Special Places: The Able Baker
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I don't usually go crazy for bakeries. Everything seems to be an overly sweet jelly donut or a stale chocolate layer cake (I will make an exception for the legendary Philly Fluff Cake from Natale's Bakery in Summit, NJ).
If you are a reader here, you know I am not a fondant or an icing girl, but a simple loaf or crumb cake addict (carrot cake being the only cake with icing that I love).
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Cookies are good, cake is better, scones are best. My mantra.
Opened last summer, in a small town where my husband grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, is The Able Baker.
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I was excited when this special little place opened, with their kitschy graniteware coffeepots and vintage ovens. The bakers all wear bandannas, and I feel like I am in Brooklyn (and I don't mean Coney Island).
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This special place serves the best La Colombe coffee, and is worth a weekly drive from my town to theirs for that cup and a scone.
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Mrs. Able Baker (Julie, not pictured) keeps it sweet and simple. Cookies, 2 different scone flavors a day (ginger cranberry being my fave); some luscious cupcakes; lemon bars; a streusel coffee cake; brownies and a banana bread (gluten free one day a week!).
This is a crowded place on weekends located across the street from the Maplewood train, so they sell out of scones early on some days.
I love the small town feel and I love the treats even better.
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I can be seen here most Wednesday afternoons.
Hope to see you there.
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The Able Baker
187 Maplewood Ave.
Maplewood, NJ 07040
973-313-1133
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Comments
If only,...... you know who would be there too often.
My kind of "sweet" place.
Mil