Sweet Success: Oaxaca Bakery

It’s hard to believe it was June of 2007 when Oaxaca Bakery first opened its doors in downtown Canby. Over 18 years later, they’re still winning hearts and filling bellies with their fresh-baked Mexican pastries, cakes, and sweet treats, which have become famous in the local community and beyond!

Flor and her husband, Abraham, did not have a set plan when they acquired the space that would become Oaxaca Bakery. “We were torn between opening a tortilla shop or a bakery, and we didn’t have experience in either one,” she recalls. Transforming the storefront into an authentic Mexican panaderia and pasteleria turned out to be the sweetest decision they ever made. “Our family-owned Mexican bakery has grown so much over the years. Many of our customers have been with us since we first opened — some tell me they remember the giant sweet bread we used to sell for just 50 cents!”

Take one step into Oaxaca Bakery, and be greeted by the delightful aroma of fresh-baked Oaxacan-style breads and pastries. The towering display case is packed with rows upon rows of pan dulce and a savory selection of bolillos and teleras, which are ideal for making tortas. The empanadas and turnovers feature sweet, gooey fillings like strawberry, pineapple, apple, Bavarian cream, and pumpkin, which is a consistent customer favorite and the perfect indulgence for the fall season. 

Flor and her family bake a wide variety of traditional Mexican sweet breads, including puerquitos, which are soft, chewy cookies, and cuernitos, which are sweet and buttery — similar to a croissant. Other popular treats include bread pudding, jalapeno and cream cheese bread, and of course, the colorful conchas, which are rumored to be the most delicious around! Customers are encouraged to grab a tray, snag a pair of tongs, and start filling it with their favorite goodies. Don’t be afraid to go a little overboard, as the affordable prices are just as sweet as the pastries! 

Oaxaca Bakery is equally treasured for its cakes, which draw enthusiasts from all over the Portland Metro area! The pasteleria offers seven different varieties, including Tres Leches, Mil Hojas, Chocoflan, Neapolitan, Chocolate, Vanilla and Tres Leches with Flan. Custom cake orders can be placed in person or by phone, and lead times vary. “Cakes like Mil Hojas or Tres Leches with fruit and flowers can be ready with a day’s notice,” Flor explains. “Those two are definitely our most popular cakes — people love them!” From birthdays to baby showers, quinceañeras and weddings, the bakery does it all, and is forever grateful to be part of customers’ special celebrations. Orders for these occasions must be placed well in advance to make sure everything is perfect for the big day. 

Oaxaca Bakery is more than just a business for Flor and her family — it’s become part of who they are. “We have customers who started out coming in with their kids, and now the kids are grown and bringing in their own families,” she says. “It’s always a joy to see familiar faces walk through the door, and we appreciate every one of them.” Their longtime location in the heart of Canby is a place where many special relationships have been built over the years. “Canby has grown a lot since we first opened, but it still feels like a close-knit town, and people truly support local businesses. There’s a strong sense of community.” 

Oaxaca Bakery is located at 239 SW 2nd Ave in Canby. Please give them a call at (503) 263- 4865.