Red paper lanterns are hung, ornate paper cutouts adorn the doorways, and the Lunar New Year is just around the corner on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Closely associated with Chinese tradition, the occasion that marks the first day of the lunisolar calendar. by many countries, including Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia and others, as well as the broader Asian diaspora around the world. As with many festive seasons around the world, it is a time not only for generosity and reflection, but also for deliciousness.
Most of these home bakeries (small-scale businesses that usually operate out of a home kitchen) offer pre-orders for sweets and baked goods year-round (so bookmark them and keep coming back), but their Lunar New Year deals are particularly delicious. Mary Vo, owner of Sweet Clem’s Bakery, says that operating her home bakery is a joy because it allows her to “connect with people who share a sense of reverence for food and community.” She started baking as a hobby in 2007, but it wasn’t until the pandemic sparked more ambitious experimentation in 2020 that she came up with an idea for a home bakery. Sweet Clem’s was born in the spring of 2021, with Vo operating primarily through Instagram. Thousands of batches later, he has grown a devoted contingent of regular customers.
A couple of these vendors will also be participating in the Paper and Craft Pantry Lunar New Year’s Market on January 22 located in Springdale General at 1023 Springdale Road, Bldg. 6A. The market will feature a variety of creators of Asian descent, lion and dragon dance performances, and activities for the whole family. Tickets range from $50 VIP admission to pay-what-you-want and are available here.
Cookie Wookie Kitchen
Established in 2020, this bakery typically makes chewy American-style cookies with Asian-American flavors. This month, you can order a special Lunar New Year box that includes a sampler of treats including 3 cookies with themed flavors (white rabbit, ovaltine, and egg roll), a Portuguese egg tart with chocolate chips, peanut mochi with ube coconut, white rabbit truffle, and black tea sweet bread. Cookie Wookie is proud to source ingredients from local establishments like extracts from Maggie’s Micros and nuts from Yagua Farms. The bakery offers pickup or delivery, and you can order the Lunar New Year box here. Pre-orders will be available soon for mid-January pickup, or look for Cookie Wookie at the Paper and Craft Pantry’s Lunar New Year Market.
Sweet Clem’s Bakery
Renowned for her beautiful macarons, Mary Vo creates carefully decorated French confections that are almost too cute to eat. Luckily, they are also too tasty. not eat. His Sweet Clem’s bakery specializes in macarons that blend Asian flavor profiles with traditional Western ones with flavors ranging from black sesame to yuzu citrus. In this year’s Lunar New Year box, Sweet Clem’s will offer character macarons crafted in seasonal shapes and a variety of flavors such as strawberry lychee, ube cookies and cream, black sesame pandan, yuzu ginger, Vietnamese coffee, and red bean. matcha. Sweet Clem’s offers delivery or pickup options, and you can look for the order form on Monday, January 16 via the bakery’s Instagram and Facebook.
the cookie counter
As a full-time CPA by day, Michelle Ly has been operating her home bakery for the better part of a decade. For the Lunar New Year, The Cookie Counter will offer a variety of decorated cookies sold by the dozen, including various gift options. These freshly baked vanilla almond sugar cookies will feature images such as cute rabbits or traditional gold coins packed in red envelopes. Customers can also order thick and chewy 4-inch gourmet cookies in flavors like campfire s’mores, Thai tea, or macha latte. Place your order using this form as soon as possible for pickup on January 14 or 16. If you forget about pre-orders, look for The Cookie Counter at the Paper and Craft Pantry Lunar New Year Market.
my happy place
Started in 2020 by Hana Chong, who has always loved baking for her friends and coworkers, My Happy Place specializes in ornate macarons. For Lunar New Year, the bakery offers two different boxes of baked goods. Try a set of a dozen macarons with six Asian-inspired flavors: red bean, matcha, yuzu, ube, pandan, and black sesame, and each box contains at least two rabbit-shaped macarons. Or try the Lunar New Year cookie box, which includes equal amounts of black sesame shortbread cookies, Chinese almond cookies, matcha shortbread cookies with white chocolate drizzle, and red bean rabbit macarons. You can order now using this form for pickup January 20-22. There is also a Sunday January 22 delivery option available for an additional charge.
Bom Pastry
Originally formed as a home bakery in 2021, Bom has all but outgrown its humble roots, as the owners have hinted that it will grow beyond their home kitchen. However, its current small-scale emerging model is certainly in keeping with its original spirit. Specializing in delicious and chewy mochi donuts, the bakery allows customers to order cakes in advance, which can be picked up during a specific preset window. Past flavors have included strawberry matcha and rainbow ube, and Bom has promised that her Lunar New Year menu of flavors will be announced any day now. Keep an eye on her Instagram for details on how to order.