaroon $0.00
Gluten-free coconut cookies dipped and drizzled with chocolate. We offer fully chocolate dipped or jam topped options.
Rum Ball $0.00
A perfect holiday confectionary made with cookie crumbs, chocolate and flavored with rum. They are coated with chocolate and sprinkles.
Custom Decorated $0.00
Choose the shape and the decoration you want. We can ice them either with royal icing or buttercream for a smoother texture. We make them with our Christmas cut our recipe.
Cookie Platter $0.00
An assortment of our Holiday themed cookies including our famous angel cookies to bring to a party. From small to extra large many sizes are available.
Sugar Cookie Decorated or Undecorated $0.00
Our famous Christmas cut out recipe. We offer them decorated or undecorated.
Danish Butter Sprinkle $0.00
Royal Icing $0.00
Ready to use royal icin to decorate, flood or outline your sugar or any other type of cookies. Can be thinned with water or thickened by adding powder sugar. Can be purchased online.

Pastries & Danishes
Flaky Square $0.00
Danish Platter $0.00

Pastries & Danishes
Almond Pie $0.00
Ham & Cheese Croissant $0.00
Pinwheel $0.00
Vol-au-vent $0.00

Pastries & Danishes
Thanksgiving Pies $0.00
Traditional American pumpkin pie, pecan pie, flavorful fruity cherry pie all baked in crumbly flaky crust. Order online or iver the phone. Pre-order only.
Strawberry Puff $0.00
Apple / Cherry Strudel $0.00
Almond Galette $0.00
Turnovers Apple / Cherry $0.00

Desserts & Cupcakes
Limoncello Cupcakes $0.00
Light and refreshing lemon cupcakes infused with Limoncello made with lemons from Southern Italy, frosted with Italian Mascarpone cheese, topped with white chocolate shavings. Mildly tart, rich and creamy. Order online!
Dessert Platters $0.00
Impress your guests with a dessert platter from Poul's. Always handmade, always homemade, full of flavor our assortment of mini desserts, cookies and treats are the perfect choice for your parties. Make your own combination or let us choose for you! Can be made in any size you desire.
Burnt Almond Cupcake $0.00
The cupcake version of our Burnt Almond Cake. Vanilla cupcake filled with pastry cream frosted with whipped cream, covered with toasted almond and dusted with powder sugar. Available to order online.
Eclair $0.00
Napoleon Millefeuille $0.00
Creme Puff $0.00
Lemon Trifle $0.00
Refreshing lemon creme layers between vanilla cakes topped with whipped cream
Cake Balls $0.00
Chocolate Covered Strawberries $0.00
Brownie Bites $0.00

Desserts & Platters
Mini Cupcakes $0.00
Brownie $0.00
Dessert Platter $0.00
An assortment of our small size delectable desserts. Can be made in different size based on your needs.
Marzipan Bon Bon $0.00
Mini Boston Cream Pie $0.00
Chocolate Tart $0.00
Cake Slices $0.00
Mini Fruit Tarts $0.00
Mendiant $0.00
Raspberry Ganache Tart $0.00

Desserts & Treats
Cupcakes $0.00
Assorted delicious cupcakes.
Millefeuille Napoleon $0.00
Cannoli $0.00
Please visit "Cannoli" page under "Menu" to see the sizes, fillings and toppings. You can place your order by calling us or online.
Petit Fours fully covered $0.00
Fruit Tart $0.00
A delicious shell filled with vanilla pastry cream and seasonal fruits.
Petit Fours $0.00
Assortment of Desserts $0.00
Cake pop $0.00

Holiday Seasonal
Raspberry Linzer Cookies $0.00
Angel Cookies Gift Box $0.00
Customers' favorite our most popular cookie in holiday gift box.
Mini Angel Cookie Gift Box $0.00
Our best selling angel cookies, in mini bite size.
Pastry Platter $0.00
Pastry Tray $0.00

Holiday Seasonal
Holiday Platter $0.00
All platters are customizable.
Christmas Yule Log - Buche de Noel $0.00
Traditional Christmas cake in the shape of a log. Chocolate cake with hazelnut chocolate mousse and cracked hazelnut filling, vanilla cake with chocolate ganache raspberry mousse and slivered almond filling. Small, medium, large sizes are available
Italian Cannoli $0.00
Our best selling dessert authentic Sicilian cannoli comes in 2 sizes, 3 different fillings and many topping options.
Holiday Dessert Platter $0.00
An assortment of our small size delectable desserts. Can be made in different sizes based on your needs.

