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    Playing with Dough

    4.9 (95 reviews)
    ModerateDesserts, Bakeries
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Playing with Dough Photos

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    Reviews With Photos

    Beautiful cookies

    Gayle did a beautiful job on the cookies she made for my mother's 90th birthday, not only did they look beautiful they tasted delicious Thank you again

    Amiee M.

    I ordered the Rice Krispie pops for a trade show at the convention center- as a hand out for the attendees. Gayle was wonderful to work with- I coordinated with her from NY. She did custom colors to match our company colors and delivered them to me at the convention center. They were perfect and delicious- very fresh and soft. A big hit at the trade show. if I'm in San Jose again for work, I'll be sure to give her a call.

    Cookies

    I ordered cookies about 3 months in advance and they turned out great! Very cute and tasty. Gayle asked many questions to iron out the details and to be clear on what I wanted. Directions for pick up were given and the cookies came out just how I had hoped.

    Ter L.

    I reached out to 2 local bakers whom I found on Yelp in need of custom cookies for my baby shower event. Out of the two businesses, Playing With Dough was the only one who seemed interested in what my needs/wants were. I reached out to PWD via email and got a reply from the business owner, Gayle, pretty quickly. I let her know of all the details regarding the date of my event and provided her with the bear cookie image I wanted replicated. She was able to give me a quote for by the dozen and also offered me a design that she had previously worked on. As an added perk, Playing With Dough has an Instagram account loaded with all of Gayle's personal work. You are more than welcome to get ideas from there or customize things to your liking. HER WORK IS PHENOMENAL!! Once ordering is established, a deposit is due or you can pay in full. Payment can be made via Venmo which adds to the ease and convenience of working with this business. I reached out to Gayle about 5 days before my actual event and asked about how we would go about picking up the order. She was very detailed and flexible when it came to finding a time that worked for the both of us. Gayle was also kind enough to send me a finished photo of the cookies made one day prior to pickup ito keep me updated. 5/5 stars, I won't hesitate to do business with them again. The cookies may have been more expensive than the other business I contacted but the quality and customer service provided is spectacular. Shoutout to the other business for brushing me off during my initial inquiry and making it such an easy decision to go with Gayle :D

    University graduation
    E L.

    I am thrilled with the cookies I purchased from Playing with Dough! The ordering process was so easy. Gayle had some pictures from previous graduations that I could choose from. I also wanted a Banana Slug ( that is the mascot of my daughter's university) and Gayle found an adorable slug. On one of the "grad" designs she offered 2 choices, one cuter than the next. On my delivery day I was so eager to pick them up and they were more beautiful than I imagined! Before bringing them to my daughter I had to do a taste test and the cookies are delicious!! I am so happy I ordered with Gayle, the cookies exceeded my expectations!

    Cookies
    Amy B.

    Most beautiful cookies Gayle made for my girlfriends baby shower. The cookies were so stunning and tasted even better than they looked. Thank you Gayle for such a stellar experience and we will definitely be using Gayle for all our future parties and events!

    Handcrafted "Berry First Birthday" cookies.
    Kendra G.

    Easily the most delicious and beautiful cookies I've ever ordered! Gayle from Playing With Dough made ordering cookies for my daughters first birthday so easy and effortless! They are priced well, taste delicious, and look AMAZING! Not to mention the professionalism and easy pick up option! I would order cookies here time and time again!

    Linda L.

    Gayle was SO wonderful! She listened and made recommendations, and provided an accurate price list every time. She takes venmo and you can pick up from her lovely home! My guests were in love with the cookies, the details, and the perfection. Though originally two of my cookies, the background color got swapped, it worked out in the end. Gayle made sure to communicate with me before finishing the final product. Highly recommended!!!

    Tiffany T.

    Gayle exceeded my expectations and was very easy to communicate with. I wanted Peter Rabbit cookies for my sister's baby shower and I had sent her a photo of how I wanted the cookies to look like. Lo and behold, she was able to recreate the cookies! They were adorable and way too cute to eat! Her prices are reasonable considering how much work she has to put into the details of the cookies. Anyway, if you're looking for custom personalized cookies, I highly recommend her! Thank you so much, Gayle!

    We've had cookies, cake pops, and krispies made for multiple events and have been nothing but please with how beautiful AND delicious the sweets have been. Gayle does an amazing job and is so easy to communicate with. She accepts Venmo and offers delivery!

    Cute and tasty

    Gayle was accommodating to my last-minute order and quick to communicate. I was very happy with the result: the cookies were delicious and beautifully decorated.

    Hair inside one of the broken cookies

    A total miss and mess. First off no customer service what so ever. Second I personally picked the cookies up prior to her email mentioning to be very careful as cookies are fragile and break. I seen three cracked cookies in the box even before picking the box up from where they were left on porch. To top it off One of the broken cookies has a piece of hair as you can see in the picture. Colors were sent and the results not close. That is a lame excuse for not doing a good job for a cookie that can be replaced. I don't like to complain but this is Bad.

