Baker of Black Rock: Outrageous Custom Cookies and Confections

Photos: c/o Andrew Dominick & Baker of Black Rock

Julia Preis is the Baker of Black Rock. Sure, there may be other bakers in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, but none like Julia. I knew this to be true long before I invited her to my home to demo the technique behind her stunning cookies and cakes. Full disclosure…I had quietly stalked her Instagram account for roughly six months, and you can do the same at bakerofblackrock. The cookies were tiny edible works of art, seemingly too beautiful to eat, and each displayed a unique personality through accomplished craftsmanship. Her wall of cakes, fruit pies and cupcakes created eye candy that could only make you want to pull up a chair and dig in.

But what did they taste like? I had to find out.

When I finally met Julia, I was surprised to hear that she was relatively new to the professional baking business, although, she said, “I’ve been baking since I was a little kid.” Prior to launching Baker of Black Rock, one year ago, she had been working as a server at OKO in Westport. The restaurant community provided her with connections and highly knowledgeable tasters, who helped convince her to take her baking “show” on the road…or into the kitchen in a serious way.

One year later, she is getting ready to move into a commercial kitchen to be able to serve her growing clientele, and has a thriving custom order dessert business. Readers should note, Baker of Black Rock does not yet have a retail location, although this is certainly in the cards for the future.

To order, you’ll need to refer to her web site which states, “Cookies, Confections and a Spoonful of Sarcasm. Sweet and a little Salty is Just How we Roll.” I may love this woman.

While the Baker Of Black Rock makes a full range of baked treats, Julia admits that she enjoys making the cookies the most. This is evident in the details. Take for instance her sunglasses wearing lama, or her perfect glittery snow globes with edible jewels. Julia confesses she loves a good challenge and will create almost anything for her clients. To answer my question posed at the beginning of this article, the cookies are soft, not overly sweet, and perfectly delicious. This is often NOT the case in heavily decorated cookies like this. We were blown away.

So, what do these gorgeous treats cost? Julia says, “Custom cookies begin at certain base rates for non elaborate designs.” (They all look elaborate to me). “Prices will increase with jerseys, logos, intricate coloring and lettering, and/or metallics.” Custom cookies of regular or large sizing have a two dozen cookie minimum of the same theme. Mini cookies have a three dozen cookie minimum requirement of the same theme. LG (6")-- $72.00/dozen, $6.00 each REG (3.5"-4")-- $48.00/dozen, $4.00 each, Mini (2")- $24/dozen, $2.50 each. Customers can also order her “Sets” or cookies she has in stock individually or in small groups.

Julia offers gluten-free desserts for clients whenever possible, but she is quick to mention that with a single kitchen, she can not accommodate guests who have celiac disease due to cross contamination.

Can Julia make your wedding cake? Special order bars, pies, brownies and cupcakes? Yes she can.

“I am so excited to be doing something that makes me feel truly fulfilled and I can’t wait to see where the whole thing goes!” So are we.

https://www.bakerofblackrock.com/