If you have stopped by the La Jolla Farmer’s Market, you may already be familiar with Magnolia Kitchen and Bakery. The San Marcos-based bakery is finding fanfare over its gourmet cookies ranging in flavors from salted brown butter chocolate chip to Butterfinger.
The face behind the beloved cookies is Max Walder, who has owned Magnolia since 2022 and has big plans this year. Walder said he always loved being in the kitchen as a child, and got his first industry gig at the age of 15.
‘Being able to make something delicious to eat was always so amazing to me,” Walder said. “I loved the process and of course eating our delicious creations afterwards.”
When he entered college, he spent time learning the business.
“I spent all my free time cooking and researching famous chefs, restaurants, and different cuisines and flavor combinations just came naturally,” Walder said. “My friends and I would save up our money and go out to celebrate special occasions at different Michelin-starred-restaurants in LA nearby.”
After working in fine dining, Walder decided to specialize in cookies.
“For years and years, my passion project has been to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie,” he said. “I’ve made so many cookies, and had so many successes and failures, that I truly know cookies inside and out.”
“We extensively develop our products before they make the cut to be on our menu — we don’t ever rush the process. We do everything we can to maintain a line of products where every single item on the menu will blow you away with flavor, texture, and hopefully an emotional connection or nostalgia.”
Walder said his returning customers have “truly become friends,” sharing cookies and cakes with their families and out-of-town guests.
“We look forward to continuing to establish ourselves as the premier gourmet and chef-crafted cookie company in San Diego and beyond,” Walder said. “We are so blessed to be a part of the San Diego community and it’s amazing people.”
For more information about Magnolia Kitchen and Bakery, go to magnoliakitchensd.com.
