I first stumbled upon Petunia’s Pies and Pastries last summer at the Portland State farmers’ market. Owner Lisa Clark’s creations immediately caught my eye with the perfect combination of rusticity and girly flair. Knowing full well that it’s not easy to find delicious gluten-free and vegan baked goods, I proceeded with caution, but was pleasantly rewarded with a treat for my taste buds as well.

The lineup includes a rotating selection of gluten-free and vegan pies, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, bars, brownies, and—most recently—doughnuts. I’ve faced the daunting prospect of choosing a favorite, a difficult task among the tangy, bright Passion Fruit Coconut Cupcakes, moist Blueberry Crumble Coffee Cake, and the sticky Caramel Nut Tart. Of all the beautifully crafted desserts, though, I’m going with the simple Peanut Butter Crispy Bar, a moist, creamy wedge so delicious it has garnered a cult following. The Crispy Bar combines gluten-free brown rice puffs with vegan marshmallows and peanut butter, topped with a thin layer of chocolate and a sprinkling of chopped peanuts. I’ve actually convinced myself that the protein from the nuts deems it appropriate lunch fare.

You can still find Petunia’s at the PSU market every Saturday morning during the 2011 market season. But over the past year, Petunia’s has grown, filling display cases at many area coffee shops, Whole Foods’ markets, Blossoming Lotus, Cloud Seven Café, and Ruby Jewel Scoop Shop (where they’ve ingeniously concocted a gluten-free ice cream sandwich using Petunia’s Cowgirl cookie). Look for current offerings, locations, and information for placing special orders on their website, www.petuniaspiesandpastries.com.