Hamptons Epicure: Anke's Fit Bakery, A Fitness Trainer Goes Cookies!

I was planning to write about some local food businesses that do a lot of online sales. It’s interesting to me that some of our local products are in demand far afield. I was thinking of teas by Plain-T in Southampton and Open Minded Organics’ dried mushrooms in Bridgehampton. But then our Senior Editor Elise D’Haene introduced me to Anke’s Fit Bakery products. Hmmm. These cookies, cakes, brownies, bars, flatbreads and granolas are very popular indeed.

Not every Anke’s Fit product suits every taste. I’m crazy about the Cocoa Banana Granola. Well, actually, everyone may be in love with that one too. Elise’s faves are the Chocolate Oat Crunch Cookies and the Peanut Butter Bars. Our foody intern, Marissa Pollina, flipped for Anke’s Cranberry Almond Oat Cookies. [expand]

Who is this Anke and what sets her products apart?

Anke Cosich was born in Germany, where she learned to bake everything from scratch. Following a career as an hotel executive, Cosich became a personal trainer. She also pursued her love of baking by apprenticing in a gourmet pastry shop.

The next step on Cosich’s path, creating a line of products, was an extension of her training experiences. Many of her fitness clients were foodies too and they complained about the lack of delicious, healthy snacks and desserts on the market. Training and baking are of a piece for Cosich as she says, “I’ve always loved providing people with a happy, fulfilling experience.”

Cosich experimented with dozens of recipes and she continues to develop new products. She uses spelt and oat flour, maple syrup and agave in place of the traditional white flour and sugar. Cosich uses only healthy oils, mainly canola. She is very proud that her ingredient lists are short and that they contain only natural food products. She puts those lists up front and center on all of her products. Her treats deliver energy and flavor without any nonsense.

Cosich saw a spike in her online sales earlier this year when her products were featured in Marie Claire magazine. Lucky for us East End eaters, Anke’s Fit Bakery products are available locally at The Juicy Naam in East Hampton and Sag Harbor, LKL Farm Stand on Pantigo Road in East  Hampton, Springs General Store and at Vicki’s Veggies in Amagansett. Try them out.

To see all Anke’s products go online to www.ankesfitbakery.com. [/expand]