New Business: Baked Bouquet

Florist or bakery? Cakes or cupcakes? While it may not be so easy to tell from the windows, or the gorgeous bouquets on the shelves, the answer is quite simply, “yes.”

Baked Bouquet opened its doors in November with a concept that is original, imaginative and unlike any of the larger food-based gift giving chains in our immediate area. Designed to look floral, Baked Bouquet’s bouquets are quite edible. Each piece is made fresh for every order and hand crafted to mimic the delicate color and structure of nature’s flowers. In short, Baked Bouquet is just what is says, an edible florist.

Why make bouquets from small cakes? For software engineer-turned-owner Sam, it just made sense. It was the concept that just wouldn’t go away. From years in software, followed by retail, real estate and business consulting, Sam found a way to “get out of the office” and create something completely original. Edible cakes in vases.

But Baked Bouquet is not just about the culmination of a life’s worth of training and experience wrapped into small cakes that look like flowers. Sam’s favorite part of owning his business is being “in the business of caring, and helping people express how they feel about others.” Knowing that his creations make a difference in people’s lives is part of what inspires new bouquets, new ideas, and a constantly evolving group of arrangements.

Among the product lines are five different options for bouquet designs. While the Highline Roses are the most popular, followed by Hydrangea and Carnations, the designers at Baked Bouquet will make whatever their customers ask them to. This is a creative shop focusing on simple, flavorful cakes with intricate life-like edible tops. In the event of being unsure of exactly how a new customer would like his or her bouquets gifts to be, tastings at Baked Bouquet are encouraged. Cakes are ready, icing is ready, and both are made fresh daily.

Keeping with the theme typical with florists, these bouquets are primarily designed with a focus on corporate gift giving, sympathy, baby and bridal showers, birthday celebrations and even centerpieces. Everything is baked and arranged on the premises and all cakes and icings are nut free; something more and more people have to think about when it comes to food-related gifts. As the business grows, more offerings may come in to play, but for now, Sam says, “being a florist is our key business. We want to do one thing really well.”

A typical bouquet holds 12 to 30 cakes and prices range from $68 to $125. Bouquets can be picked up in the store or delivered for a charge of $16. Currently, Baked Bouquet will deliver to much of the surrounding areas including Morristown and Wayne. If you’re in need of just a few cakes, they are also sold by the dozen ($36) and individually ($3.50 each). Students who stop by after school receive a discount for a single cake made upon arrival ($2.50).

The store is located at 534 Bloomfield Avenue and hours are 9 a.m.- to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Sundays are by appointment. The store phone number is 973-450-8200 and the website is www.bakedbouquet.com. The Baked Bouquet Facebook page showcases their latest designs and is the place where they are running a campaign where the first three people to call in to the store in the morning will receive a free bouquet (value up to $90). There are guidelines for the contest, so hop on over to the Facebook page and like it to stay in the know.