According to Owner Christina Carlino, Half Baked is “a tiny place with a big heart.” The Mahwah bakery serves classic Americana pastries made with high-quality ingredients along with some fun, unexpected twists. This includes their signature item, the Chonker: a quarter-pound cookie loaded with chips, chunks, and fillings.
“So many of our reviews focus on how nice the staff is, and how good it feels in the bakery,” Christina proudly explains. “My goal is to surprise and delight our guests with delicious treats and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.”
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A Mix of Familiar Favorites & Surprises
Customers coming into Half Baked can expect a familiar menu sprinkled with lots of little (and not so little) surprises. “I follow a high/low philosophy like pairing top-tier ingredients with nostalgic store-bought staples like Oreos or Nilla Wafers to evoke a familiar, comforting taste,” Christina says.
As for their signature Chonkers, they come in a variety of classic flavors and filled varieties. Classic options include chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, while filled favorites range from blueberry lemon to blackberry cheesecake. Christina’s favorite is the Maineiac Chonker. It’s an oatmeal cookie with dried blueberries filled with Maine wild blueberry jam and drizzled with lemon glaze.
They also have gluten-free options in classic flavors like chocolate chip and filled ones like Nutella. (Christina cautions that, while gluten-free products are made with gluten-free ingredients, they’re made in a facility that produces gluten-containing products on shared equipment.)
Cupcakes are also popular at Half Baked. Cake options include chocolate, vanilla, almond, or red velvet. For fillings and toppings, she offers cookie crumbles, cookie butter, or Nutella. Buttercream options come in vanilla, chocolate, caramel, honey, and more. The bakery doesn’t sell any cupcakes that require refrigeration, as they do not include fresh fruit, pudding, or whipped cream.
Half Baked also handles dessert catering and wholesale orders for local markets and cafes. Customers can either order in-store or online.
About Half Baked
Christina knows the baked goods space is a competitive one. But she believes hers simply “taste better!”, which gives her an edge. She also stresses that everything is “made in small batches by a local, woman-owned business.”
Mahwah was a prime location for Half Baked because of Christina’s connection to the community. Her daughter goes to school in town and Christina is a Girl Scout leader.
Christina graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education. For the past nine years, she has been a full-time executive assistant while doing pastries as her side hustle. She actually still holds that EA role, which is why the store is only open on weekends.
“In a world where so much feels uncertain, I wanted to create a space that delivers comfort, indulgence, and nostalgia. Also, I’ve had this dream forever and had to give it a shot,” Christina says.
Visit Half Baked at 107 Miller Rd in Mahwah. Look for them online to earn more.
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All Photos: © Half Baked