Baked by Joy opens Hampden storefront after home-based start

HAMPDEN, Maine (WABI) - A home-based cookie business that started in Hermon has opened a storefront in Hampden, attracting crowds of customers looking for the colosal confections.

Baked by Joy opened its Western Avenue location two months ago. Owner Joy Dudley said she knew the space hit the sweet spot.

“When I found this, I said- this is it,” she says, smiling.

Dudley moved to Maine from the Philippines 10 years ago. After her children were born, she started baking cookies out of her Hermon home. That’s where WABI first caught up with Dudley.

The business grew through pop-up stores and farmer’s markets before Dudley decided to open the Hampden shop.

Baked by Joy churns out 300-400 cookies daily

“We bake everything in my basement [at home in Hermon] because we have all the ovens there,” notes Dudley. “We bake fresh in the morning and bring in here.”

Daily social media posts bring customers from Dover, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor and as far as Maryland.

Filipino flavors and seasonal varieties

The shop’s best seller is Ube, a purple yam cookie. Other offerings include Boku Pan Dan, a coconut vanilla Filipino flavor, sea salt caramel and chocolate chip.

Seasonal flavors include Biscoff Overload, carrot cake, lemon raspberry and wild blueberry pie.

“We kind of cut back on our menu because it’s been really, really busy with our production and running this,” Dudley said.

The shop also offers matcha as well as cookie sundaes with locally produced ice cream.

Dudley says the volume of customers has been overwhelming but rewarding.

“It’s very fulfilling seeing people eating and enjoying our cookies. It’s amazing,” she said.

Baked by Joy is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cookie flavors are posted on the business’s Facebook page.