I wish I were better at resisting temptation, but man, do I love a sweet treat with my coffee. And especially given all the coffee shops selling stale or over-sugared, trucked-in baked goods — or none at all — I REALLY love a handmade, freshly baked sweet treat with my coffee.

Alchemy Coffee, 1901 Massachusetts St., has added an in-house kitchen to offer just that, and the establishment now calls itself Alchemy Coffee and Bake House. In-house baker Joni Alexander whips up treats daily in the cutesy little kitchen (lavender wall, shiny red mixer, retro mixing bowls and everything) at the east end of the shop.

This week I tried the triple-chocolate sea salt cookies — big, soft, laden with chocolate chunks and generously sized flakes of sea salt — and strawberry peach muffins — also big, soft, with sweet crumbly tops and hunks of fruit, all nestled in brown paper. Other offerings include cakes, pies and more muffins, including a blueberry doughnut muffin complete with glaze.

Alexander, a Kansas University graduate who traveled the world while working as a professional model, got into cooking and baking as a hobby.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s so calming, and I love feeding people.” She said she tries to keep things simple — ideally five ingredients or less — yet fully commit to the flavor at hand. For example, that decadent chocolate sea salt cookie. “If I’m going to do a triple-chocolate sea salt cookie … it’s going to be in your face,” she said.

Alexander started working with Alchemy owner Benjamin Farmer last fall. He had been selling cookies and granola bars made in Kansas City but brought in Alexander’s goods (then baked off-site), which were a hit. The kitchen was completed two weeks ago, he said.
Alchemy is known for its cold-brew, sold in bottles and even on draft at several other places around town. Farmer and Alexander said they hope some of Alchemy’s baked goods soon will follow suit.

Tips welcome!

Try something unusual or know of something interesting going on at a Lawrence restaurant? Send me an email at sshepherd@ljworld.com or contact me on Twitter @saramarieshep. For more local food and restaurant news, click here.