If you’ve ever hosted a birthday party or kid-friendly event and tried to juggle the allergies and food sensitivities of other kids in planning the menu, Tiffany Magness feels your pain. After several years as a social worker, Magness became a stay-at-home mom when her son was born about seven years ago. It was then that she picked up a new hobby: baking.
By her son’s first birthday, she had perfected her baking skills and was excited to create a cake for everyone to enjoy. The child of a close friend with food allergies threatened to throw a kink into her plan.
“I wanted everyone to be able to eat cake at my son’s first birthday,” she said. “I fell in love with baking and providing treats for people who had special dietary needs or restrictions.”
Six years ago, her newfound hobby turned into a business for Magness. She’s the owner of Green Goodies in Oklahoma City’s Classen Curve. The menu has grown from just cupcakes and coffee to include an entire lunch menu.
While the menu of gluten-free and vegan options reveals the cupcake shop caters to diners with allergies and sensitivities, Magness prides herself on offering food that everyone likes to eat.
Proving the delectability of what you’ll find at Green Goodies, Magness and her then-head baker Kerstin Bellah won the popular Food Network show “Cupcake Wars” in 2013.
“It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am so grateful for,” she said. “Very stressful, though, I have to say. We gave the competition everything we had, so the recognition felt great.”
Magness uses a farm-to-table approach on her entire menu, sweets included. Her team makes everything from scratch daily, from the cupcakes and salted caramel sauce to their soups, sandwiches and salads. Magness assures her offerings are hormone-free, antibiotic-free and organic.
“We are a café and cupcakery that tries to offer food that everyone can enjoy no matter their restriction or allergy,” she said. “We put extra time and care into our products. Whether by choice or dietary restriction, I want to have something for everyone.”
For Kelly Gospodarek, an Oklahoma City mom who recently moved here from Colorado, Green Goodies is a very special place. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that is triggered by gluten. The National Foundation of Celiac Awareness estimates 18 million people have gluten sensitivity. Typically, Gospodarek and others with similar limitations have trouble finding food options that work when dining out.
“Green Goodies is a place I can come and just order straight off the menu,” said Gospodarek. “It is so nice to have options and not have to special order or choose the one gluten-free thing on the menu.”
Going gluten-free meant giving up bread, which she described as her favorite food group. But at Green Goodies, she doesn’t have to make that sacrifice.
“I love that I can enjoy a real sandwich,” Gospodarek said.
No matter your parties’ dietary needs or choices, everyone can find something delicious at Green Goodies. Kids meals (priced at $5) offer a choice of grilled cheese, ham or turkey sandwiches with chips or fruit. For the adults, Green Goodies offers a selection of soups like a fire roasted tomato basil and sandwiches like the Goodie Club or the knife-and-fork roast beef. The shop gives you even more choices with the create-your-own, customizable sandwich or salad option. Another bonus for the budget-conscious: nothing on the menu is more than $11.
After your meal, stay for one of the shop’s famous cupcakes. Flavors include classics like chocolate with sprinkles and the customer favorite: salted caramel.
Green Goodies cupcakes come in several options: classic, gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free. No matter the style, all are preservative and trans-fat free. Some options are available daily while others are available by special order. You can satisfy your sweet tooth with their Green Hostess cupcake, a vegan version of the Hostess classic. Their sopapilla cheesecake cupcake is another favorite, which combines vanilla, cinnamon and cream cheese flavors sweetened with a drizzle of honey.
Special order cupcakes are available for parties and events but must be made in advance and there is a one-dozen minimum order required. Cupcakes can be made gluten free and vegan, sugar free and gluten free or soy free.
Green Goodies is located at 5840 N. Classen Blvd., #5. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. They serve lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reach them at 842-2288 or www.greengoodiesokc.com and see news and specials on their Facebook page.
[Editor's Note: Green Goodies is not a tree nut free environment. Although they do not use peanuts at their facility, they do use walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts.]
