By Danielle Smith
Leader Staff Writer

Just in time for the holidays, something magical has come to Oxford in the form of sweet treats and sugary goodness.
Monday morning The Magic Brownie Box opened its doors welcoming eager residents inside the newly remodeled space at 40 N. Washington St., which was formerly You, Me and Bubble Tea.
Paul and Heather Lepping are Oxford residents who have baked for friends for years. Once they saw the space was available, they decided to jump at the opportunity to give their bakery a storefront.
“Since Sweet and Savory closed (the bakery which used to be at 9 S. Washington St.), Oxford really had a need for baked goods,” Heather said. “We loved Sweet and Savory and the (other) bakers in town seem to be overbooked, so it was the perfect opportunity. We saw a chance to open right in the location that would be perfect for us and we went for it.”
The Leppings received the keys to their new space on Nov. 1, giving them exactly one month to transform the once brightly colored building into a fully functioning bakery with a French patisserie look.
Once inside, guests will notice crisp black and white designs with pops of red, similar to their logo, while taking in the scent of the sweet treats baking in the back.
As for their menu, the brownie is their signature item. “It’s magic because it does a special thing when you eat it. For the kids, there are Pop Rocks on the top of the magic brownies, so they get a bite and they don’t expect it…it’s really fascinating to the little kids,” she said.
Aside from the bakery’s namesake, customers have a variety of treats to choose from ranging from fudge, cookies, bonbons, cakes, chocolate covered pretzels and another signature item — chocolate shells.
“The chocolate shells are a bowl made out of chocolate and it is dipped in whatever flavoring we are using for that bowl,” Heather said. “(For example), Lime In The Coconut is a chocolate shell with toasted coconut on the outside of it.” Inside each shell is a flavored mousse to correspond with the shell.
The chocolate shells are offered in four signature flavors: Lime In The Coconut, Strawberry Shortcake, German Chocolate and Creamsicle. “They are presented like snow domes — they’re really beautiful,” she said.
The bakery isn’t the only place these treats can be found. Heather and Paul are currently in discussion with M.C. Wiches and 5-1 Diner to help with dessert catering.
While the Leppings are excited to serve their homemade goods to the community and beyond, Heather and Paul have bigger plans for the bakery.
“We offer childrens classes. Those are going to be offered four times throughout December,” Heather said. “That two-hour block is going to give moms time for their last-minute Christmas shopping and maybe dinner with dad. We are offering (the classes) at different times for different conveniences.”
During the class, children will become bakers and make gingerbread men and decorate them. There will also be a craft and a story read by Mrs. Claus. To register for one of the classes, those interested can do so by visiting signupgenius.com and searching for the bakery’s email address, themagicbrowniebox@hotmail.com.
“We really need that. We need a spot for kids to get creative and for parents to just say, ‘Buh-bye, get creative, have fun, see you in two hours,’ and then come and pick up their smiling kids,” she said.
Those with a sweet tooth have more than one option when it comes to getting their fix.
Customers can order online via their website, themagicbrowniebox.com or by phone, 248- 800-4101. The Magic Brownie Box also delivers, which will greatly benefit the community once construction starts along M-24 in March.
“We are going to fight the traffic for them,” Paul said.
The bakery is open Monday through Thursday from 12 to 6 p.m., Fridays from 12 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment only.
“We didn’t want to compete with the seven other places who offer breakfast within a mile and a half,” Heather said with a laugh. “We want to satisfy a sweet tooth midday. We’ve got your dessert, we’ve got your snack attack, we’ve got the after school crowd,” she said. “This gives me the morning to bake fresh bread, fresh croissants, fresh cookies for the afternoon and evening crowds.”