Located at 156 7th St. in Garden City, Bare Naked Bakery is filled with completely gluten-free and nut-free dinner and dessert options.
The bakery was founded on Long Island in 2008. Their website reads, “Creating a safe place for our guests, especially kids, to enjoy the foods they miss without worry is the primary aim here at Bare Naked Bakery. Proper packing and preparation are vital to every product created to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for our community.”
As a gluten-free individual, I went to the Bare Naked Bakery excited to try delicious, safe snacks.
When entering the storefront, I was met with a warm and friendly greeting from the staff. The store has multiple fridges and cases, all filled with food. On the left wall, there is a fridge full of gluten-free dough and frozen food, which are perfect for quick, convenient meals. To the right sits the cash registers and dessert cases filled with cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more. They also have breads and bagels, which are all completely gluten-free.
The store has some indoor seating options in the front and outdoor seating options, which are available on nice days. The bakery felt very homey, giving the sense of safety and comfort.
What I appreciate most about the Bare Naked Bakery is their convenient hours. Typically, bakeries are open only in the early morning, however, the Bare Naked Bakery opens at 8 a.m., seven days a week and closes as late as 6 p.m. on the weekdays and 8 p.m. on the weekends.
During my visit, I ordered a slice of cheesecake and an Oreo cupcake as my sweet treats for the day. The cheesecake was delicious with a creamy filling and a crumbly base. The base was a nice crumb at first, but then became soggy as the cream cheese set into the crust. It was a little disappointing, but there’s not much that can be done with gluten-free graham crackers.
The Oreo cupcake also lived up to expectations. The chocolate cake was on the drier side, but that was offset with the sweet, Oreo frosting. I found it difficult to eat the cake and frosting individually because of the dense tasting bottom and sugar-filled top; however, the two flavors blended nicely together.
When I arrived, I was also offered a sample of gluten-free banana bread, which was dry as well. I’m unsure if that is a result of the cake sitting out for an extended period of time or because of the gluten-free flour, which is infamous for resulting in stiff, hard cakes.
The prices of each menu item are relatively acceptable, especially being allergen friendly. Typically, allergen friendly desserts have a higher price point. The cheesecake slice cost $7 and the cupcake cost $5.95, before tax.
As a student, finding gluten-free treats around Hofstra University’s campus can be challenging. Cheesecakes, brownie sundaes and chocolate cakes with regular flour leave me with migraines and stomach aches. Finding the Bare Naked Bakery in the robust downtown life of Garden City was meaningful to me because I no longer have to watch my friends indulge in warm brownie sundaes without me.
Despite some dry, crumbling textures or soggy characteristics, the Bake Naked Bakery is a safe, cozy storefront filled with allergen friendly sweet treats.
