Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Amherst

Located in the city of Amherst, about 40 minutes West of Downtown Cleveland, and famed for the “Snoogle” as well as Pirogies plus several styles of Polish and American Baked Goods, Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery proved to be a fortuitous stop between the Hotel near Hopkins Airport and “America’s Roller Coast,” all twelve items selected well-crafted with a focus on doing things in old-school, time honored fashion.

No doubt a local favorite, the line a dozen long before, during and after arriving at 9:45am, Kiedrowski’s is a tight space with limited outdoor seating and the majority of its footprint used for baking and displaying, the indecisive at a disadvantage as the queue moves quickly, the staff accommodating at patient…at least moreso than grumbling natives who just want to grab a Snoogle, Frycake or Muffin.

Certainly not a looking to reinvent the wheel, the majority of the glass cases’ contents focused on Quick-Breads, Donuts or Cookies, it was with a large box in hand that the store was exited, a mere $14 for the lot almost unheard of in 2016, first bites of a Blueberry Frycake and Cruller fine though not revelatory while the Peach Fritter and Old Fashioned Donut were each reference standard, the outsides crisp and glistening while the inside was moist but not the least bit oily.

Taking a different look at the “Cronut” by placing a freshly made Butter Croissant in the deep fryer before topping it with Streusel and shellacking it in a sugary shell it seemed unnecessary that the same treatment was given to an otherwise tasty Apple Fritter that unfortunately proved far too sweet to be enjoyed past a bite or two, the Kolachy and Kiffle both as good as homemade while the “Wahooski” was simply a good Sugar Cookie celebrating the Cleveland Indians advancement to the World Series.

Taking a bit of chance on the Corn Muffin, results shining as the sweet yet toothsome batter was piped full of a zippy Cream Cheese core, it was finally here that a “Snoogle” was partaken in, the mashup of a Cheese Danish and Puff Pastry like that of a Cream Horn justifying its fame as the shattering shell gave way to gooey insides, a word to the wise being to enjoy this concoction in an outdoor space, or at least somewhere that cleans up easily.

The Snoogle is legendary! Delicious, flaky iced pastry with cream cheese-y filling. Had them at my wedding and at other family gatherings, and the service is always good.