Handmade Luxury Gingerbread Boutique & Cafe Coming To Somerset County

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — It started as a childhood love of architecture for Molli Dowd and evolved into lavish adult gin and gingerbread parties.

Now the Food Network contestant is coming to Basking Ridge to open her handmade luxury gingerbread boutique called Edible Estates along with a cafe at 107 S Maple Ave.

Dowd's love for gingerbread was baked into her DNA as a child. Her grandfather was a custom builder in the 50s and her mom and grandmother were both bakers.

"I come from a family of builders and bakers," said Dowd.

It began as a fun activity to build gingerbread houses with her mom and two sisters. Each year they would create a different and more elaborate gingerbread house including their own childhood home.

Her love for building and engineering began to stem past gingerbread as Dowd would build anything and everything she could even a dog house.

Then around 8 or 10 years ago, Dowd decided to share her gingerbread knowledge with others. She started offering gingerbread house classes around the holidays in Montclair for younger children.

Dowd would provide fairly elaborate pre-built homes for children to decorate. However, Dowd began to notice the parents overlooking their kids' shoulders.

"While the kids enjoyed the classes, the adults were the ones who really appreciated the quality of the work," said Dowd.

That spurred her idea to start hosting lavish gin and gingerbread parties. She would invite women, offer cocktails with top-shelf liquor and music, and provide candy buffets. Guests would be able to choose from the buffets of candy to decorate 75 to 100 pre-built home displays.

"I am such a Willy Wonka fan. I like walking into a room full of candy with friends. Everything is there for you. There is a big selection of colors," said Dowd. It just became something I really enjoyed doing and seeing people get excited - that's really what fed me - seeing people's reactions."

When the COVID pandemic hit, Dowd pivoted her business to begin shipping her pre-built gingerbread homes to people for them to decorate at home.

"I called it 'Happiness in a box'," said Dowd.

In 2021, Dowd's intricate gingerbread houses landed her a chance to compete for $10,000 on Food Network's "Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown."

Dowd and her pastry chef created a replica of New York City’s Chrysler Building. While she didn't win, she loved the experience.

Now with things returning to normal, Dowd found a location in Basking Ridge to offer her edible arts studio with a little coffee cafe in the front. Edible Estates will be the name of the studio and the cafe will be called The Porch.

The Porch will offer coffee and baked goods along with gingerbread, of course.

Her new space will give Dowd a place to offer classes to the public and continue her true love of making custom pieces.

Most recently she created a replica of Barrister Coffee House which recently opened at 96 S Finley Ave.

"Truly I am a lover of architecture and there is a collection of architectural styles that I can't wait to produce," said Dowd.

Each custom can take about 30 hours to produce. One of her favorites to create was the Benjamin Duke House in New York City.

"The customs are my high creative end of the business and truly my passion," said Dowd.

Edible Estates is currently undergoing renovations and will be opening in the New Year.

For more information on Edible Estates, to buy a pre-assembled gingerbread or to order a custom replica visit edibleestates.com. Follow Dowd to see when the new location will be opening at facebook.com/EdibleEstates or instagram.com/edibleestates.

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