“This is the baking I do at home, the baking I do for my friends - I’m here to make good food for my customers.” - Megan, owner

Few of us have been doing what we love since we were a kid, but in Ballard, Megan, owner of Wild Prairie Bakery, is that lucky person. All through her life, friends told her to sell her treats. While in grad school for botany, she found herself sketching cakes instead of plants and thought her friends might be on to something. “As a vegan, this is the bakery I always wanted,” she tells me. Wild Prairie’s wheat-and-sunflower wall art evokes this Nebraska native's roots, and the decor is set out like a the world’s best comfy kitchen: copper baking molds, utensil racks, and, oh yes: pies, cakes and cookies galore.

Every morning, Megan’s up at 4:00 a.m., baking her way to the best part: the frosting. After all, butterless buttercream is her “favorite medium” and its clear that cakes and cake decorating are her passion and focus (she teaches classes!). Sans animal products (not to be confused with gluten-free, though she makes some of those treats too), she whips up mouthwatering delightfully decorated treats. “This is the baking I do at home, the baking I do for my friends—I’m here to make good food for my customers.” With vegan organic and local ingredients and Vashon Island roasted fair-trade coffee, we feel like Megan’s friend already.

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MENU HIGHLIGHTS:
Weekend Brunch! Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, or tofu scramble ~ served 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Savory croissants: Apple Sage Field Roast, Seattle's own meatless yum ~ $3.95
Cupcakes! Dark Chocolate with Green Tea frosting or Cranberry Walnut with Maple frosting among the amazing choices ~ $3.95
The Sunday Sandwich: rosemary foccacia with roasted zucchini, red bell pepper, spinach and sundried tomato pine nut spread. ~ $7.00
Pies and cakes by the slice: treat yourself to a slice of specialty cakes like huckleberry upside-down cake and gluten-free raspberry cheese(less)cake! ~ $4.50

HOURS:
Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.