Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice: Tulsa sweet shops bring their a-games this fall
Published in the Tulsa Voice Magazine and digitally via Issuu, October 2017
As the weather slowly cools, menus change, and pumpkins are ripe for the picking, the fall season entreats us: Treat yourselves. From the IDL to the edge of South Tulsa, here’s a collection of sweets in rich flavors that capture the season: fig, maple, apple, caramel, pecan, and of course—pumpkin.
Brown Sugar, Pecan Pop Tart | Antoinette Baking Co.
Inside Antoinette’s glass display case was a delectable assortment of pastries, but what caught my eye was the brown sugar pecan pop tart. “A fan favorite,” I was told by the employees behind the register. Rarely do you find a pastry that tastes as good as it looks, and this looked good—its decadent white drizzle and golden flaked sprinkles practically screaming to be Instagrammed. The taste lived up to its visual appearance. The softness of the pastry’s inner lay enhanced the crunchiness of the pecans. This isn’t your 10-year-old’s Pop Tart.
Caramel Apple Popcorn | Premier Popcorn
This offbeat treat would make a great gift or conversation starter. The flavor is definitely for lovers of the super-sweet. The visual appearance is nothing but fun—combining golden buttery caramel popcorn with the bright green apple flavor. Let your eyes and taste buds live a little. The shop also boasts over 36 flavors, from jalapeno cheddar to salt and vinegar.
Pumpkin Empanada | Pancho Anaya Bakery
I think Pancho Anaya has a cult following and I want in. The traditional Mexican bakery’s primary location in the Kendall-Whittier District has stacks of trays and tongs that patrons use to grab what they want of off dozens of display shelves. The bakery is a veritable smorgasbord. In search of a fall-themed pastry, I found the pumpkin empanadas—and made the mistake of judging by its no-frills outward appearance. Its natural, fresh, not overwhelming sweet flavor surprised me. Bonus: I was less than a dollar for a huge portion. Pancho Anaya doesn’t need to try hard: their multigenerational history means they know how to make pastries their customers love.
Cranberry Pumpkin Loaf | Farrell Family Bread
One of the reviews on Farrell Family Bread’s Facebook page said it best: “It is so good, I’ll eat carbs.” This 17-year-old bread company, tucked away in a South Tulsa shopping center, uses all natural ingredients and steers clear of any artificial preservatives. When you walk into the small shop, the smell of bread is near hypnotic. I tried their fall loaf—pumpkin bread with bits of cranberries. In the store, I ate it plain and right off the slicer. At home, I toasted it and added cream cheese. Both times I felt like I’d fallen in love.
