Crave Oxford Creates Unique Dessert Experience

By Olivia Johnston and Anna Grace Green
HottyToddy.com interns

Oxford’s newest bakery, Crave—located in the new retail development at 800 College Hill Rd.—that opened in June is creating a dessert experience unlike any other in Oxford.

One specific treat that has become the talk of the town is the skillet cookie. The homemade, chocolate chip-stuffed cookie comes with two scoops of ice cream with chocolate and caramel sauce perfectly drizzled on top.

Crave offers a variety of skillet cookies, including M&M’s and Reese’s. Photo via Instagram.

Tupelo residents Tiffany and Brad Franks first opened a weekend-only dessert café in their hometown of Tupelo in November of 2015. After seeing the success of opening early and serving breakfast and coffee throughout the day, the Franks decided to apply the same principle in Oxford.

“My husband and I are heavily involved in the Tupelo community,” Tiffany said. “We love Oxford so we wanted to give back by bringing our café to a familiar place.”

Crave customer Caroline Hicks said the atmosphere is lighthearted and fun.

“There are some people studying, there are some people on dates…it’s definitely a very fun place to come and hang out,” she said. 

The Oreo Avalanche is a popular Crave menu item, the owners said. Photo via Instagram.

Crave’s menu extends well beyond the skillet cookies. Two other popular items on the menu are the Oreo Avalanche and the S’mores pie. The Oreo Avalanche is a hot fudge brownie that includes two scoops of ice cream, whip cream and chocolate. The S’mores pie is a fudge pie with a graham cracker crust, marshmallow cream on top, and ice cream.

Different treats are available for different times of the day. In the morning, Crave provides early risers with morning pastries, cinnamon rolls, muffins, sausage rolls, and scones. Midday, Crave offers the chocolate gooey bar that complements well with their most popular coffee, the Barbie. 

Justin Davis, Crave employee, says the restaurant is busiest on the weekends when Crave is open until 11 p.m. 

“Crave is a great positive environment and that’s something the owners want to create here,” he said. “Crave has just given Oxford this loving place where people feel cared for when they come here.”

Crave is open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.