If you’re gluten-free, all hope is not lost; you can still bake! We know what you’re thinking, we too have tried many a gluten-free cookie that has left tears in our eyes. Not the happy kind. So, we decided to embark on a little non-glutenous goodie research and came across a cookie that left our discerning cookie palettes in pure bliss: Coco Bakes. And, oh yes, she can.

Coco is a baker from childhood. Her passion for baking led her to an education at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and, afterward, time in the kitchens of some of our favorite LA spots (Huckleberry!). When her own health concerns caused her to turn to a gluten and dairy-free diet, she was determined not to let it slow her down. Gluten-free cookie lovers everywhere are going to be so grateful that she powered through!

We spent a cozy afternoon in the kitchen with Coco watching her bake up a storm and exploring her gluten-free pantheon of a pantry. Gathering carrots from the garden and free-range eggs from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, we watched as Coco whipped up these carrot apple cakes (recipe below). We’re officially obsessed with her Double Chocolate Walnut cookies, but if you want to bake something at home this weekend, these sweet little cakes are your next best bet! Here’s Coco…