Last December, Alberta “Abby” Keen sent word by her PR person that she’d opened AbbyCakes in Virginia Beach. I added it to my list and forgot about it.
Later, as I drove down Indian River Road near Regent University, it dawned on me that I hadn’t visited.
I entered the take-out spot on a Thursday afternoon with one thing on my mind: dessert. The bakery offers cakes, cookies, pies and other treats. (Their most popular are the cinnamon rolls, German chocolate cookies and the strawberry millionaire pie, according to Keen’s husband.) I ordered what appealed to my mood and headed home.
That evening, I indulged in a slice of the two-layer almond cake ($5.25). It had the consistency of a pound cake with the delightfulness of a wedding cake. The thin layer of frosting added a right amount of sweetness that made it even more remarkable.
The next morning, I heated my cinnamon roll ($4.50) in the microwave for 20 seconds. Gobs of cream cheese icing sat on top and the ribbons of cinnamon-sugar had caramelized on the inside. Two words: Gooey and scrumpdillyicious.
For my afternoon snack, I grabbed the oatmeal raisin cookie ($2.25). It was perfectly round with a little height that gave it edges. I liked the crispiness and mild sweetness. My day continued with smiles thinking about it.
My evening treats were equally comforting. The chocolate chip cookie ($2.25) was shaped like the oatmeal one. Bountiful chips appeared near the surface, exciting my palate. I enjoyed every chocolaty bite. I saw a dozen in my future.
The Key lime pie ($6.25) had a classic taste of creamy, citrusy goodness. I loved the golden graham cracker crust, as opposed to a traditional pie crust. The taste evoked a childhood memory of being in kindergarten, eating graham crackers and drinking milk before taking a nap.
Don’t sleep on AbbyCakes.
Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com; on X, @gibsonrekaya
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If you go
Where: 5660 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Details: 757-962-0990; abbycakes757.com
