Fika Bakeshop

Make these buttery scones to evoke the flavor of fall

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELA WELCH

After Susan Ortmeyer and her family relocated to the Santa Cruz Mountains from Southern California in 2011, the former attorney quickly realized she was more suited to rural life than practicing law and in the process turned her love of baking into a bustling second career.

Ortmeyer owns Fika Bakeshop, a licensed cottage food home business located in Ben Lomond. The name is a nod to her Swedish-American mother, Rose Lee, and the Swedish tradition of taking small, mindful breaks to enjoy a warm beverage with a sweet treat. She currently sells her delectable baked goods online and at her wildly popular regional popups.

One recent Sunday at Mountain Feed & Farm Supply, Ortmeyer sold out in mere minutes, not a cardamom bun crumb left to be savored. The fluffy, chai spice syrup-brushed buns are a signature pastry, and rightfully so. They’re outstanding.

Ortmeyer is also an avid gardener and diehard proponent of eating seasonally, and her frequently updated menu highlights local ingredients at their very peak. “In the fall, I do an apple cinnamon scone with a boiled cider glaze that people really love,” she says.

“I always use my own apples or source them along with the cider from Watsonville’s Gizdich Ranch, so they’re extra tasty.”

The following recipe will inspire you get into the spirit of fika, just in time for the cozy season ahead.