A popular Dallas-area baker known for her stunning vegan cakes is about to open a brick-and-mortar location: Called Sweet Gilly’s Specialty Bakeshop, it's from Gillian Kirk (pronounced "Jillian"), a 25-year-old vegan cake artist who specializes in allergen-friendly treats, and will open in Frisco at 3266 Parkwood Blvd. #100, at The Centre at Preston Ridge, by the Aloft Hotel and Nordstrom.
Kirk is currently renovating the location with a plan to open in early spring.
UPDATE 10-21-2024: Sweet Gilly's is now open, Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-6 pm and Saturday from 10 am-2 pm.
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"There are not that many vegan options in Frisco, so I’m very excited to open my bakery there," she says.
Kirk launched Sweet Gilly's Vegan, a cottage bakery, in 2020 and has been busy ever since, fulfilling a growing market for allergy-free, gluten-free, vegan sweets and baked goods.
"I have a lot of food allergies, I know that other people do too, and we deserve to have the same cool food as everyone else. I want everyone to have great dessert," she says.
She bakes cupcakes, cookies, tarts, and brownies, but her trademark is her show-stopping layer cakes, which she bakes on demand for special orders such as weddings, parties, birthdays, and other celebrations, and is generally booked at least a month or two in advance.
There are plenty of bakers doing fancy cakes — but finding one that offers vegan and gluten-free options, especially as impeccably executed as Gilly's, is rare. Her designs have ranged from a stark white 3-layer cake 10-inches tall to a cake whose exterior recreates Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night.
Gillian Kirk decorating a Sweet Gilly's Vegan cakeSweet Gilly's
She promises they taste as good as they look.
"I like a moist cake with a fluffy crumb," she says. "You eat with your eyes first but if you continue eating it, that’s where the money is - I want you to enjoy the whole experience."
She's been running the business entirely on Instagram: Customers place orders, and she bakes and delivers. Her new shop will not only provide her with a headquarters, but also a place where people can come in, sit down, and enjoy a treat. She'll offer the sweet baked goods for which she is famous, plus coffee and drinks, and savory items as well.
"The plan is to offer quiche, croissants, sandwiches, bites, food that caters to everyone," she says. "Not everyone that walks into a bakery wants something sweet."
There'll be a dining room as well as a patio in the back, which is a common space shared with other shops around, but currently underutilized, with an open door for the work-from-home crowd, as well.
The space will be “whimsical, with lots of florals and pastel colors, inspired by Peggy Porschen in London," she says. "Customers will walk into wonderland, greeted by beautiful visuals and surrounded by delicious food."
"Being able to serve delicious and allergen friendly desserts continues to be an absolute pleasure and is beyond fulfilling," she says. "I truly want everyone to have their cake, and eat it too."
Minji Kim and Ben Lee.Photo courtesy of Min’s Prime Cut Korean Steakhouse
Coming soon to Bishop Arts. Photo courtesy of Min’s Prime Cut Korean Steakhouse