Sweeney's Bakery, Wilmington, Delaware

Posted by Brandon Shook on February 22, 2010 0 Comments

Saved by the bell … or was it a doughnut?

Have you ever watched one of those feel good movies where the main character has to overcome the odds if they want to succeed; you know, like “Remember the Titans”, “Blind Side,” or even “Legally Blonde”? Well, if you like the kind of movies that inspire and motivate, then you’ll want to know about James Sweeney and the three generation-old eponymously named bakery in Wilmington, Delaware. And even if those kind of movies aren’t your thing, you should stick around anyways … it’s a good story.

James has always had a hand in helping with the family business – even when he was a child. As a toddler he’d find himself greeting customers at the door while he played with the toys in his nearby play area. By the time he grew old enough, his father began teaching him the skills he would need to become a baker for the business. And even though, James was never formally taught how to cook, the “home-schooling” he received from his dad allowed him to master his father’s baking techniques, creating in the process an array of beautiful and delicious treats for his family – and eventually – his customers.

As one would imagine, the family business was eventually passed down into James’ capable hands and everything was running smoothly – until tragedy struck. In 1998 the Sweeneys were evicted from their building because the shopping center that housed the bakery went under construction. Thankfully, there was a finished vacant building on the opposite end of the shopping center, and the Sweeneys were able to set themselves up in that nearby building. Unfortunately though, sometimes tragedy comes in waves, and the next obstacle for Sweeney’s Bakery was road construction. The main road that allowed access to their now “new” bakery was completely torn-up in order to widen the road. This was good news for the future of the business since the busy road would undoubtedly bring a lot of business, but at that present moment, every car was being redirected away from the bakery. Ugh. Dealing with the finances of a new building and a severely restricted customer flow, it wasn’t long before Sweeney’s Bakery was drowning in bills.

Yet, despite these obstacles being stacked against them, the Sweeneys finally caught a break. And it was a life-preserver in the shape of … a “Cruller.” After all, when things get tough, we can usually count on our family, friends and neighbors to help pull us through the mire, and the community of Wilmington couldn’t help but notice the plight of James and Sweeney’s Bakery, the institution they had come to love due to decades of service to the community. And, of course, great baked goods! The community wanted to help the friend they had watched grow up, and so they did – in droves. Customers who could navigate through the construction would pay for a dozen of Sweeney’s famous crullers with a hundred dollar bill saying, “Keep the change.” This happened more than once and with other donations from the community the bakery was able to stay afloat until the road was finished.

Currently the business is thriving. And even though the building and some of the people working at the bakery have changed, the taste remains the same….delicious. With over fifty years and three generations of Sweeney experience and expertise driving the bakery their menu has grown and diversified to include danishes, muffins, Irish soda bread, and tarts to name just a few treats. If you ever find yourself in Wilmington and you’re looking for a sweet-treat, stop by Sweeney’s Bakery and check out this amazing testament to hard work and a community pulling together.

For a taste of Sweeney’s Bakery in your own kitchen, try out their Spice Bar Cake recipe, and let us know how things turn out!
(Recipe generously provided by James Sweeney of Sweeney’s Bakery in Wilmington, DE)

Sweeney’s Bakery Spice Bar Cake

2 cups water

1 cup dark and white raisin

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spices (your choice of nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring water and raisins to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, add shortening, let cool to room temperature.
3. Sift together dry ingredients.
4. When raisin mixture is cool, add the dry ingredients.
5. Add the beaten egg. Stir until completely incorporated.
6. Pour batter into 1/4 sheet pan or 9×13 baking dish.

Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Contact or visit The French Pantry at:
2068 Naamans Road
Wilmington, DE 19810-2648
(302) 475-5884