Peacock Bakehouse in Birch Cliff brings high-quality cookie delivery service to the East End

By MAI HA

A hidden gem in southwest Scarborough’s Birch Cliff neighbourhood, the Peacock Bakehouse is a delivery-only bakery that specializes in gourmet cookies.

Located near Kingston Road and Victoria Park Avenue, this bakery was founded in 2024 by Rebecca Peacock, who has spent the last 20 years living in the East Toronto area.

The bakery specializes in handcrafted cookies delivered straight to customers’ doors. Peacock said that with Valentine’s Day coming on Feb. 14, the cookies make a perfect gift.

She said she chose her kitchen’s location with care, wanting to serve the local community where she had put down roots.

“We have very few choices on the East End,” said Peacock of the availability of high-quality cookies in the area.

Originally from the United States., Peacock relocated to the Toronto area in 2004. For more than two decades, she worked in financial services, commuting to a downtown desk job.

“I actually went to school for economics because of my pragmatic Asian parents, even though I had a creative soul,” she said.

While her financial career provided stability, Peacock said she was not completely happy with the work. Like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, she began reassessing her career and her passions. “I wanted to do something creative,” she said.

Peacock started baking like many people did during the pandemic, but she took it very seriously and signed up for classes at the San Francisco Baking Institute – one of the best bread schools in the world.

She said the Peacock Bakehouse began as a sourdough pop-up, but Peacock soon found that cookies, in particular, had a special place in people’s hearts.

“They’re, you know, kind of a little small bite of happiness,” she said.

Unlike bread, which is often consumed on the day it’s made, cookies have a longer shelf life which makes them an ideal treat to enjoy over several days. They also offer endless possibilities for creative flavour combinations, another reason why cookies became Peacock’s focus.

One of the challenges she faces is the lack of a physical storefront. Operating as a delivery only business, Peacock Bakehouse relies heavily on word-of-mouth among its happy customers and local connections.

It’s hard to stay on people’s radar without a retail location listed on Google, pointed out Peacock. “People on the East End don’t know that I’m actually in the neighbourhood,” she said.

Peacock said she believes in serving the neighbourhood with affordable delivery rates, compared to the expensive delivery services of major apps. Her deliveries within a three-kilometre radius are priced at $5. “It’s actually a good option for people if they are in the neighbourhood, so like Beaches and Birch Cliff and parts of Danforth East,” she said.

What sets Peacock Bakehouse apart from other cookie businesses is not just the quality of its cookies, but also the experience it offers, said Peacock. She places great emphasis on packaging, understanding that presentation is key, especially for a delivery service. “I have a lot of people, especially around the holidays, once they receive the first package, they say wow, this is great for gifting to my friends.”

Peacock Bakehouse’s most popular cookies include the Pistachio Dark Chocolate, which features a rich pistachio butter dough paired with high-quality dark chocolate. The Lemony Lemon cookie, with its zesty flavour, is another customer favourite, as is the classic Chocolate Chip Walnut.

Supporting other local businesses is also an integral part of Peacock’s philosophy. She partners with local organizations such as The Wright Sisters realty, gifting cookies to 200 of their clients in the Beach, and Feed Scarborough, which will auction off her cookies at their April fundraiser.

“That’s where I started right. We have to support each other,” said Peacock..

She remains committed to growing Peacock Bakehouse and offering East Toronto residents a delicious alternative to chain cookies. “I just want them to know I’m here,” said Peacock.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Peacock Bakehouse is offering a special promotion, with the discount code BM15, customers can enjoy 15 per cent off their orders throughout February until March. 15.

For more information or to place an order, please visit https://peacockbakehouse.com/