NJ baker is a cut above
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NJ baker is a cut above

Cookie molds win big at Kosherfest

Nathalie Glazier displays some of her Kosherfest-winning cookie-cutter line at her Newtown, Pa., home.
Nathalie Glazier displays some of her Kosherfest-winning cookie-cutter line at her Newtown, Pa., home.

Over the past decade, Nathalie Glazier of Au Bon Cake has been producing kosher cakes for weddings, b’nei mitzvah, and other celebrations out of her Newtown, Pa., home. This year, she baked up a new product: Hebrew letter and Jewish-themed cookie cutters, which won Best New Product at the 2019 Kosherfest.

“I thought Kosherfest was a perfect spot to introduce my new products and I got a lot of positive reaction,” said Glazier, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco, and lived in Paris for several years, before marrying and emigrating to the United States 27 years ago. “We were able to show a lot of attendees something Jewish-themed they had never seen before.”

The annual kosher trade show, held Nov. 12-13 at the Meadowlands Convention Center, attracted over 400 exhibitors, including Glazier’s Au Bon Cake which displayed more than 70 items. NJJN spoke with Glazier, 51, in her home.

“Our buyers come to the show to see new and exciting products pertaining to the kosher market,” said Beth Schultz of Diversified Communications in Portland, Maine, one of the producers of Kosherfest. “Au Bon Cake seemed like a perfect fit for Kosherfest, as it was launching a new product. I’m so pleased with their well-deserved win. The cookie cutters are a great product.”

In addition to a mini-cookie cutter set of Hebrew letters that can be assembled to form names, words, or phrases, some examples of Glazier’s cookie cutters include a tablet shaped like the 10 Commandments, a young girl lighting candles, and a mock-up of “770,” the world headquarters of Chabad Lubavitch. Another is the mold of a boy reading Torah, with an option for adding a kipa to his head.

“We really feel we have a breakthrough product,” said Glazier, a member of Chabad Lubavitch of Bucks County. “People can do new things with our cookie cutters as far as Hebrew personalization is concerned.”

Glazier has a ceramics background and used to make Jewish-themed objects out of clay. An avid baker, she recognized a void in the U.S. in cookies and cake-toppers with Hebrew lettering that was sharp and conveyed a clear message such as a prayer, birthday greeting, or congratulations. This is where her design skills met science. 

A sample cookie using Glazier’s set of Hebrew letters. Photos courtesy Natalie Glazier

She created the molds for her cookie-shaping products on a 3D printer using a non-toxic resin.

“As the technology progressed, we were able to use the eco-resin for the letter sets, and we have programs we can utilize that autogenerate a lot of our designs,” she told NJJN.

Glazier said she developed deep pride in her Jewish heritage from her childhood in Morocco. “I can remember those days, and how Jews were treated so well in Morocco,” she said. “We had a great community in Casablanca that we loved…. why I want to do so much for the Jewish community and Chabad here comes from that.”

Her baked goods, which include Moroccan pastries that feature almonds and dates, are certified kosher by Rabbi David Gabay of Ezrat Torah in Lakewood.

“I am very proud of my heritage and that shows in my products,” she said.

Observing kashruth, both at home and with Au Bon Cake, is important to Glazier and the people she serves in Pennsylvania and Central New Jersey. “I made sure I got certification from Lakewood because I never want any of my customers to have any worry that we are not strictly kosher.”

From a business standpoint, Glazier said Kosherfest provided all that she wanted. “We brought a huge amount of inventory and sold most of it,” she said. “I also put a lot of examples on Instagram.”

As a small business owner, she effectively touts the affordability of her products. The cookie cutters and presses start at $6 and the vast majority cost $10-$12.

“Anybody can buy most of our items,” she said.

Glazier sells some items at two restaurant supply stores in Brooklyn and is looking to expand her market internationally. “Chabad’s representatives were really excited about what we showed them,” she said. “I am also looking at stores both in the United States and Israel, which I feel is an excellent market.”

For information about Au Bon Cake’s products, including baked goods which are delivered to some parts in N.J., contact Glazier at orders@auboncake.com.

jweisberger@njjewishnews.com

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