By Michele E. Buttelman
Cakes, cookies, candy, desserts! When you are in need of a dessert fix you are in luck. The Santa Clarita Valley offers some of the sweetest spots around to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Among the latest sweet storefronts opening in the SCV is the Ensaymada Project located at 24811 Railroad Ave. Ste B C, Newhall, CA 91321.
The store opened in June.
The Ensaymada Project is the brainchild of Chari Heredia-Reyes who grew up making the tasty treat in Manila. The ninth of eleven children, Heredia-Reyes learned to make ensaymadas from her mother.
The ensaymada involved a tedious ten-hour process to craft so it was reserved as a special treat her mother made exclusively for family Christmas dinners.
After she settled in California with her husband and CIA chef, Ramon, working as a teacher and raising four children Heredia-Reyes decided to take on the challenge of adding ensaymadas to her repertoire of baked goods.
After years of tweaking various flavors while staying true to her mother’s recipe, Heredia-Reyes started offering ensaymadas to friends and family in the Santa Clarita Valley.
As the business grew, she decided to open up a storefront in Newhall and hire a professional pastry chef, Joey Messina, to become the Head Pastry Chef.
These treats are now available to all through the Ensaymada Project, which also offers an online store.
Messina said an ensaymada began as a pastry brought to the Philippines by the Spanish.
“It became a breakfast pastry tradition, often made with cheese or ube,” he said. “Chari wanted to bring the ensaymada to the next level.”
Her efforts to reinvent the ensaymada resulted many new flavors, said Messina.
“After 14 years working on the ensaymada project from her house it was time to expand,” he said.
The storefront now offers more than 30 flavors of the popular pastry said Messina
The menu offered online is only a small portion of what can be found at the storefront in Newhall.
“Because of the limitations of what we can be shipped safety we don’t offer everything online,” said Messina.
Some of the store’s most popular flavors include one similar to a cinnamon roll said Messina.
“It has cinnamon with a cream cheese frosting,” he said. “Another favorite is one with a cookie butter crumble and cookie butter frosting.”
Messina said everything is made in house at the Newhall bakery location.
“We use fresh, whole ingredients, no dough extenders or anything like that,” he said. “Everything is always super fresh. Nothing matters but the food. We want it to be the softest, fluffiest ensaymada you’ve ever had.”
Messina say for people who have never tasted an ensaymada they should imagine the treat as a “Hawaiian roll with cupcake frosting on it.”
Ensaymada Project
24811 Railroad Ave. Ste B C, Newhall, CA 91321.
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
1-844-CRAVE-EP
For more information and to order online visit www.ensaymadaproject.com.
Here’s a few other “sweet spots” in the SCV:
Lady Di’s
Offering cookies, brownies, cupcakes and desserts.
Located in: Westridge Valencia Shopping Center, 26882 The Old Road, Valencia, CA 91381.
(661) 222-9102
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To see a menu, visit www.ladydiscookies.com.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Offering mini and full-size Bundt cakes and desserts.
24278 Valencia Blvd Valencia, CA 91355.
(661) 291-2424
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. — 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Visit www.facebook.com/NothingBundtCakesValenciaCA.
Jazmin’s Bakery
Offering cake, bakery treats, pan dulce and more.
24330 Main St., Newhall, CA 91321.
(661) 799-2915.
Hours: Monday – Friday 4:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 4:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday 5 a.m. – noon.
Visit www.jazminsbakery.com.
The DW Cookie
Offering cookies, desserts, ice cream and frozen yogurt. All handcrafted in house.
18962 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91351.
(661) 505-0781.
Hours: Monday — Friday noon — 6 p.m.
Stevenson Donuts & Bakery
Offering donuts and other baked treats.
25814 Hemingway Ave., Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381.
(661) 799-7537.
Hours: Monday-Friday 4:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 4:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sunday 5 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kupcake Kitchen Santa Clarita Bakery
Offering desserts, cupcakes and custom cakes.
Located in: Sutter Point Plaza, 27737 Bouquet Canyon Road Ste 120, Saugus, CA 91350.
(661) 296-4758.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Honey Donuts
Offering donuts and bakery treats.
24715 Railroad Ave., Newhall, CA 91321.
(661) 287-9758
Hours: Monday – Sunday 4 a.m. – 1 p.m.
S & S Donut and Bakeshop
Offering donuts and bakery treats.
19427 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91351.
(661) 252-9763.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 4:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday 5:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
S & S Donut and Bakeshop
Offering donuts and bakery treats.
19345 Plum Canyon Road Ste E, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
(661) 367-4399.
Hours: Monday – Sunday 5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
California Bakery and Café
Offering donuts and bakery treats.
23021 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 255-1254.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Devil & Angel Desserts
Offering ice cream, frozen yogurt, bubble tea, donuts and desserts.
Located in: Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Blvd. Ste 3348, Valencia, CA 91355.
(661) 476-5989.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Crumbl Cookies
Offering cookies, desserts, ice cream and frozen yogurt.
Two locations in the Santa Clarita Valley.
27021 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
19137 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91387.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday, Saturday 8 a.m.-midnight.
OhBella Gelato & Crepe Cafe
Offering coffee, tea, gelato, creperies and desserts.
18585 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91351.
(661) 424-9987.
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
