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Justified Bakeshop owners Christine Ward and husband Cory Sproule.
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Pastries from Justified Bakeshop.
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Adam Steely, co-owner of Extraordinary Cupcakes with wife Dyana Steely, has been in love with the restaurant business since age 14 when he first saw the movie Casablanca. You might also recognize him from the Blue Talon Bistro where Adam reigns as General Manager.
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Wicked Chocolate cupcake by Extraordinary Cupcakes. Rich chocolate cake topped with deep, rich chocolate icing.
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Baker Jessica Hooker putting the finishing touches on the Remarkable Red Velvet cupcakes.
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Carrot Tree Kitchen’s famous carrot cake cupcake.
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Carrot Tree Kitchen’s famous carrot cake.
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Artisan Breads by Blackbird Bakery.
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Croissants baked fresh daily by Blackbird Bakery.
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Macaroons, assorted fresh berry and key lime tarts by Blackbird Bakery in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchants Square.
As a child, Christine Ward, owner of the new Justified Bakeshop in downtown Williamsburg, loved helping her mom in the kitchen. One of Ward’s first jobs was working in a bakery with her aunt, and now her dream of operating her own bakeshop has come true.
“I love the creating that is involved in baking,” Ward said. “I like to bake different things. A lot of what I bake on any given day depends on what I am thinking or feeling that day, what the weather is like, and what is in season. My list is also always changing depending on what the customer wants.”
Justified Bakeshop specializes in cupcakes, cookies, pies, and tarts. Most ingredients come from local businesses or the Williamsburg Farmers Market. Everything is made fresh from scratch.
“We offer a variety of baked goods, so you can stop by and have a tart and then come back later in the day and have a cupcake for dessert,” Ward said.
For those who want to start their day with something sweet, there is Emily’s Donuts and Café on Merrimac Trail or Duck Donuts across from Monticello Marketplace.
“We offer many different flavors of icings, toppings and drizzles,” said Amy Williams, owner of Duck Donuts.“The donuts are pretty and, more importantly, warm and delicious. They appeal to our customers because they can create their own donut flavor combinations and watch them being made. It’s a fun experience for all ages.”
Carrot Tree Kitchens on Jamestown Road is known for their carrot cake and other specialty cakes, brownies, breads, and other baked goods. Blackbird Bakery in Merchants Square also carries a variety of baked goods to enjoy throughout the day including numerous flavored breads, croissants, scones, cookies, and muffins. Or, take a stroll through Williamsburg Farmers Market on a Saturday morning and grab a “cruffin” from Buttery Baking House. A cruffin is a cross between a muffin and a croissant, and Buttery Baking House prepares them in popular flavors like Boston Cream and Bananas Foster.
Prefer a cupcake? Extraordinary Cupcakes on Richmond Road and Smallcakes Bakery in Settler’s Market have you covered.
“Baking is a stress release for me,” said Dyana Steely with Extraordinary Cupcakes. “I love the science of baking. I love how you can change just one ingredient and it changes the whole cake for better or worse. Vanilla is my absolute favorite flavor. To me, it is the best.”
Pastry has always been a treat.
Think pastry might be on the way out because so many people are looking to go gluten free?
“The increase in gluten allergies and people choosing to eat a gluten-free lifestyle have pushed manufacturers to produce an abundance of great options for baking. The gluten-free flour that we use is truly extraordinary. If I didn’t tell you that it was gluten free, you would never know,” said Steely.
Steely mentions that while they rode the national cupcake trend, opening their shop on Richmond Road more than six years ago, today they make more dessert items than ever, including Whoopie pies, caramel apple bread pudding and walnut chocolate mousse bars.
There are countless options in Williamsburg no matter whatpastry you are looking for to satisfy your craving.
Savoring baked goods “makes people happy,” said Ward. “They help you escape from your worries for a little bit. I like being able to put a smile on someone’s face with what I bake.
Brandy looks forward to Saturday mornings so she can pick up a cruffin from Buttery Baking House at the Williamsburg Farmers Market. She’s sampled all the flavors, and her favorite is Boston Cream Pie.
blackbirdbakerywilliamsburgva.com
