23 Jun Sweet Success: Terra Dulce Brings Chilean Flavors to Peekskill

By Joshua Anderson for the Peekskill Business Improvement District

At Terra Dulce Bakery, beautiful pastries perfectly line the see-through glass shelves, a TV displays photos of wonderfully baked and designed creations, and, at the counter, you’re greeted with a smile.

Terra Dulce is a family-run Chilean bakery on 1049 Main Street, Peekskill, NY specializing in traditional Chilean pastries, well-crafted and personalized cakes as well as delicious sandwiches. Terra Dulce has cultivated a loyal customer base consisting of regular customers, mainly from the surrounding area. The bakery stays busy everyday, but is especially busy on weekends.

The bakery offers a selection of coffee as well, like cappuccinos, espresso shots or lattes. “For the Chilean coffee, the ground beans we bring from Chile and then we steam the milk,” Tania Lassinbatt said, as she explained what makes Chilean coffee different than a regular cup. She is one of the only staff members that isn’t family.

Since taking over Los Andes Bakery three years ago, the Munoz family has transformed the bakery. Now under the ownership of Jessica Pulgar and Santiago Munoz, it was rebranded as Terra Dulce, or “Sweet Earth,” a nod to the family’s roots and their signature dulce de leche.

“Our goal was to bring authentic Chilean flavors to the area, and it really resonated with our customers,” says Maury Munoz, their son, who also works at the bakery.

Some of the most popular options include the Churrasco sandwich, which comes with Philly steak, cheese, avocado, tomato and mayo. There is also the mini Alfajores Chilenos, a traditional Chilean dessert. This pastry is made with two crunchy cookie wafers that are sandwiched together with a copious amount of dulce de leche which makes for a mouthwatering sweet treat.
What sets these pastries apart is the process that goes into making them. For many of the pastries, the dough is painstakingly prepared over the course of two to three days, and most of the ingredients, like the famous dulce de leche, are imported directly from Chile.

“First, they prepare the dough, cook it, and let it rest for a day. The next day we can start working with it, because we can’t handle it when it’s hot, as the dulce de leche could spoil if it’s worked on a hot cookie,” Munoz said.

The Berliners are a sweet fried dough topped with powdered sugar and require precise timing and temperature control. The dough must be formed quickly to ensure it rises properly, added to the proofing oven to allow it to rise even further and then quickly fried.

“We take our time with these recipes,” Munoz explains. “It’s a labor of love, and the result speaks for itself.”

The bakery prioritizes its core philosophy: customer satisfaction. The family aims to preserve their close-knit structure, keeping the business within the family.

The bakery, while serving Peekskill, attracts customers from all over who come to enjoy their food. Santiago and Jessica designed a menu that showcases their commitment to quality and authenticity, with the entire family focused on providing an exceptional experience of traditional, delicious food.

“We really care about our customers,” Munoz said. “It’s not just about the food; it’s about creating a welcoming environment for everyone.”

Itsa Aravena, Mauri’s sister, has played a vital role in rebranding the business, shifting its operational model and managing their social media accounts. Santiago Munoz handles the business side of things, constantly on the move, whether at the bakery or picking up supplies. Additionally, there are two other family members involved, along with an employee not related to the family.

The bakery is well known for its intricate designs on cakes that can be ordered and made within a day. “We design mostly on the weekends, but every day we get asked for cakes. It’s one of the things that makes us different from everyone else, because people don’t make the cakes like we do,” Lassinbatt said.

Terra Dulce has become a staple in the Peekskill community, providing amazing pastries, sandwiches, coffee and courteous service. They are located right around the corner form the new location of the Peekskill Flea Market, so if you’re shopping for your next treasure, stop by.

The bakery is preparing for an exciting expansion with outdoor seating. They are currently awaiting permit approval and are hopeful that soon guests will enjoy the pleasant weather while savoring their sweet treats outdoors.

One thing Terra Dulce looks forward to every year is the celebration of Chilean Independence Day, every September 18, where they offer even more traditional dishes and pastries to mark the occasion.

Terra Dulce Bakery is open 8am-3pm on Sunday, 8am-6pm Saturdays, and weekdays 6am-7pm. You can reach them at (914) 737-7707 or their email TerraDulceBakery@gmail.com and their Instagram is @TerraDulceBakery. You can preorder online through clover.com.

If you are a downtown business and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com.

(C) 2024 Peekskill Business Improvement District. Photos by Joshua Anderson. Edited by Bill Powers. 
If you are a downtown destination business, and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com.