There are a few things that visitors have on their bucket list when they make a trip to Bend.
Float the river. Visit the breweries. Paddle at the lake. And pay a visit to Bend’s most popular bakery – Sparrow.
And for anyone who doesn’t think Sparrow doesn’t take home that crown, I’d encourage you to pay a visit to the Northwest Crossing location on any day during the summer to check out the line.
Sparrow Bakery serves up a whole host of delicious baked goods (their bacon breakfast sandwich is one of my top 3 bites in town), but most visitors come for one thing, and one thing only.
Coffee, Croissants, Fresh Baked Bread, and, of course, the Ocean Roll
Make a visit to almost any coffee shop in town, and you’ll likely see an ocean roll in their display case. But there is just something about going straight to the source, especially if its your first time trying one.
It is at Sparrow Bakery’s Northwest Crossing location that you have a good chance at nabbing an Ocean Roll that is still warm from the oven. It is in this state that this pastry featuring croissant dough, cardamom, and sugar truly comes to life.
What Exactly is an Ocean Roll?
Think of an ocean roll as if a cinnamon roll and a croissant had a baby.
To make the roll, croissant dough is laid out and covered with a layer of sugar and cardamom. The dough is then rolled up and cut into cinnamon roll-sized pieces. After proofing and a bake, the Ocean Roll comes out of the oven flaky, soft, and with a layer of caramelized sugar glazing the bottom.
Whenever we get an ocean roll, we cut it into quarters, and my kids check the bottom of each piece to find “the most sugar piece”.
It is, in my eyes, just about the perfect pastry. Sweet, but not so much that I feel sick after “accidentally” finishing one off on my own.
Once you try one, you’ll quickly understand why the Ocean Roll is the defacto go to pastry in Central Oregon.
My Favorite Ocean Roll Recipe
While eating an Ocean Roll at the bakery is the way to go, the fun doesn’t just stop there. You can also find Ocean Roll bread pudding and, on a very seasonal basis, a dessert that perfectly encapsulates everything wonderful about Oregon in the summer. An Ocean Roll slide in half (like a sandwich), layered with whipped cream, and topped with only the freshest Oregon strawberries.
If you see this on their specials menu, you absolutely need to try it.
In fact, we make this dessert a seasonal tradition in our home. After a day at the farmers market, we’ll pick up a roll or two, make our own whipped cream. and top it with that day’s berry selection.
Everything Else at Sparrow
While I certainly wouldn’t fault anyone for going to Sparrow and just loading up on Ocean Rolls, there is so much more to try.
Coffee
To start, the cardamom flavor doesn’t stop at just their Ocean Rolls. It also goes into their signature coffee drink – the Cardamom Latte.
Like the Ocean Roll, its a little sweet but not overly so, and the flavors of the sugar and cardamom shine through perfectly.
Breakfast Sandwich
And, as I mentioned earlier, their bacon breakfast sandwich is truly a work of art.
Think a poached egg, crispy bacon, arugula, avocado, house-made arugula aioli, all served on a house-baked croissant. As a huge fan of breakfast sandwiches, this one easily takes the cake for my favorite in town. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to find a breakfast sandwich that I’ve enjoyed more anywhere!
Cookies
And last but not least, Sparrow’s famous rotating sugar cookies. These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill frosted cookies that you can pick up in a 12-pack for $3.99 at the grocery store.
Each week, Sparrow rolls out a new cookie theme, and their decorating crew gets to work creating the whimsical designs that you truly have to see to believe.
It may be flowers in the spring, watermelon and BBQs in the summer, or snowflakes, mittens, and hats in the winter, and you can pick up a box while waiting in line or check out the individual cookies they have on display by the registers.
Everything Else
The above are some of our favorites, but there is so, so much more to try at the bakery. Their display case is always packed with an incredible selection of pastries, and their breads rival those of any in town. Their burger buns and hoagie rolls are always a favorite in the summer, and their rustic bread loaves go great with soup in the winter.
Tips to Beat the Line
Now, on to the important part. Pay a visit to Sparrow during the summer months, and you are almost guaranteed to be waiting in a line that goes out the door and down the street.
If it’s warm and the conversation is good, then hang out and enjoy the wait. But if you’re in a hurry, they do offer a grab-and-go window right next door to the entrance to the cafe. Here you can grab coffee, pastries, or cookies. Unfortunately, no breakfast sandwiches or other hot food, though.
More Information About Sparrow Bakery
You can find Sparrow Bakery in Bend at 2748 NW Crossing Dr in the Northwest Crossing neighborhood. During the summer months, the NWX Farmers Market takes place right in front of the bakery every Saturday morning from 10 AM – 2 PM.
The bakery is open seven days a week from 8 AM – 3 PM (4 PM on Saturday and Sunday).
If you’re in Portland, you can visit their outpost in the St. Johns neighborhood at 8195 N Lombard St, Unit 101.
