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Uptown’s Highly Anticipated New Bakery Is Almost Ready to Open

Black Walnut Bakery will open next week

Sarah Botcher pictured inside of Black Walnut Bakery in front of a white subway tile wall, holding a cake topped with pink flowers
Pastry chef Sarah Botcher has built a stellar reputation on baked goods, now it’s time to go full bakery
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Black Walnut Bakery was born way back in 2013 when pastry chef Sarah Botcher first began selling her baked goods as a pop-up. The business evolved from pop-up to farmers market stand, to a mainstay on shelves in Twin Cities area coffee shops. Now, finally, after years of waiting for the chance to really stretch those butter-friendly skills, Black Walnut has its own address, cafe space, and the oven capacity to prove it. The new bakery is almost ready. Botcher’s not ready to declare an opening day, but Uptowners would be wise to test the doors every so often next week.

It’s been an impressive journey for the Culinary Institute of America-educated chef. Botcher is a Minnesota native who studied in Napa Valley and worked at the famed Tartine in in San Fransisco.

The new space has white walls with a walls, marble-topped tables, and a side patio that will be an ideal spot for summer 2020 shows every attention to detail.

Stacks of logs of shortbread cookies with powder sugar
In addition to the usual pastries, Black Walnut Bakery will have an savory cafe menu, beer, wine, cakes, and cookies
Joy Summers

In addition to the baked goods that Black Walnut Bakery has built a reputation upon (i.e. the legendary bockstock) the new large space and dedicated oven means expanded offerings.

Breakfast sandwiches come with thick egg custard and fine herb fresh cheese. A monte cristo can be made with either ham or mushrooms, a generous swipe of sauce on the inside and topped with a crust of melted cheese.

Thick slices of bread with ham, creamy sauce, and melted cheese
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Perhaps most exciting is that Botcher is also making a wide selections of cake inside the new cafe. On display during a media preview was a layered white cake with berry jam, open ends, and decorated with pale pink flowers.

A white whipped cream topped white cake decorated with white and purple flowers
Cakes will be available in two sizes and a variety of flavors
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

The cafe also has a beer and wine license and expects to be open all day into the evening.

Black Walnut Bakery

3157 Hennepin Avenue South, , MN 55408 (612) 353-6552 Visit Website