This Michigan Filipino Bakery Makes Fresh Pandesal And Ube Treats Worth Driving For

A pastry chef who competed on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship now bakes purple ube cookies, ube brownies, and ube soft serve in one small Detroit cafe. That alone got my attention.

Then I learned he left a 15-year corporate career to do it. His recipes come from baking with his mom and grandma, and everything is made from scratch.

The pandesal is soft and slightly sweeter than a dinner roll. One version gets stuffed with cream cheese and topped with everything bagel seasoning. I can’t imagine a better reason to rethink breakfast.

Here’s the twist for anyone planning a Michigan food run. You can’t pre-order or call ahead, so whatever is on the shelf is what you get. I like how that makes every visit feel a little like a treasure hunt.

The Purple Cookies Get All The Attention, And They Earn It

Ube is the star at JP Makes and Bakes, and you’ll spot it fast. That vivid purple color comes naturally from the purple yam, not from a bottle of dye.

The ube cookie is the treat most closely tied to this Detroit bakery. It shows up again and again whenever people talk about the place online. Kids seem especially drawn to that bold purple shade.

Ube tastes mellow, a little nutty, and gently sweet. Some folks compare it to vanilla with an earthy twist. If you’ve never tried it, a cookie is the easiest first step.

The ube lineup goes way past cookies, though. You’ll also find ube brownies, ube rolls, ube cheesecake, and ube soft serve. There’s even an ube kouign amann, a buttery layered pastry with caramelized edges.

My advice is simple. Grab a few cookies for the car and a few more for home. Inventory changes through the day, so the cookie you want might not wait for you.

Purple food just feels like a celebration. Good luck walking out with only one.

Pandesal Is The Humble Roll That Started Everything

Every Filipino bakery lives or dies by its pandesal. These soft bread rolls are a breakfast staple across the Philippines, often eaten warm with coffee.

At JP Makes and Bakes, the plain pandesal is a little sweeter than a typical dinner roll. That makes it great on its own or with butter. It’s simple food done with care.

The bakery also builds on that base in clever ways. Ube Cheese Pandesal pairs the purple yam with a cheesy surprise inside. Sweet and salty in one bite?

Yes, please.

Pan de Coco tucks a coconut and brown sugar filling inside the bread. It’s the kind of snack that disappears before you leave the parking lot.

Then there’s Pan de Everything, which feels made for Detroit mornings. The roll gets filled with cream cheese and topped with everything bagel seasoning. Think of it as a bagel that went on a fun vacation.

If you’re new to Filipino baking, start right here. Pandesal tells you a lot about a bakery’s heart. This one clearly came from a family kitchen.

A Croissant And A Family Recipe Walk Into A Bakery

Mom’s pandesal recipe meets classic French technique in the Pan de Croissant. Jonathan Peregrino created this hybrid by blending his mother’s roll with croissant-making methods.

The result shows his training in action. He studied at the Academy of Pastry and Bakery Arts in the Philippines. Laminating dough takes patience and skill, and this pastry proves he has both.

Timing matters with this one. The Pan de Croissant is available on Fridays and Saturdays. Plan a weekend trip if it’s high on your list.

I love the story baked into it. A treasured family recipe gets a fresh twist without losing its roots. That idea runs through the whole menu at JP Makes and Bakes.

Since nothing can be reserved ahead, arriving earlier gives you better odds. Saturdays open at 9 AM, which is friendly for anyone driving in from across Michigan.

Pair it with an espresso drink from the counter. Then find a sunny spot and enjoy the layers. Butter, family history, and a little French flair make a strong combination for any morning.

Detroit Waited A Long Time For A Bakery Like This

Detroit’s first and only Filipino bakery and cafe sits right on Woodward Avenue. Before it arrived, the city had no dedicated Filipino bakery to call its own.

You’ll find it at 6529 Woodward Ave, Suite B, Detroit, MI 48202. That puts it in the New Center area, an easy stop along one of Michigan’s most famous streets.

The road to this storefront started small. JP Makes and Bakes began as a pop-up in 2020. The brick-and-mortar cafe opened around October 2024.

Community support helped make it happen. The bakery received a Motor City Match grant that helped buy equipment. Hatch Detroit also chipped in along the way.

A grand opening celebration followed in May 2025. By then, the cafe had already built a loyal following from its pop-up days.

Honestly, it’s a great Detroit story. A local baker turned a pop-up into a permanent home for Filipino flavors. When you visit, you’re helping that story keep going, one pastry at a time.

The Baker Behind The Counter Has A TV Résumé

Fifteen years in corporate America is a long time to dream about pastry. Jonathan Peregrino finally traded the office for the oven, and Detroit got lucky.

