By Andra Moss
Norfolk will soon have a new destination for those in search of homemade cookies, pastries and other fresh baked goods. Dawn Muzzulin is the baker behind Dawnie’s Delights, soon to open as a pop-up bakery in downtown Norfolk’s Royal Arcanum Building, in the former space of the Healing Nest.

“I’ve been baking basically my whole life,” says Muzzulin. “This has been something I’ve always dreamed of.” Those in the know, or who have access to her treats via her husband, Sean, who grew up in Norfolk and works at Town Hall, may already be familiar with Muzzulin’s baking artistry. “My specialty is cookies,” she says, “but I also do cupcakes, cakes and just about everything.”

Details are still in the works, but Dawnie’s Delights aims to open later in August. Once she gets a feel for what works for customers, Muzzulin says she will set regular hours and continue to expand her bakery menu. “Right now it is just a temporary pop-up, but I’d like it to be open several days a week in the mornings.”

The lack of a commercial kitchen in the small space is no hindrance, she explains. “I have a cottage license, so everything is baked, packaged and labeled at my home.”

In addition to grab-and-go treats, Dawnie’s Delights will fulfill custom orders. “I’ll have order forms for specialty cakes. I’ve made Nintendo, X-box and Barbie cakes and can do special orders of pastries, eclairs or muffins for functions having a meeting. I can also do gluten free and vegan.”

Whether it’s cakes, breads or pies (“I have my secret family pie crust recipe”), Muzzulin says she is looking forward to receiving requests: “I like to play around with my recipes and I’m willing to try anything.”

So watch that space in the weeks ahead—and maybe climb Haystack one extra time, just to be ready to sample all of Dawnie’s Delights.