Bear Necessities Bakery – Gluten Free in Mount Clemens, MI
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Bear Necessities Bakery is a home based business operating out of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. This Cottage Law business makes amazing gluten free cookies. Want to order from them directly? You’ll find their email linked at the BOTTOM of the article.
Who Owns Bear Necessities Bakery?
Alexa Connelly owns Bear Necessities Bakery, which is an insured Michigan cottage law, home based business. While she doesn’t have a storefront now, show hopes to one day. Read more about her business in the following interview.
What Inspired You To Become A Baker?
My journey into baking began with a lifelong passion for culinary experimentation. Personal dietary adjustments led to the development of lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity.
Concurrently, my husband, while not diagnosed with celiac disease, exhibits a significant gluten sensitivity, compounded by a compromised immune system and psoriasis. This necessitated a household free from gluten, nightshades, lactose, and spicy ingredients.
What’s Your Background with Gluten Free Baking?
My initial motivation for baking was to indulge in sweets, particularly cookies. Through extensive trial and error, I refined recipes to achieve a soft and chewy cookie that is both gluten-free and dairy-free, which has become highly popular, especially with my husband.
The positive reception from my Bible study group, including both gluten-sensitive and non-sensitive individuals, further encouraged me. A specific request to cater a bridal shower with lemon and chocolate chip cookies prompted further recipe development.
This experience, combined with prayer, solidified my aspiration to establish my own bakery. Consequently, I secured my business license and Michigan cottage law certificate, and began developing various flavors, leading to the organic growth of my business.
Do You Use Certified Gluten Free Flours?
We exclusively utilize ingredients certified as gluten-free, and our kitchen operates as a dedicated gluten-free environment. We exclusively use King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour for our cookies.
- Do You Use Oats?
- We do not use oats, oat flour, or oat milk in our baked goods, as oats have caused discomfort for my husband. While I have considered using certified gluten-free oats for potential future products like oatmeal cookies, this remains an undecided prospect.
- Do You Use Gluten Free Wheat Starch?
- Yes, we utilize certified gluten-free wheat starch, which is found in King Arthur gluten-free bread flour. That is only for bread that I am working on and I will be letting buyers know that this bread isn’t safe for those with a wheat allergy.
- From King Arthur’s Website – “The gluten-free wheat starch used in this product goes through additional gluten-free testing using both the R5 ELISA Sandwich and R5 ELISA Competitive methods to ensure it meets standards.”
- “Once produced, the final Gluten-Free Pizza Flour and Gluten-Free Bread Flour are tested again to ensure a strict gluten-free standard of less than 20ppm, with a target of less than 10ppm, is met for the finished product.”
- Is Gluten Free Wheat Starch safe for people with Celiac Disease? Yes. Please see this post for more information.
What Other Precautions Do You Take When Baking Gluten Free?
Since our kitchen is not inspected, I always make sure our counters are disinfected with water, soap, and a little alcohol. I always make food for myself before I start baking. I clean after myself so I can ensure safe food handling and make sure my kitchen is clean and safe.
However, as we operate under cottage food law and not as a commercial establishment, our products are not subject to official inspection. I transparently communicate this to our customers. I always advise customers that individual sensitivities vary, and I cannot assume liability for their personal dietary choices. It is worth noting that we have family friends with Celiac Disease who have enjoyed our products without issue.
Are Your Baked Goods Free From Other Food Allergens?
Everything we bake at Bear Necessities Bakery contains no gluten or dairy. All ingredients procured are explicitly labeled as gluten-free and dairy-free. The chocolate chips we use are free from the top 9 allergens.
However, we consistently disclose the presence of common allergens such as soy and eggs, and peanuts in our peanut butter cookies. We currently use Country Crock Dairy Free Butter, which contains pea protein.
What Customer Feedback has Been the Most Memorable?
I recall two instances where families with multiple allergies were able to enjoy our cookies, which brought me immense satisfaction. While I cannot recall the specific allergens, their positive feedback on our gluten-free and dairy-free treats was deeply rewarding.
More recently, a customer purchased three cookies (cranberry, lemon, espresso). She subsequently returned to the same event to express her profound appreciation for our lemon cookies. She shared that they evoked memories of her late mother, who used to bake similar lemon cookies, and commented on the identical taste. She then purchased all eight remaining lemon cookies, resulting in a complete sell-out of that flavor.
What Should Customers Know About Bear Necessities Bakery?
We aim for consumers to understand our genuine care and empathy regarding the challenges of finding enjoyable gluten-free and dairy-free sweets and baked goods. Our passion for baking and our commitment to a safe, lifestyle-aligned approach in our home drives our efforts.
Our slogan, “Simple Ingredients, Wildly Good,” reflects our belief that healthy eating does not equate to sacrificing taste. We strive to simplify dietary choices and bring joy to our customers, recognizing that gluten-free and dairy-free consumption is often a necessity.
What Should Customers Know About Placing Special Orders?
We accept special orders via phone and can issue invoices for customers who prefer not to use online platforms. Our website facilitates shipping within the state of Michigan. When you order online, everything is $4 each. We continue to offer pickup times on our website and catering request forms.
Pick-up at our apartment is strictly by appointment. We also offer catering services, which include delivery with a fee of $1 per mile, in addition to a $15 per hour charge for three hours of my time.
Do You Participate in Any Farmers Markets?
We don’t attend the same shows every weekend. We always post on our Facebook page what shows we are attending a week or three days prior. I am mostly at the Proving Packard Grounds Farmers Market, Fort Gratiot Farmers Market and Wadhams Farmers Market.
For the 2026 season, we will be in at the Downtown Mount Clemens Farmers Market in June. That will be our first time at the Mount Clemens Market, so we are so excited!! If you attend a show and buy three or more items, we offer 10% off.
All packaged goods sold at markets are fully labeled with ingredients, contains our business name/ address info and Michigan Cottage Food Law Disclaimer.
Bear Necessities Home Bakery Location and Contact Info
Bear Necessities Bakery – Cottage Law Home Bakery
Mt. Clemens, MI (no storefront)
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Email
Preferred Method of Contact:
Bear Necessities Bakery is one of many gluten free bakers across the state of Michigan. Click this link to see a comprehensive list of all the gluten-free bakeries in Michigan, complete with interactive map! Looking for more local eats? Check out my list of gluten free baked good options at Michigan Farmers Markets.
**Photo Credit- All images provided by Bear Necessities Bakery