Is there anything more enticing, more inviting, than a cozy little bakery on a cold winter’s day?
Offbeet Bakery’s long glass display cases are packed with handmade pastries, cakes, pies (whole or by the slice), specialty cookies of all descriptions, morning baked goods, and locally-roasted coffee/ espresso.
Just six months into Nashville’s dining scene, the new bakery offers not only immediate satisfaction for those afflicted with a sweet tooth, it is a topnotch purveyor of fancy custom cakes for weddings, birthdays, or other special occasions.
Best of all, according to owner/pastry chef Sara Monnett, all these delicious products are made with love.
“We are a small, from-scratch bakery creating freshly baked items, with love, every morning to sweeten and fuel your day,” she said.
The little bakery on the corner of N. Van Buren and Mound St.in Nashville offers a welcome oasis for shoppers and beckons to the local community. Children are welcome to come and “play around.”
The selection of high-end baked goodies is amazing and mouth-watering.
Along with freshly baked cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, and tiramisu, there are various iterations of eclairs, Danish, muffins, cookies, cake, and pie. There are also persimmon and caramel/apple scones and raspberry lemon cream horns—a puff pastry filled with sweetened cream, lemon curd, and fresh raspberries, topped off with a candied lemon.
“You’ll see things here that you just don’t see in other bakeries, such as vegan or gluten free offerings,” she said. “We also have a lot of offerings for folks with Alpha-gal syndrome.”
Offbeet’s vegan/gluten-free “morning glory muffins” are a staple at the bakery, as well as a personal favorite of the chef. They are packed with apples, carrots, pineapple, toasted pecans, coconut, and raisins.
The obvious problem? Too many choices!
My call was for a beautiful fluffy blueberry scone, while Mrs. Sampler wisely chose a beautiful lemon/ blueberry tart that was as pleasing to the eye as the palette. As usual, her choice seemed better. Why must I always want what the other person ordered?
Not feeling sweet today? Offbeat serves various savory breakfast options, including delicious handpies—an all-butter crust packed with kale, portobello, leeks, bell pepper, and feta.
Or how about a spinach, bruschetta, and Mascarpone croissant?
They also serve either quiche, frittata, or strata (with fruit) daily until they sell out. Coming soon: breakfast sandwiches. Every Sunday, while supplies last, the bakery celebrates the ultimate Hoosier comfort food: homemade buttermilk biscuits and sage sausage gravy, or the vegan alternative, mushroom gravy with vegan biscuits.
Monnett, a professional pastry chef, has been building up her business for years, taking her expertly created baked goods to farmer’s markets here in Nashville and in Bloomington.
“I see the weekly ‘same-day’ regulars who come in like clockwork; the mother and daughter who never miss their dessert-and-coffee date, the couple catching up weekly, the groups of local businesses planning at their favorite tables, the early morning writers, the tourists that have claimed a new Brown County tradition here, and so many others who have woven our little bakery into the rhythm of their lives.”
Offbeet Bakery creates special occasion cakes of every description, such as a chocolate cake filled with chocolate buttercream, covered in vanilla buttercream with a classic Lambeth style piping—a cake fit for a princess, complete with bows, shimmer, glitter, and even a tiara.
Are you five years old and love dragons? How about a three-layer funfetti cake with vanilla buttercream adorned with rice paper sails and a gnarly dragon toy?
Perhaps a lovely three-layer vanilla cake with a raspberry compote? Or the sweetest little birthday show-stopper—a black, red velvet heart-shaped cake! Just like your sweetheart, it’s moody on the outside, classic red-velvet love on the inside.
“I love being able to take a client’s vision and run with it,” she said. “Designs may vary, but the deliciousness never does. We ask for a week’s notice but send us a message anytime. We’d love to bake something magical for you.”
Of course, the bakery cases are stocked daily with a wide selection of “drool-worthy” cookies so you can build your own large or small custom box filled with a plethora of cookie choices, cinnamon or chocolate babka, “buche de Noël,” gingerbread cake or special order pies.
Offbeet Bakery gift certificates are perfect for teachers, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone who deserves something sweet. Offbeet also offers various catering options, including charcuterie boards. Everything is handmade.
The blueberry scone was delightful. The lemon blueberry cream cheese tart was amazing. My only regret was that I couldn’t have a bite of everything in the store.
Offbeet Bakery is located at 37 Mound Street. It is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 812-345-5928.