Halloween Treats: Boo-berry Croissant and Salem Rye Cake at Nolita Bakery

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — With Halloween a few weeks away, a Mid-City bakery is getting into the spirit with some delightful and frightful desserts.

WGNO’s Kenny Lopez headed to Nolita Bakery, where they are baking Halloween-themed treats.

This Halloween, Martha Gilreath, the owner of Nolita Bakery is baking her “Salem Rye Cake” and her “Boo-Berry Croissant.”

“Our Salem Rye Cake is based off ingredients that were available in Salem in 1692 and 1693, when the Salem witch trials happened. I think it’s important to remember that they didn’t kill witches, they killed women, this cake is an ode to those murdered,” she said.

The “Salem Rye Cake” is filled with clove, ginger, cinnamon and a goat cheese and chestnut frosting.

“The other dessert we will feature is for older millennials, we will take a trip back in time to the old Count Chocula and Frankenstein cereals,” she said.

“It has blueberry frangiapane and dehydrated marshmallows on top, so we call it our Boo-Berry Croissant,” she said.

“So, if you look at the croissant, you can actually see the dough, which was made with blueberry juice, and we will top it off with our cereal milk glaze. It just takes you back. It’s like eating that end of the cereal bowl with a kick of fruit in it. It is really just fun,” Gilreath said.

While Martha’s having fun now, her life was pretty scary and definitely not a piece of cake.

“I was homeless for a long time, off and on for many years. I was battling alcoholism and addiction,” she said.

Gilgreath credits rehab and an incredible support system for her turnaround, which lead to her new bakery life.

“I have a lot to be grateful for,” she said.

And we’re grateful that she’s now sharing her creative culinary creations with all of us.

“Aren’t they “boo-tiful?” she jokingly said.

Nolita Bakery is located at 3201 Orleans Avenue.

Nolita Bakery is hosting a Fall Neighborhood Market on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon with local food vendors, artists, as well as their bakery treats.

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