Every December we lie to kids and no one feels bad about it.

Technically we lie year round, but probably most often during the last month of the year. The stretching of the truth to get kids to behave is seen as we tell the story of Santa Claus. A jolly man with a history of trespassing walks into homes across the world to leave kids a present under the tree. If we told a similar story of a man who did that any other time of the year, he’d be hit with a breaking an entering charge. As years pass and we get older, we no longer hold to the story we were once told. The idea that an overweight man can fit down a chimney just doesn’t add up. With that, we stop believing. Although we adults no longer let our imagination run with the story of Santa Claus and his elves, there is a man who brings us holiday themed presents and he won’t be breaking into our home while we’re sleeping. That man is Mr. Holmes.

Not really an actual person, more like a shop Mr. Holmes Bakehouse offers delicious pastries in a beautiful white box that might as well be considered presents. A relatively new shop to Los Angeles, I checked out Mr. Holmes before their grand opening and then reviewed a few of their pastries shortly after their big day. Since then, I’ve been back to grab cookies and donuts to jump-start my day. Now with the holidays just around the corner I was in the shop to try out a couple of their holiday inspired pastries.

In a beautiful white box with gold print came my order: a pair of Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Cruffins ($4.50 each) and four Eggnog Donuts ($3.50 each). I’ve had a few of the donuts in different flavors previously so I already knew this one would taste good. However, I never had the chance to try the cruffin and that meant it was the first pastry I ate.

My hand grabbed the croissant-muffin fusion at lightening speed in hopes of eliminating any wasted time when I wasn’t eating it. I was unsure how to approach this one: do I tear it apart with my hands or should I shove my face in it as tastefully as possible. Since tearing it apart caused pieces to fall to the floor, I didn’t want to risk loosing any more of the cruffin than I already had. Going at it face first, the bites brought an explosion of cinnamon and sugar to my face. It was impossible to keep my mouth, nose, and cheeks clean and I didn’t mind since my lips covered in sugar meant I could save it for later. The bread of the cruffin was flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s a carb heaven for the bread lover. Even better, the semi-sweet dollop of custard infused to the center of the cruffin had a moderate amount of a hot chocolate taste. It made me feel like I should be enjoying it by a fireplace watching the snow slowly fall across my window. But since I live in LA where it hasn’t snowed since 1962, sitting in the shop will have to do instead.

After I finished one of the cruffins, I wanted to give the eggnog donut a taste. The cute and plump donut was injected with a silky smooth and sweet custard that tasted like I was drinking eggnog straight out of the carton in front of the fridge. I loved how the custard was wrapped around the soft and warm donut because it tasted like the best combination one could ask to have. I think it would be a great idea if this donut replaced mistletoe at Christmas parties. Even if you don’t have someone in your life, people would still stand underneath it. I know I would.

Even though  the pastries here are no longer available, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse has many more cruffin and donut flavors coming throughout the month! When it comes to cruffins, they’ll have a White Choco Candy Cane (Dec. 16), Chocolate Peppermint (Dec. 26), Chocolate Bark (Dec. 28), and a Maple Cinnamon (Dec. 29). Not to be left out, the last holiday inspired donut will be Gingerbread (Dec.30). With so many delicious holiday  flavors, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse is basically Santa Claus. Delicious holiday eats in Los Angeles might be the best Christmas gift you get and when it comes from Mr. Holmes Bakehouse you won’t have to believe in an outlandish story to have them.

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Address: 111 S Ave 59, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Phone: (323) 739-0473
Hours: Monday through Friday – 6:30am to 4:00pm, and Saturday & Sunday – 8:00am to 4:00pm
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