By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Beyond Santa and his big bag of gifts, there are many other memories that define the Christmas holidays. Among them? Sweets, naturally.
But all sweets are not so natural. Which is why Nerdy Birdy Cookie Company’s Christmas treats are a delight for those who cannot eat the conventional kind.
Whether it is due to having allergies or choosing a healthier diet, more U.S. customers are turning toward gluten-free products, which is just one of Nerdy Birdy Cookie Company’s specialties.
Manager Amanda Woppert says, “Everything’s natural, nothing’s manufactured.”
Among the winter-themed cupcake flavors are gingerbread, white chocolate mocha, red velvet, peppermint mocha, vanilla chai and eggnog./Karen Parr-Moody
In addition to offering gluten-free cupcakes, dessert bars, muffins, cookies, brownies, scones and cakes, the bakery at 1725 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, Suite D, has more “free” descriptors than just gluten. Their treats are also grain-free, soy-free and peanut-free, and contain no artificial sweeteners, artificial flavorings or genetically-modified ingredients. There are also dairy-free options. (The bakery does use tree nuts, such as almonds.)
“Peanut allergies are a big thing,” Woppert says of the reason some customers come to Nerdy Birdy.
The bakery switches up some of its items to fit the season. For the winter season – just in time for Christmas – the bakery is offering themed baked goods. Among these are cupcakes in flavors of gingerbread, white chocolate mocha, red velvet, peppermint mocha, vanilla chai and eggnog. Scone flavors include bacon cheddar, apple cinnamon and orange cranberry. There are also raspberry Linzer cookies and dairy-free gingerbread men.
(Despite the seasonal lineup, the bakery can create baked goods in spring-themed flavors – key lime, for example – when given a week’s notice.)
Dairy-free gingerbread are also on the list./Karen Parr-Moody
Woppert says: “It takes a little longer to make everything, but it’s definitely worth it in the end, because you know that people can come in and not worry about allergies.”
The hours are Tuesday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed Sunday and Monday. They will stay open until noon on Christmas Eve so that customers can stop by for last-minute desserts for holiday meals.
The bakery was founded by Sara Knight several years ago, when she debuted her goods at Clarksville’s Downtown Market. She was a regular visitor to the market and saw there was a need for alternate baked options. Knight opened the brick-and-mortar store last summer.
Nerdy Birdy also carries Jeni’s ice cream, which is made with grass-fed cow products, Bulletproof coffee (a special type of coffee that includes grass-fed butter), kombucha (a fermented drink) and natural sodas. Gift cards can be purchased in any denomination. For more information about the daily flavors of baked goods call 931-919-2473 or visit www.facebook.com/nerdybirdycookies.
Cookies in Christmas stripes are perfect for the season./Karen Parr-Moody
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.