Holiday Seasonal
Croquembouche $0.00
Kings Cake - Galette des Rois $0.00
Originated in France, and associated with Epiphany for the holiday season, it is comprised of two layers of puff pastry filled with delicious frangipane almond cream. It comes with a paper crown and has trinket (we use a whole almond) in it. Whoever gets the slice with the trinket becomes the queen or the king for the day.
Croquembouche $0.00

Bake At Home
Angel Cookie Dough $0.00
Chocolate Chip Cookies $0.00
Cherry Strudel $0.00

Bake At Home
Flaky Squares $0.00
Turnovers $0.00
Almond Galette $0.00

Bake At Home
Apple Strudel $0.00
Almond Pie $0.00
Vol-au-vent $0.00

CAKE FLAVORS
Cake Type $0.00
FILLING $0.00
FROSTING $0.00
*Extra fee $0.00
*Extra fee

DECORATIONS
Semi-naked Cake $0.00
Rustic Horizontal Design $0.00
Unicorn Design $0.00
Rosette Design $0.00
Number & Letter Cake $0.00
3D Shaped Design $0.00
Ombree Color $0.00
3D Body Part Design $0.00
Palette Knife Buttercream Painting $0.00
Fondant Cake $0.00
Ruffles $0.00
Marzipan Covered $0.00
Damask Stenciled Design $0.00
Sprinkles $0.00
Deckle Effect $0.00
Textured Stripes or Swirls $0.00
Metallic Gold or Silver $0.00
Edible Image Photo Cake $0.00
Drip Design $0.00
Hand Painted $0.00

CELEBRATION CUSTOM CAKES
Wedding Cakes $0.00
Bridal Shower $0.00
Birthday Cakes $0.00
Anniversary Cakes $0.00
Sweet 16 $0.00
Quinceanera $0.00
Kid's Birthday $0.00
Bachelor Party Cakes $0.00
bachelorette party cakes $0.00
Graduation Cakes $0.00
Corporate Cakes $0.00
Retirement Cakes $0.00

Italian Cannoli
Cannoli Kit $0.00
Pistachio Cannoli $0.00

Cannolis
Cannolis $0.00
Mini Cannolis $0.00

Poul's Bakery Details

From the business
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Curbside pickup
Delivery
In-store pickup
In-store shopping
Takeout

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

Dining options
Breakfast

Amenities
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Planning
Appointment required
Quick visit

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking

Poul's Bakery Photos

Poul's Bakery Location

Poul's Bakery

California Orange County Costa Mesa Grace Lane

2950 Grace Ln Suite A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA

Poul's Bakery Reviews

An average rating of ★4.4 from 154 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Poul’s Bakery made a 48 in millefoglie cake for our wedding and we couldn’t be happier enough with how it turned out! I was looking for someone who would be able to construct the cake live for our wedding and was so happy to find Poul’s! I called Ayliz and she was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. Not only did she make us a tasting cake to try before the wedding (it was delicious and exactly what we were looking for) but she was extremely informative about the logistics regarding the wedding cake and quite literally made our dreams come true. Our wedding cake was the HIGHLIGHT of our wedding! Everyone was so impressed that she was constructing such a large and beautiful cake live and it tasted incredible. To this day, everyone remembers our wedding cake and mentions it when they see us. I cannot recommend Ayliz and Poul’s Bakery enough, it was the perfect touch for our wedding and I would recommend her to anyone that wants this special and breathtaking moment for their wedding!
August 20 · Angelina Labib
I was looking to have St.Joseph’s pastries delivered to my sons. I live in NY so it was a challenge. But from the minute I called Poul’s Bakery they went out of their way to help. Pastries were delivered on time by a very nice lady and my boys raved about how delicious they were. Thank you! I look forward to visiting your bakery in person for more delicious treats 😋
March 21 · Jacqueline Lewis
I feel like my picture isn't capturing the amazingness of this Boston Cream Pie (cake). 2 layers of custard? It was amazing. Great birthday surprise.
August 22 · Jackelyn Jones
I needed to order a birthday cake for my mom's 81st birthday. It was a Tuesday, and I needed.it by Friday. Ayliz graciously said okay and I told her I was on a budget. I wanted a simple cake with flowers on it. She worked with me and created such a beautiful cake! You would never know a limited budget was involved! It was detailed. It was very simple to order, it was all handled by phone and by text and photo ideas. The cake was chocolate with a mocha mousse. Oh my goodness!! This was an amazing cake! So good!! The buttercream wasn't too sweet, it was delicious and smooth. The cake was moist and chocolate goodness! The flowers were made from buttercream frosting, no fondant here! People at the restaurant were commenting on how pretty the cake was!! I would definitely keep Poul's as a go to bakery for cakes! You need to, too!!
April 07 · Sharon Palacios
Ayliz was so accommodating in taking my order less than 24 hours before I needed it. The Millefoglie cake that she created was 7 x 7 for mine and my husband‘s five year anniversary. Our wedding cake in Italy was very similar and I have to say that the one from Poul’s might have been better than our wedding cake! It was outstanding.Thank you so much for everything! I’ll be back again
March 27 · Dalya