    Custom Christmas cookies for my husband's business :)
    Wendy B.

    I reached out to Gayle because I wanted to surprise my husband with some custom sugar cookies for my his business. I wanted to create something he could take to his customers at Christmas time that would be memorable and fun! I had followed Playing with Dough on Insta for a while and thought that Christmas is a great time for sugar cookies, so I sent her a message. Gayle was so easy to work with, and handled everything quickly and through email. We didn't even meet until I went to pick up the cookies. The cookies were a hit! My husband was surprised and LOVED the design (and eating them). He loved showing them off to his customers and even our family wanted their own! If you've been considering getting custom sugar cookies, then I definitely recommend Playing with Dough! Excellent work! I'll be back :)

    Zinnia bouquet

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Gayle M.

    Ann thanks so much!!!

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    Gayle M.

    Thank you, Sophie!!

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    9 years ago

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    Gayle M.

    Thank you!!! Your feedback makes me so happy!!

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    9 years ago

    This is the coolest gift to give. They are gorgeous and delicious. They travel well too!! And the customer service is great!!

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Playing with Dough

    Hi, Wanted to see if I can still order for next Saturday or it's too late?

    I’m sorry I’m fully booked into June.

    What do you charge per cookie? Also are they individually bagged?

    Hi! Prices vary greatly based upon design. You can see more detail on my FAQ page. Not all… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Playing with Dough

    If you want absolutely gorgeous cookies and/or really yummy cookies, Gayle's PlayingwithDough is your company.

    Mentioned in 77 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I visited Marvel Cake at 1614 W Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA 95008, as I have seen so many customers…read morevisit this store. Upon entering, I was really impressed with how clean and nice the decor was. The tables and chairs were really upscaled and I felt like I was visiting a fancy french style cafe. There was even a small quiet room for those who needed to do some computer work and outdoor seating. The staff was really great and knowledgeable about all the products. The display case showed all of the pastries they had available. I went to the counter and ordered a little of everything, just so that I could get a good feel for it. The only table service is they bring the order to you. I had an Apple Turnover, Ube Sesame Tart, Lemon tart, and a Mini Almond Croissant. These were house made and really fresh and excellent. They serve various coffee and espressos, If you are looking for a nice relaxing cafe with great pastries-Marvel is the way to go!

    We're on the hunt for our wedding cake, so the perfect opportunity to try Marvel came up for my…read moregrandmother's 100th birthday. Sad to say, we were all very underwhelmed by the cake. It looked so pretty and we had high hopes. We took the option of adding on a fondant banner for $5 in the store and settled on berry and vanilla. Whoever was helping us was really not much help at all. I guess at least she was honest, but she didn't know what any of the cakes tasted like and if it was buttercream or whipped cream. The cake itself was dry and hard: the texture was oh so wrong. I don't know if it was old, frozen for too long, or some odd ingredients? But for $65 for a small 6", it was very disappointing. We also got the small bisou and a small napoleon. Better than the cake, but still just ok.

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    We went to Crossiante to celebrate my grandma's birthday with tea time! When I walked in, I was…read moresurprised to see how many people were still buying pastries in the afternoon. We checked in and were seated right away, and the setup was absolutely beautiful! They brought out our tea first, which we enjoyed while waiting for the pastry tower to arrive. Once it came out, they told us to eat from top to bottom, so that's exactly what we did! Each bite was delicious, everything tasted freshly baked and made, and I especially loved that the pastries weren't overly sweet. Although we enjoyed eating the tower from top to bottom, next time we would probably go from bottom to top since we like to save our sweets for last! Of course, we couldn't leave without getting more pastries to bring home. They have plenty of classic pastries, like croissants, along with more unique specialties, like their croissant cube. Everything looked and tasted so fresh, with that perfect flaky, crackly texture. The pastries are a little pricey for bakery items, but in my opinion, they're definitely worth it for the quality and freshness. Overall, we had such a lovely time celebrating my grandma's birthday here and would definitely come back for more pastries!

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    This was my first time here and I was actually down the street getting some breakfast sandwiches at…read moreMadys when my aunt texted me asking if I could pick up an iced mocha for her. I looked up the area and I found this place on Yelp! They had really great deals on pastries, considering most places charge six dollars on pastries, so I thought there were a reasonably priced. I also got my aunt an iced mocha and she loved it!! My niece loved the blueberry muffin I got and the chocolate croissant was perfect and crisp with just the right amount of chocolate. I also thought it was really sweet. How this quaint little shop had a bunch of regulars in it!! As I entered, the gentleman behind the register greeted me and another customer came in and he knew that Customer by me. So cute!! I will definitely be back here again to get some more pastries at such a great pre-pandemic price!! I hope they start making sandwiches or other types of food items!!

