I served the lemon bars and brownies at a party yesterday. Everyone enjoyed the desserts immensely. Lemon bars are light with a delicate crust. Brownies are perfectly dense with added chocolate chips inside. All dusted with powdered sugar. Pretty presentation. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe is a small local bakery with some delicious pastries! Their croissants are absolutely amazing and I also really love their muffins! The coffee is okay but nothing to rave about. This is a very small space so only two or two barstools inside and then a few tables outside on their patio. It gets busy here on the weekends so expect to wait a bit. However, service is always friendly! read more

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I hadn't been in a while and when I went yesterday the pastries were not the same, and not for the better. Wondering if the baker changed? I hope it was just an off day because I used to love this place. read more

Speaking of dessert, people always have room for it. Mule's Baked is not just a Bakery but something far more authentic. It has the best dessert choice that you can find in Arroyo Garden. You can never go wrong with anything here. The cheesecakes, scones, cookies, and cupcakes are all made with fresh ingredients and of great quality. My top pick is the Buffalo Chip cookies. It is large and hearty with chewy nutritional ingredients. My husband is crazy about peanut butter cookies and brownies. They were a treat for us although it is a little pricey. It is well-liked in the community and is open from 7:30am until everything is sold out. I would propose that you get there earlier or in the morning if possible. Otherwise, the choice is limited. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - The bakery display - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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Starting off with the good, the shop is cute, nice location, and solid service (the woman who helped us was great!). The cupcake, vanilla salted caramel, I bought for $4.5 was honestly subpar though. The base was a generic vanilla with what I believe was a buttercream frosting on top. Both of which were just okay. The caramel drizzle is what looked lovely and tasted delicious. That though, is only found on top in a small portion :/ I had hoped when cutting in that there would be a portion inside. There was not though, so it left me essentially eating a generic vanilla cupcake with a light tasting of caramel. They may have tried to incorporate other parts to make it taste salted caramel, but I found nothing that could be tasted of such. Based on that, I would not try any of their other cupcakes again. I read some reviews before writing this and was surprised by all the 5 stars. Maybe the cupcake was just a dud? I didn't try drinks or other pastries, so I will clarify this review is largely reflective of that specific cupcake. Service: 5 stars Location: 5 stars Salt caramel cupcake: 2 stars read more

