Why this Bucks County shop was ranked the No. 3 gluten-free bakery in the country

Who takes the cake when it comes to gluten-free baking?

Well, according to the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards , some of the best gluten-free treats can be found right here in Bucks County.

Haasis Gluten-Free Bakery , a family-owned shop in downtown Perkasie, was named the third-best gluten-free bakery in the country thanks to its extensive selection of gluten-free baked goods and savory items, including pizza, soft pretzels and pierogies.

The list of winners included spots as far away as Mariposa Baking Company in Oakland and San Francisco, California, which topped the list. Nearby Flakely Gluten Free in Philadelphia was ranked at No. 5.

What makes this gluten-free bakery in Bucks County stand out?

The article announcing the winners Wednesday said Haasis “offers a gluten-free spin on the art of baking, offering a wealth of products that are perfectly safe for customers with dietary considerations. Visitors can grab a red sauce pizza or soft pretzel to kick off their meal, while a few cinnamon rolls or chocolate chip cookies serve as the perfect dessert.”

Owner Kristy Thomas, who first turned to gluten-free baking after she was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2014, said she was excited to learn her bakery made the list.

“I’m just overwhelmed and blown away by all the support we’ve had from all our customers. We couldn’t do this without them,” she said.

Two new shops open in Sellersville: Downtown Sellersville growing with plant shop and soda bar opening on Main Street

How Haasis in Perkasie evolved into a gluten-free bakery

Haasis Bakery had originally started in Philadelphia, founded by Thomas’s great-grandfather in 1899.

By the early 1960s, the bakery moved to the suburbs. At one point it had four locations in Montgomery and Bucks counties before consolidating into one shop in Bensalem and later closing when Thomas’s parents retired and moved to Florida in 1989.

Thirty years later, Thomas relaunched the business in Perkasie, taking generations of family recipes and reworking them into gluten-free foods she could safely enjoy, selling at first out of the Perkasie Farmers Market before opening her storefront along West Walnut Street.

“It was definitely challenging at first," she said. "I had to learn a lot. The first time I tried to make bread, it was a brick. So, I had to do a lot of research to even begin to adapt the recipes. It was a lot of trial and error. I was always trying to get it perfect."

“If it tastes gluten-free, then I won’t even put it in the case. I want it to taste so good that you don’t miss the gluten.”

In addition to being gluten-free, all of the Haasis products are free of many other allergens, too — including peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, sesame seeds, soy, oat, pea protein, fish, shellfish and artificial dyes.

“This is a place you can always feel safe, whether it’s for gluten or nuts or any of the other allergens we cater to. We want everyone to feel welcome and feel like they are an important customer,” Thomas said.

What to order at Haasis Gluten-Free Bakery

Haasis has a large menu of fresh-baked items, including bagels, butter cookies, brownie cups, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, waffles, quiche and more. In addition, they sell take-and-bake items from their freezer, such as fruit crumb pie and mac and cheese.

Here are some of their must-try items:

• Soft pretzels.
• Sticky buns.
• Chocolate chip cookies.
• Cheesesteak pizza.
• Buttercake.
• Specialty cupcakes.
• Breakfast sandwiches (available only on Saturdays).

They also offer catering and custom cake orders.

Owowcow makes 10Best list: This Bucks County shop was ranked No. 3 in the U.S. for best ice cream. Here's why

How USA Today comes up with its 10Best lists

The USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards highlight the nation's top destinations for travel, food, drink and lifestyle.

Every week, USA Today 10Best invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories. The 10Best editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.

Details: 316 W. Walnut St., Perkasie; 215-853-0222; haasisglutenfreebakery.com .

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Why this Bucks County shop was ranked the No. 3 gluten-free bakery in the country