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    Anton - Seasonal Fruits Mille Crpes - 8 Inch

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    Uber delicious desserts. Loved everything about their options - Hokaido is super creamy and…read moredelicious with the perfect amount of sweetness. I dislike too sweet things and this was perfect with the cream. We also got some tarts this time as a gift and they looked lovely. I really love their simple individual packages without running into the risk of damaging v other cakes in the same box. Service was very very quick. It was a pick up spot so there is no ambience specifically here but simple order at the door type ambience.

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    Pastelaria Adega - Blueberry Pastéis de Nata aka Portuguese Egg Tart ($4/ea or $21/6)

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    Came here a while back for the first time. Looks like they are really popular with their pastries…read more By the time we came most of their goods have been sold already. We proceed to go ahead and grab a couple of their Malasadas. We got 2 filled and 1 plain. When we took our first bite, there was needless to say, we finally knew why people came and bought these things up by the boxes. They were soft pillowy and delicious. The staff were ever so friendly and inviting. The place of establishment is clean and well kept. Come early to grab some baked goods.

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    Learned about Milk Belly Bakery from TikTok. When my family and I came here it was busy…read more At first glance the place looks to be clean and cozy. Most of the table seems to be filled, luckily there was a few open seating left. The menu is straightforward and simple. We ordered the Breakfast Sando and the Longanisa Sando. Let me tell you everything came out fresh and delicious. The sandwiches were still warm and the bread was so soft and fluffy. We were able to enjoy our sandwiches, relaxed, and not felt rushed. Love this place of establishment. If you are ever in the area do stop by and try this place out for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

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    Clover Bakery & Cafe - Cross-section of Ikura/Salmon Onigiri

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    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    8.2 kmWest San Jose
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    I love how homey and welcoming this place feels the moment you step inside. The café is on the…read moresmaller side, but it has never felt overcrowded whenever I've visited. Customers usually come in, grab what they need, pay, and head out, which keeps things moving smoothly. One of the best things about this bakery is the incredible variety of pastries and breads. Whether you're craving something sweet or savory, there's plenty to choose from: melon pan, loaf bread, dinner rolls, chow mein bread, spaghetti bread, sweet potato bread, crab and roe bread, tomato bread, apple pie, and so much more. Don't skip the refrigerated section either! They carry fruit sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, fried bread, donuts, somen noodles in a cup, and other delicious grab-and-go items. They also offer rice balls and drinks that can be ordered at the register. If you're in the area, definitely stop by and give them a try. Small businesses like this deserve our support!

    Clover Bakery & Cafe is a small Japanese-style bakery and café that feels like the kind of…read moreneighborhood spot you randomly discover and keep coming back to. We walked into a cozy, compact space with shelves filled with freshly baked breads, pastries, and prepared foods, all arranged in a way that makes you want to browse slowly even though the shop is small. The atmosphere has that simple, welcoming feel reminiscent of the small bakeries you find throughout Japan, focusing more on quality and variety than on a large café setup. Seating is limited, so it is better suited for grabbing something to go rather than spending a long time inside. The biggest draw here is the combination of Japanese baked goods and savory items. The bakery selection offers a great mix of sweet and savory options, with classics like melon pan standing out for its crisp sugary topping and soft interior that stays light without being dry. The curry bread and croquette bread are also popular choices, both feeling comforting and freshly made rather than overly sweet or greasy. The bakery items are reasonably priced, which makes it easy to pick up multiple things without feeling like you are spending too much, and the variety means there is always something new to try. The onigiri selection is what really makes Clover stand out compared to a typical bakery. They offer a variety of rice balls with fillings like spicy tuna, tuna mayo, and unagi, making it a great option for a quick breakfast or light meal. The rice is well balanced and the fillings give each onigiri a different personality. The spicy tuna has a nice kick that comes through without overpowering the rice, while the unagi adds a sweeter, more savory flavor that works especially well with the slightly salty rice. The onigiri are a practical, satisfying choice for anyone looking for something more substantial than a pastry. Beyond the baked goods and onigiri, Clover also has drinks, sandwiches, and desserts including cakes and other pastries. The strawberry cake is a nice lighter dessert option, and the overall menu gives plenty of reasons to visit whether you are looking for breakfast, a snack, or something to bring home. The offerings feel thoughtfully selected, with enough variety to cover different cravings without making the menu feel scattered. Service is friendly and efficient, and the small size of the shop adds to the charm. Since it has become a popular local spot, some items can sell out during busy hours, so arriving earlier gives you the best selection. Parking can also be a little challenging during peak times, but the quick grab-and-go style makes the visit easy to manage. Clover Bakery & Cafe is a great stop for anyone who enjoys Japanese bakeries. The combination of fresh breads, affordable prices, and unique savory options like onigiri makes it feel different from a standard bakery. It is the type of place where it is worth picking up a few items and trying a mix of everything, leaving you with the sense that you have found a little neighborhood gem that delivers on both quality and variety.

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    Playing with Dough - desserts - Updated September 2026

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