Who We Are

Charles & Alison Alpers

Our story

Creating delectable hand-crafted breads and pastries is the passion of Charles and Alison Alpers, owners of Zeppole Baking Co., Boise’s premier artisan bakery. And they’re obviously doing it right, which is why their baked goods are called “near-legendary” by Boise Weekly.

Bringing their extensive backgrounds in managing fine dining restaurants, country clubs, and high-end hotels, they prove that it takes patience and Old World skills to artfully create high-quality bread.

They know that it’s necessary to take time to develop body and character in their breads, which are cold fermented for 12 to 24 hours, allowing deep complex flavors and a texture that remains moist and chewy. Their European stone hearth ovens produce rustic loaves with a hearty crust that stands up to any filling.

Two Zeppole cafes offer an award-winning variety of sandwiches, soups, pastries, salads, and pastries. Zeppole breads and pastries are also featured in the area’s finest restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, and grocery stores. 

Zeppole Baking Co. has repeatedly been named Best Bakery in Boise and the Treasure Valley by readers of local newspapers, and was recently selected as Idaho’s Best Bakery by Microsoft Network.

Local charities and non-profits appreciate Zeppole’s long history of support and donations, and Zeppole was named Small Business of the Year by the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2010, and a finalist for the same prestigious award in 2020.

 
 

Charitable Spirit

Zeppole is proud to be a member of our local community and we show our support by donating unsold bread, sandwiches, and other bakery products to the Boise Rescue Mission, Life's Kitchens, Boise Sanctuary, and other charities. Zeppole has also hosted exhibits of local artists, including Thomas Lea's "Market People," a collection of photographs that depict the continuum of diversity of visitors to the Capital City Public Market on Boise's Eighth Street, as well as featuring the distinguished photography of David Marr in both of our cafes.

What We Stand For

 

Customers are our First Priority.
Absolute Freshness.
Handcrafted Versus Mass Produced.
Only the Best Ingredients.
Outstanding Employees.
Consistency, Quality, & Value.

A Family Business Since 1993
Charles, Alison, Ian, Ryan, & Natalie Alpers

 FAQs

 

  • Warming in a pre–heated 375 degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes will restore its original character and crust.

  • Leftover bread should be stored in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out and becoming hard. It will retain its delicious flavor but will be softer when stored in plastic.

  • We do not recommend refrigerating bread, as it accelerates the staling process. However, our bread can be frozen by wrapping the loaf with aluminum foil so that condensation will form on the foil rather than the bread. Then place in a plastic bag, seal tightly and freeze. To reheat, place the unwrapped bread in a pre–heated 375 degree oven for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on size. There is no need to thaw prior to re–heating.

  • You can purchase a gift card in person at either of our locations on 8th Street in Downtown Boise or on Apple Street in East Boise. You can also purchase a gift card online through our Toast Tab. Just clock on Orders on the Home page and it will take you to our ordering site.

At Zeppole, we believe in bread with character, bread that makes each meal or snack a pleasurable, satisfying experience. We know that, by adding a loaf of extraordinary bread, even the simplest fare can be turned into a memorable feast.