Our absolute favorite local Bakery for creamy, custard-filled, and Chocolate-covered NYC style Eclairs. If one is looking for the best Eclair around, the Eclair here sets the standard. One of the keys to flavor & texture balance is the filling. Many Eclairs one finds in supermarket bakeries, either use some sort of artificial filling, or even worse a synthetic "whipped cream base". The best filling is real dairy custard that also has real vanilla flavoring, not with synthetic vanilla. Does real vanilla make a difference? Yes it does, if one wants to try a great real Vanilla bean yogurt, then try Nounós [@ Sprouts]. Here is one example of better ingredients for Eclair Custard: "Custard (Pastry Cream): 1 ¼ cups Whole Milk 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar can sub rapadura 3 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour 3 Egg Yolks 1/2 Vanilla Bean Pod split lengthwise 1 tablespoon Butter" Of course, the custard needs to go into a shell that somehow remains a bit crispy and crunchy despite being covered with both custard and the Chocolate layer on top. The shell should be baked till it is a golden brown color. Here is one recipe for the shell: "Dough: 1/2 cup Water 1/2 cup Whole Milk 1/2 cup Butter room temperature 2 teaspoons Sugar 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt 1 cup All-Purpose Flour 4 Eggs whisked lightly" As for the Chocolate top, here is are the ingredients: "Chocolate Glaze: ¾ cup Powdered Sugar 2 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 1 1/2 tablespoons Whole Milk 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract" Most of these are basic ingredients, but some can be improved a bit...such as using fresh Vanilla Beans instead of extract. Here is the rest of the recipe [edited for space]: "...Instructions Custard: Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it comes to a simmer. Right away, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar and flour. Add in the egg yolks to the mixing bowl and use a mixer to incorporate them into the dry ingredients until it forms a paste. Then slowly drizzle all the milk into the bowl, mixing the entire time so that you properly homogenize everything together. Pour this mixture back into the pot over medium heat and whisk constantly until it thickens up and the frothiness goes away. It will then start bubbling and just whisk for a few more seconds before removing the pan from the heat. Scrape the vanilla beans out of the pod and add them. Add the butter and whisk until it's all melted and incorporated. Cover the custard with plastic wrap, and make sure to make contact with the surface of the custard. Cool at room temperature for a few minutes before placing in the refrigerator to cool completely. For the Dough: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease the foil. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Once it comes to a simmering boil, remove it from heat and quickly mix in the flour with a wooden spatula until incorporated. Put the pot back over the heat for 2 minutes, mixing the entire time. Then remove the pot from the heat and mix for another 3 minutes to slightly cool and release more steam. Little by little, add in the whisked eggs, stirring constantly until everything is fully combined and the dough is stretchy and thick. Use two large spoons to make 1 tablespoon-full round dollops of dough on the baking sheet. Give about two inches of space between dollops. Bake for 10 minutes and then change temp to 350°F until golden brown (approximately 20 more minutes). Using a knife or wooden skewer, poke a small hole at the side of each dough ball once it's come out of the oven to keep from deflating. Cool before filling. For the Glaze: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until glossy and smooth. To Assemble: Use a knife to poke a hole at the bottom of each dough ball. Take a piping bag or plastic sandwich bag (with one corner snipped) and place a large piping tip inside and poke it out the corner of the bag. Fill the bag with custard and fill each dough ball through the hole you've made in each one. Dip the top of each eclair into the chocolate glaze. Place on a plate to allow glaze to set on top of eclairs for 5 minutes before serving." Ref: https://honestandtasty.com/the-best-eclair-recipe/ As you can see from the ingredients & recipe, it is not easy to create a masterpiece & the Vanilla alone can cost as much as one Eclair. It is likely far more effort effective to just buy one from this fantastic bakery. While the Eclair is my favorite item here, their cupcakes are also some of the best, if not the best on the Central Coast. As I indicated in my original review, this is a great place to stop by after shopping at AG Villages Saturday Farmers Market &/or AG Butcher Shop, just across the street. In one fun trip, one can get protein, veggies, fruits, and Carbs for a complete and excellent meal. read more

We walked by while shopping and having lunch in the village. The shop is tiny but cute. They display their pastry's in the window which caught our eye and we had to go inside and check them out. My sister ordered a coffee and I got a chocolate cupcake for my daughter. There were other pastries that caught my eye but we were on our way to grab lunch. My daughter loved the cupcake and mud sister loved her coffee. I had a sip of her coffee and it was delicious. I will be back for coffee and a pastry. read more

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Ooo!! good coffee place with lots of fun pastries. Definitely recommend stopping by on your downtown walk. Small place with some outdoor seating but super cute and just such a fun part of the city. Service was good too. read more

Excellent service, amazing coffee & pastries! Local spot with seating outside, great for families and dogs! They serve Counter Culture coffee which is one of my favorite! Pastries I got: bacon jalapeño scone (10/10), Marion berry scone (8/10), and morning bun (10/10). Hope to be back again! read more

I noticed this little cute shop the other day while walking through town. Then had to come back to pick up some sweets for friends. A coffee shop/cafe that has a nice little outdoor seating area off the street. Great for people watching and having your coffee and a pastries. Inside, it's a cute little shop with amazing pastries. Picked up a couple things as everything looked amazing. The gentlemen that was working that day was very friendly and sweet. It's a sweet little spot where I'm sure the locals love. read more

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I came when it was closer to closing so there were items that were sold out for the day. The pastries weee good, but I do wish there were more savory options as well. The worker was nice and gave me a complimentary treat, super cute bakery and highly recommend! ig: @cravingswithcat read more

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Always stop in for two buffalo cookies and my wife's ice tea (peach or mango). The cookies are delish and somewhat healthy too! read more

Love this place! My favorite place for a croissant in town. The coffee is also great too, they make a great mocha - not too sweet. Pairs perfectly with a morning pastry. The staff here is always so nice and pleasant, serving up with a smile and good vibes. The inside of the shop is super cute, and I like how they display their pastries for the day in the window looking into the shop. This place is definitely the serotonin boost you need to start your day. I've always left this place happy and in a better mood read more

