Before you start that New Year’s Resolution, check out these 4 locally-made desserts that we’re sweet on
Tis the season for overindulging, pouring another one, excessive eating—and definitely ordering dessert. These days almost everywhere you turn there is a bakery, pastry shop or food truck ready to supply whatever your sweet tooth desires. Check out these top local treats—just don’t ask us to pick a favorite!
Holiday Macarons
at Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely
Fabulous Treats
Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats has gained national attention due to the lovely owner Mrs. Joy, who won Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge in 2015. Her cookies are certainly tops, but they’re just a tiny sampling of all that she has to offer at the cozy Commerce Street business.
I was most interested in hearing about the treat Mrs. Joy has a love/hate relationship with—the delicate macaron. Even if every intricate step is followed the exact same way each time the macaron is prepared, outside factors such as the weather can prove disastrous to the final product. “They are the most finicky treat that I make and every time they go into the oven I pray they grow feet and look like they are supposed to,” she explained.
The good news is Mrs. Joy has perfected her macaron-making technique. The peppermint flavor macarons (made in the shape of an actual peppermint) are perfect for a hostess gift this holiday season. Or scoop up a few Christmas ornament macarons to take to a family dinner. Call ahead to make your order today.
Key Lime Bites
at Simply Irresistible Bakery
Sometimes the best treats are inspired by a “need” in the kitchen. Loretta Toulon, owner of Simply Irresistible Bakery on Jefferson Street, can make just about anything. But people swoon over her Key Lime bites.
“When I worked at Depot Grille, one of the managers was obsessed with my Key Lime pie. He asked if there was a bite-sized version he could just pop in his mouth whenever he wanted and this recipe was what I came up with,” she explained.
Her Key Lime bites have a lime sugar cookie crust with a Key Lime pie filling; we are sure you won’t be able to just have one.
The Jefferson
at Ice Cream Dream
Years ago, Bobby Walker used to dream of having an ice cream shop. Now, his ice cream dream is a reality on Jefferson Street, where he runs a hip, well designed, and unique sweet shop.
You’ll find all of your favorites on the menu, plus something you may not expect—Belgian waffles.
“I like the waffle idea because you can have so much fun creating different options using waffles, ice cream, and various toppings,” said Bobby. “Our ‘Classic Waffle’—a house favorite—comes with a golden brown Belgian-style waffle topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, a dash of powdered sugar, and a honey drizzle. It’s kinda like cake and ice cream. How can you resist?”
Oh Bobby, we can’t.
The waffles are scratch made in house each day and seem to be most popular for weekend brunch or even a late-night snack. The top seller waffle (and my personal favorite) is “The Jefferson,” which is topped with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and Nutella, and a honey drizzle.
PSL
at Rookie’s
Rookie’s in Forest, previously known as Mookie’s, is the genius brain child of Jordan Nickerson and his wife Holly. They opened their “windows” in March and have been cranking out handcrafted ice cream sandwiches from their charming food trailer ever since. Jordan says for him, baking is therapeutic and gives him the freedom to do something he enjoys. But it’s also challenging and he’s constantly learning.
While the best seller for the husband wife duo is the Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie with Vanilla Ice Cream, there are plenty of seasonal treats to enjoy this time of year. Pumpkin Spice lovers can rejoice over the PSL, which is a Snickerdoodle Cookie with Pumpkin Ice Cream. They make the cookie from scratch and the ice cream comes from local favorite, Homestead Creamery.
When asked how he comes up with new flavors, Jordan tells me, “We just test and try until we find something that is awesome!”
