Bakeries in LA: Where to find the best Christmas cookies

This Atwater Village cafe bakes their baguettes, scones, muffina and other drool-worthy treats every morning, so that you're guaranteed a fresh purchase every time. Stop by for breakfast, where you can indulge in their oatmeal cinnamon pancakes or housemade granola.

This soon to be hipster with a sweet tooth haven creates a new bakery experience with a coffee shop meets bakery feel at Ramekin. Named for the ceramic bowls used for baking (think: creme brulee), every item on the menu is baked to order so carve out about 20 min for your visit. Order a cup of coffee or tea (all local) while waiting for a cookie, cobblers, cake or pie. If you don’t feel like waiting, get a bowl of freshly made ice cream or sorbet. Stop drooling over your computer and go see what all the hype is about.

Cookie Casa is a standby bakery for Angelos searching for a sweet treat with a made from scratch flavor. The signature cookie called a Rosco is a pie-pastry dough cookie with hints of anise and sherry, rolled in cinnamon and sugar. More than just cookies, their mouthwatering cakes, brownies, bars and cupcakes are definitely worth a try too.

Steps from the Arclight, Stella Barra is the perfect pre- and post–movie nosh stop—open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 2am Fridays and Saturdays. There's plenty of seating in the lofty space with a full bar serving local craft beers, Italian and Californian wines by the glass and bottle and creative cocktails; farmers market salads and small plates to share; and, of course, chef Jeff Mahin's top-notch pizzas, boasting a chewy, sourdough crust and California-grown toppings. Try the fennel-flavored, housemade sausage topped with organic tomato and mozzarella ($14.95) and, while you can get it, the seasonal spring onion and bacon ($15.95). We also love the signature burrata ($10.95), plated with housemade bread and tomato jam and take-away baked goods on display in front, from oversized Rice Krispy treats to bacon chocolate chip cookies.

Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery arrives in Los Angeles (there are locations in Napa Valley and New York City) with a posh 90210 address. The tiny storefront offers traditional French pastries and viennoisseries from buttery croissants to delicate and elegant tarts on the first floor of Bouchon Bistro.

Growing up in an Armenian-American household, food was always important to head baker and owner of K Bakery, Kim. Attorney by trade, but baker at heart her cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes (the list goes on) makes mouths water at this Pacific Palisades bakery. Stop by for more than just sweets and grab breakfast, a quick lunch or specialty “to go” dinner for the family on the go.

Cookies abound at Milk Jar where baking from scratch in small batches is the standard. Favorite standbys (read: chocolate chip cookies) get spiced up along side of seasonal flavors like chocolate-covered banana or peppermint candy cane. Pair a cookie with a glass of milk from Broguiere's Dairy in Montebello or a cup of joe from Handsome Roasters in downtown. Cookies are $3 each, $15 ½ dozen and $30 dozen. (ps: they ship cookies too.)

Let these cookies grace the platter at any party and smile as you try to pass them off for your own. Deluscious “couture” cookies isn’t Diddy Riese with prices starting at $4.50 per cookie, but with hand delivery and cross country shipping, you get what you pay for. From corporate gifts to cookie of the month clubs, Deluscious’ cookies from scratch recipes that could have come from your kitchen and are delivered to best friends, bosses, or coworkers doorstep.

This is not your typical LA bistro. Stepping into Sweet Butter Kitchen feels like you've fallen down the rabbit hole and ended up in a quaint New England cafe, where delicate details adorn the shop's outdoor patio and indoor coffee counter. Sandwiches, salads (the Goddess Salad is as heavenly as it sounds) and small entrées are offered for breakfast, lunch and and early dinner (the cafe closes at 6pm), and you can even pick up a picnic box to go for a planned outing. Don't forget the baked goods to go along with your cappuccino—Sweet Butter makes some stellar cookies and cakes that you'll smell before you even get to the door.

Part UCLA student study haven, part young couple crowd, this standby Westwood Village cafe serves all kinds of coffee confections and the best pastries in the Village in a cozy atmosphere. Flakey butter croissants, decadent chocolate cheesecake and fruit tarts are baked from scratch daily. A great weekend brunch spot, splurge on the strawberry Nutella crêpes, they don’t disappoint. If you happen to be there at the end of the day, be extra courteous to the staff—they give away extra fresh pastries.