The aesthetic of this bakery is super cute. They sell pastries and other items like books and kitchen stuff (cups, spoons, etc) but the prices were a bit high. I got their morning bun croissant to go, but it was okay. Not as fluffy and buttery as I would have liked. There were a bunch of other pastries, but my friend got another pastry from them and also didn't like it too much. So I'm not sure if I would come back here for pastries just because we both didn't really like our pastries. It's street parking and there's no indoor seating at this cafe. I hear that they are known for their cupcakes, so I might have to come back to give it a try. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - Interior - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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Great little bakery that sells out quickly! I saw the overwhelming 5 stars Yelp reviews on this place and I knew I had to pay them a visit. Little did I know, all their best sellers, such as scones, got sold out within the first 2-3 hours of opening. lt took me 2 visits to finally try their popular scones, which did not disappoint. The bakery is so small that there's no indoor seating. You can either order from the window right on the sidewalk, or walk inside the store and place your order. No frills! Besides the scones, we have also tried their croissants and muffins, which are easier to come by than those scones, but just as good nonetheless. read more

So good! Even though it was 2pm they had many yummy choices. I picked up a latte and a blueberry turnover. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - After school special-Blueberry turnover with a latte for the drive home - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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This is not a review of their products but of their business model. No one answers the phone, or responds to emails. I guess they have so much business they don't need my money. read more

We were window shopping in Arroyo Grande and just had to purchase the delicious-looking goods that we saw as we walked past the Mule Bakery. We decided to get a few treats to-go. The gentleman behind the counter was quick, friendly, and the treats were generous sizes. My daughter declared that the frosting on her chocolate cupcake was a "rich and moist as ice cream" and my son said the chocolate on his eclair was "deep and complex" - basically, the best of the aforementioned treats that they have ever tasted! For us adults, the slice of lemon cake and brownie were both delicious. :-) read more

This place makes you feel like family and their coffee and pastries are best in the area. It is usually very crowded but for a good reason. They prepare macchiato like if you were in Italy! read more

If you're ever driving on the 101 near Arroyo Grande this is a must stop coffee shop. The eclairs are so delicious. The service is top notch. Plenty of outside seating and parking. It's a gorgeous city and you can sit outside drinking your coffee and eating in a beautiful setting. I ordered a mocha. It's the best mocha I've ever tasted. I'm non dairy and they have several options. I highly recommend this little gem. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - The most delicious mocha you'll ever have! - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

This coffee spot was pretty cool. Small and cozy. There is outside seating. So get there early. I had a vanilla latte with a cheesecake. Definitely would come again and try something different. Service was good. Friendly and got our coffee pretty quickly. read more

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The people who work there are very nice. Unfortunately, the chocolate croissant I bought from there was disappointing because it had very little chocolate in it. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - Chocolate croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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A tiny bake shop with lots of heart. They have an array of baked goods--including cupcakes, cookies, tartlets, scones, muffins, and croissants--and a basic espresso drink menu. They also have some cookbooks and some items for the next-level home baker (like a knife used for scoring baguettes and special scissors for snipping together sticky buns). I tried several of their breakfast pastries. The muffins are particularly tasty--my favorite was the coffee cake one. The muffins were moist and had a good flavor. The scones I had were a little dry and less flavorful than expected, given the interesting flavor options. I didn't order any croissant-type pastry because they were quite large and puffed. They also have a variety of gluten free options. There was a line out the door when they opened, but there were lots of employees behind the counter, and it moves pretty quickly. read more

