Q. What is usually offered on a weekly menu and why does it rotate?
A. Typically, the weekly menu will have muffins, a variety of biscotti (or cookie or bar), sandwich breads, English muffins, one or two sourdough loaves, a variety of challah or enriched bread (loaves or rolls), and rotating specials each week (babka, crumb cake, mini cakes etc.). I also have fresh-baked baguettes available at the Bake Shed on pickup days.
I try to vary what I offer week to week so no one gets bored - plus, I love to create new recipes and flavor combinations. I like to offer items that compliment the seasons, holidays and fresh in-season ingredients, and I like to experiment with new ideas based on classes I attend or books and articles I read.
Because this is a solo, small-scale operation, my time and capacity is limited. I unfortunately cannot bake items outside of the weekly menu, unless it is a special order which I can only accommodate when I have availability.
Q. When can orders from the weekly menu be placed?
A. On Tuesday evening, ordering is open to everyone and remains open until Thursday afternoon, or sooner if the available quantity has been reserved.
A weekly email goes out on Wednesday morning to the mailing list with the menu and a link to the ordering page. The menu for the week is usually posted on the website (Weekly Menu) by Tuesday morning.
Q. How do I place an order online?
A. To place an order, visit the ordering page anytime on/after Tuesday evening. Choose what you would like to reserve from the items listed and add them to your cart. You can add up to two of each item, unless I've indicated otherwise (high-demand specialty items sometimes have a limit of one, and some smaller items have higher limits of four or more).
At checkout, enter your information, choose your method of payment (cash or check, due at time of pickup) and click the button to submit your order. Please note that my inventory can change between the time you choose items on the ordering page and the time you place your order, and this may cause an error message to appear.
After you submit your order, you should see a confirmation screen. Please check your email (the address you provided at checkout) for a confirmation. IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an order confirmation email within a few hours, please email or text me directly to confirm your order.
Q. Why can’t I see an item on the ordering page even though it is listed on the menu?
A. If you do not see an item listed on the ordering page, it has sold out. I update my system weekly with the number of each loaf of bread or package of cookies that I know I can make. The website only allows orders up to that number, and then, once the set quantity has been reserved, shows the item to be "sold out" and is eventually removed from the page automatically.
I often bake more than I offer online, but I cannot guarantee extras. Any extra bakes will be in the cases at the Bake Shed on pickup days, available on a first come, first serve basis. I do not offer a waitlist, unless I post otherwise.
Q. How do I pickup my order and how do I know it is ready?
A. On your order pickup day, you will receive an "order complete" email by 9am - that means it's time to head to the Bake Shed to pickup your treats.
The Bake Shed is located in front of my home on a dead-end gravel road in East Dorset Village. Please click here for Bake Shed details and directions.
Generally, the Bake Shed opens at 9am (no early birds, please - set up takes a bit, especially on school days). It closes at 6pm, or earlier if inventory runs out. The hours do change and I do schedule a day off here and there, so for the most update information, watch for my weekly posts on social media or information in my weekly emailed update (subscribe at the bottom of this page).
Please note that the Bake Shed is self-serve. I am usually home for the majority of time during pickup hours, but I occasionally do step out. If you have an issue, please text or call me at the number on one of my contact cards in the Bake Shed.
Q. Do you accept custom orders?
A. I do not bake celebration cakes, but I do offer other items like challah, dinner rolls and cookies with a larger minimum quantity and with an order in advance. Email me at the bottom of this page to discuss options and my availability. Please check with me early; I am often booked several weeks out.
A note regarding gluten-free baking and food allergies
I do not offer gluten-free items. Gluten-free baking for those with an allergy requires special flours and dedicated gluten-free space and equipment. I do not keep those specialized flours on hand, and I do not have the space for a completely gluten-free area nor do I have the additional equipment.
In my kitchen, I often work with the most common food allergens, according to the FDA: peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, milk products and eggs. While I clean and sanitize my kitchen and equipment thoroughly and often, those with severe allergies should purchase with caution. Please email me if you have questions about a specific product or my process.
Website & Photography Copyright
The website is owned and designed by Jaymie Bakes, proprietor of the Bake Shed in East Dorset, Vermont. The photographs and written content on this website are property of Jaymie LeVine of Jaymie Bakes LLC and cannot be used elsewhere without written permission from the website owner.
Don't steal my stuff. I work hard on everything I do, and I take pride in every photograph I take. Just ask if you want to use something - I try to be a good and generous human. 🙂