Getting ready for Purim, The Jewish Link had to visit Ridhima Sood, owner of Sweet Kneads Bakery and Cafe, Livingston, to catch up and see what she is offering. What a pleasant surprise to see her “Gigantic Hamantaschen.” Beautifully presented in a pink cake box, it has all the traditional fillings in one oversized hamantaschen that can be shared by many. Another choice is the Purim Bento Box, containing a variety of treats and dipping sauces. Exciting flavors are individually sold as well, including rainbow strawberry, s’mores, Dubai chocolate and apple pie.

Sweet Kneads has been open for almost two years. “The community support has been good,” Ridhima reflected. “I’ve made good friends and learned a lot on this journey. There are many similarities between our cultures.” Sood is referring to her own Indian culture and the Jewish culture. Sweet Kneads is an Indian bakery which obtained kosher certification when it opened under the Vaad of MetroWest and has been a welcome addition to the kosher offerings in the local community.

Sood’s catering menu has many wonderful familiar items such as brownies, cupcakes and tarts, plus she sells treats unique to Indian culture as well. Chocolate Gulab Jamun is a milk dumpling dipped in sugar and cardamom syrup and is used in tarts. Malpua is a sweet pancake, similar to what some use after Pesach. Rabri Mousse is made by cooking milk very slowly with sugar and cardamom until condensed and thick. Cakes made with carrot halwa are not like sesame halva, but mashed carrots with sugar and milk. Badaam is made with almonds like marzipan.

Sood smiled as she said she learned how Jewish tradition doesn’t use nuts on Rosh Hashanah, but rather apples and honey are eaten at that time. Sweet Kneads offers babka, orange honey cake and apple cake for that season.

The bakery’s menu changes all the time. “I don’t do the same things,” Sood explained. “It evolves, the menu rotates, customers who come in four to five days a week see so many new things. One remarked how he comes in every day and [still] hasn’t tried everything.”

Sweet Kneads’ Basque cheesecake is something to keep in mind for Shavuot. On a trip to Brussels, Sood found a cake with a texture that tastes like a combination of flan, cheesecake and rice pudding, and uses these ideas in her creation. Her travels give her inspiration.

Sweet Kneads is at 38 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, under the kosher supervision of the Vaad HaRabonim of MetroWest. High tea is available every day for one to two people or more, as well as a variety of specialty milkshakes. Custom cakes for any occasion may be ordered. Corporate events, too. There’s much more on the website, sweetkneadsnj.com.