Hi!!!! I am local who has been coming to mule since I was a kid and since before it was even mule! It is always a favorite and I always take people from out of town here!!! here is my very comprehensive review! enjoy! ICED OAT MILK LATTE ($6.50) 8/10 i wish i could give it a higher score because locally it is my favorite iced oml but i wish the espresso was just a touch stronger. ive ordered with an extra shot and unfortunately it throws off the ratio to much to justify paying and drinking it. but it never fails me it has a beautiful full taste the oat milk pairs perfectly with it and there is a reason I always go back for it. VIBES 8/10 vibes are always amazing at mule. There are always locals most of the time I see someone I know but there are always beautiful conversations flowing. It seems like this is the place locals go to either light heartedly catch up for hours with an old friend, have a deep philosophical talk or just grab their favorite thing from the menu and go! The only bad part is there is very limited seating and its mostly outdoors, I actually think its kind of cool because since its more limited it feels a little more exclusive and special. Oh and staff always goes above and beyond to make sure you are having a good time. MENU 3/5 although extremely limited drink menu, the quality is always spectacular and what they lack in quantity they always make up for in quality. I think there is something special about not having so many options. and as a coffee purist I love that they really take special attention to make sure that they are really focusing on the espresso of it all not the customization of a double caramel frappe bs. Also I have never really heard anyone complain about their drink from them other than wishing there was more of it! FOOD 5/5 along with no one complaining about their drink no one has ever and probably ever complain or should I say SHOULD never complain about anything food related at mule. Their spinach and feta croissant is something I have genuinely had dreams about ( I wish I was joking) their croissants are truly heavenly so flaky and buttery and the perfect ratio of dough to filling. all the pastries are perfect the only thing I would really negatively mention is I wish there was just a little more salt. (This is also coming from someone that keep salt in her purse because I feel like everything is undersalted) so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. (hehe) also their refrigerated goods are so damn delicious omg perfectly sweet, cake is always moist. Although I have never had their cheesecake I would really love to try. AM I COMING BACK? +3 100% in fact I come back often FINAL SCORE: 27/33 In summary i love mule and you should too my grading scale for context: iced oat milk latte: 1-10 general vibe/ atmosphere: 1-10 drink menu variety: 1-5 food choices? quality: 1-5 would i go back? yes- additional 3 points no- negative 3 points 33 points possible read more

I wanted something sweet after lunch so I walked down the street and saw the pastries in the window. I got a macaroon. The macaroon was $4 but it was the best macaroon I have ever had! Crispy outside, gooey center. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Now I want to try other treats here. Friendly service too. read more

I contacted this bakery with an order for 2 dozen cupcakes and they exceeded my expectations! Amanda and her team were so easy to work with and the cupcakes were so delicious!! Cute place, highly recommend! read more

Fantastic service, great Cofee and amazing deserts. They welcome people with open arms!

The staff was super friendly, and the coffee was terrific! I had a decaf cappuccino, and my son had a steamed milk.

Fantastic baked items and coffees. Very friendly service. Great place to enjoy a latte outside or take to go.

I LOVE our local coffee shop! It is amazing. Their coffee is superb, WAY better than any Starbucks. Today, my husband surprised me with a new scone they made, a peach basil scone. Let me say I don't normally go for a scone, as I find them too hard, too dry and not enough flavor. BUT this scone was TO DIE for! It was unbelievably amazing and so delicious. The scone was full of flavor, just sweet enough (I don't like overly sweet things) it was light and "moist" for a scone. Mule, I hope you make this scone a regular item or something similar. I love the pockets of peach/fruit as I bite into the scone. Love Mule, love those coffee, love their pastries. Oh and I am so grateful they have several Gluten free bakery items! Win for Arroyo Grande! read more

We went to visit a friend of mine that lives in Arroyo Grande. She brought these back one morning from this bakery and were had them along with our cup of coffee. When I say these were some of the best pastries I ever ate, I am not lying! I have had a fair share of my pastries in the bay area and in the central coast and nothing compares to this. My favorites were the berry and vanilla scones. The inside of both the scones was soft and fresh. My favorite part of their pastries is that they were not super sweet and just the perfect level of sweetness to also be able to taste the natural berry flavor. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - pasteries - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Consistently Delicious!!! I'm particularly a fan Of the cranberry scones... Not too sweet ...just perfect. Coffee Is deep and Rich. The vibe Is community, Love, and Happiness! Seriously open every day! read more

Fresh gluten free pastry options that taste amazing, fantastic coffees and teas and lovely staff and owner what more could you possibly want. I also hear the regular gluten items are good too. This place has never disappointed be sure to give it a try. read more