His baking chops have been tested on national TV. In 2020, he competed on Season 7 of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship. That’s a stressful stage for anyone holding a piping bag.

His real inspiration came much earlier, though. He grew up baking with his mom and grandma. Those childhood lessons still shape the recipes today.

Peregrino mixes traditional Filipino flavors with modern technique. You can taste both sides in the menu, from classic bibingka to an everything-seasoned pandesal.

He also likes talking with the people who come in. That’s one reason the bakery skips phone and email orders. Ordering in person lets him explain the food and build real connections.

So go ahead and ask questions. Curious about kepeng or polvoron? The counter is the perfect place to learn.

A little chat might lead you to your new favorite treat.

Save Room For Bibingka, Cassava Cake, And Friends

Beyond the purple treats, the pastry case holds a whole world of Filipino classics. Some names may be new to you, and that’s half the fun.

Bibingka is a traditional Filipino cake. Here it comes in versions like cream cheese, blueberry, or chocolate. Each one gives the old favorite a playful update.

Gluten-free guests have good options too. Cassava cake is gluten-free, and so is ginataang, a coconut-based pudding that’s also vegan. Basque cheesecake may come in gluten-free versions, plus ube or pumpkin flavors.

Kepeng is a flaky, buttery, sugared cracker, similar to otap. Polvoron is a pressed shortbread cookie that crumbles in the best way. Both make great road snacks.

Not sure where to start? Pick one familiar item and one completely new item. That way you leave with a safe bet and a fun discovery.

Remember that the selection changes through the day. If something catches your eye, grab it then. Waiting for a second lap around the case is a risky move at JP Makes and Bakes.

Lunch Gets Seriously Homestyle Midweek

Sweet treats are only half the story. JP Makes and Bakes also serves savory specials that lean into comforting Filipino home cooking.

These run Wednesday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM. On Saturdays, look for them from 9 AM to 1 PM or until they sell out.

Lunch Bowls rotate between home-style dishes. Past options include sinigang, nilaga, caldereta, sisig, and adobo. Each brings a different flavor, from tangy soup to rich stew.

Bread fans get savory choices too. Siopao is a steamed bun filled with meat. Pan de Pep, Pan de Veg, and Pan de CheddarDog turn pandesal into a handheld lunch.

Saturday brings brunch into the mix. Biscuits and gravy come with longganisa, a sweet and garlicky Filipino sausage. That’s a Michigan comfort food with a delicious detour.

Since specials change, check the bakery’s social pages before driving over. Then show up hungry for something hearty. A bowl of adobo followed by an ube brownie sounds like a very good afternoon plan.

Your Drink Order Can Be Purple Too

Ube syrup, coconut milk, and matcha all share one cup in the Ube Coco Ma. This iced drink stacks purple and green into something almost too pretty to sip.

Almost. You’ll still want to drink it.

Coffee lovers aren’t left out. The cafe makes espresso drinks, which pair nicely with a warm roll or a slice of cheesecake.

Tea drinkers get a surprisingly thoughtful list. Loose-leaf options include English breakfast, mint, apple ginger, hazelnut rooibos, and lemon lavender sage. There’s also genmaicha, a Japanese green tea with toasted rice.

That variety makes the cafe a solid stop at any hour. Morning hours start at 7:45 AM Wednesday through Friday. That’s early enough for a commuter treat on Woodward.

Try matching your drink to your pastry. A bright tea can balance something rich, like ube cheesecake. Espresso loves anything buttery, like a kouign amann.

Either way, your order becomes a tiny tasting adventure. And yes, the purple drink will probably end up in your photos.

A Little Planning Makes The Drive Worth Every Mile

Timing your trip is the smartest move you can make. JP Makes and Bakes opens only four days a week.

Hours run Wednesday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 5 PM. Saturday runs from 9 AM to 3 PM. The bakery stays closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Everything is first-come, first-serve. There are no pre-orders, email orders, or call-ahead orders right now. So if you’re coming from across Michigan, earlier is usually better.

The space is cozy, and seating inside is limited. Plan on taking treats to go, or enjoying them somewhere nearby on Woodward.

Here’s a handy tip. Decide on a few must-haves before you arrive, then leave room for one surprise. It keeps the line moving and your bag happy.

Bring a cooler bag if you’re driving far. Ube cheesecake and soft serve won’t love a long, warm car ride.

Detroit has plenty of great food. Still, nowhere else in the city does Filipino baking quite like this. That makes the trip feel less like an errand and more like a reward.