Mule bakery has become my go-to spot for coffee and pastries. Particularly, I have become obsessed with the peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies. It's a problem. Lol. The service that is provided is efficient and very friendly. It feels like an episode of Cheers every time I go. One of the most fascinating parts is how everything is displayed in the window. It gives you an opportunity to see what is still available before going in to place your order. Amanda (the owner) and team are great at what they do and they provide fantastic service. Thank you for making my day on a daily basis. read more

I stopped in to pick up some cupcakes for a friend. Unfortunately they weren't for me. I was however able to try a bite of the raspberry chocolate cupcake and my oh my was it delectable. Next time I'm craving a 500 calorie treat I'm heading to Mule. I need to have that cupcake again!! read more

12.14.2021 Hubby brought us some cookies and cupcakes from this little town bakery when he visited his accounts a couple months ago. When we decided to drive up the 101 on our way to NorCal hubby convinced us to stop here to pick up cupcakes for our daughter's college graduation party. We picked up two dozen assorted cupcakes, a couple cookies and a couple turnovers (blueberry & cherry). I personally tasted a lemon curd vanilla cake cupcake, a cherry chocolate cake cupcake, a salted caramel chocolate cake cupcake and a bit of the peppermint chocolate cake cupcake. I love lemon flavored desserts but this time my favorite was any of the chocolate cake cupcakes. The cake was so moist compared to the vanilla cake cupcakes. Little O said her favorite was the s'mores cupcake (chocolate cake inside). I can't give a review on the turnovers since I didn't get a chance to try them. Those traveled back home with my family. So I guess we'll have to come back and get more. (YAY!!) As usual, hubby inhaled the cookies. The double chocolate chip cookie was tasty. Not too sweet for me so I thoroughly enjoyed my piece of cookie. I can't wait to come back and walk through the little town with some of the yummy goodies from Mule Bakery. If I don't make it there in the near future, I'll just ask hubby to pick up some goodies when he visits his accounts in the area. Tell them I sent you -- we wiped them out of almost all their cupcakes the morning of 12/14 for our daughter's graduation as we drove through the area. Maybe the two employees there will remember who we were. read more

Mule Bakery and Cafe - Dessert bar - Mule Bakery cupcakes - Bakeries Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Beautiful and quaint bakery in a cute little town of Arroyo Grande. It's owned by brother and sister and they have a lovely staff to greet and serve their customers. This is definitely a spot where locals hang out and come for the delicious coffee and pastries. I got to taste the strawberry turnover and hams and cheese croissant and they were amazing. Came here twice because it was so good. read more

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Originally was set on going to get cinnamon rolls in Pismo, but the line was so long we opted to come back to AG.... And so happy we did! The service was very good. Had a latte, americano, chocolate croissant and strawberry turnover (my first! Even though my family grew strawberries for a living!). Everything was so good, and the pastries were flakey and delicious. The weather was perfect sitting outside, and the roosters crossing the road were Very entertaining! We even got a chocolate chip cookie and 2 eclairs for a snack and evening dessert to go! Great way to start our day! read more

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Stopped in for some coffee and the gentleman at the counter recommended an iced chai latte- it is literal perfection. I make some pretty great coffee at home, so rarely do I find a coffee drink that impresses me, this is one I will dream about. Thank you! read more

VEGAN EATERS HERE.....OK, OK, so I couldn't eat the incredible (looking) pastries, but my friends did and they couldn't stop kvelling over them!! That's for starts. Sister and brother, Amanda and Chandler have created something truly special in Old Town Arroyo Grande, or anywhere else for that matter. It's about the vibe as much as anything and the Mule Bakery has it in spades, "the kids" are 1000% responsible. Apparently they used to work there and bought it when it was possibly going to close, then refurbished/re-imagined it into what it is today, a place you will want to visit whenever you are in the area. Their range of drinks including coffees and teas, plus a banquet of gorgeous pastries are remarkably affordable and top quality. The store also offers some pretty unique gift items you don't find just everywhere. A short walk down E. Branch from my other recent "discovery", the enchanting Monarch Bookstore, good things are happening in the hood. In the end, it's all about the vibe, again, and the overall quality at the Mule Bakery. It has such personality, just like Amanda & Chandler and my guess is that it's one of the places locals treasure. I only wish we had our own Mule in Los Alamos! read more

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