I eat cake because it’s somebody’s birthday.  ~Author Unknown

Katie Jones took a leap of faith in August 2019 when she posted a message on Facebook. She let her friends know she was ready to share her love of baking outside of her family-and-friends network and turn it into a business. That was the start of Cookies by Katie.

“A simple Facebook post started my journey,” Jones said. “Just asking friends to give me a chance and allow me to try different designs.”

Jones started with a basic sugar-cookie recipe, transforming it according to her tastes and feedback she received from customers. Some customers know exactly what they want her to design. Others are not as certain, so first Jones asks them for the event theme. From there, she draws cookie-design inspiration from Pinterest and other online pictures or from her own creative mind.

Keto creations

Like Jones, Lisa Pulido often treated relatives and friends to her delicious baked goods. Then, in the summer of 2018, a close friend asked if she could make keto (ketogenic) treats.

“At that time, I had no idea what keto baking consisted of,” Pulido said. “I did some research and I had many failed attempts until I finally nailed it.”  

The keto diet requires those on it to eat minimal carbohydrates. Sugar is also cut to a minimum because sugar turns into carbohydrates in the blood. Traditional keto involves a diet high in fat, while modified versions incorporate much less fat and focus on healthy fats. Drastically reducing carbohydrates causes the body to go into the metabolic state of ketosis, which results in the body burning fat rather than carbohydrates.

Before Pulido knew it, people who tried one of her keto creations would fall in love on the first bite. It’s no surprise, then, that Love at First Bite is the name of her company.

“My husband and my friends recommended that I put a menu together for the keto and diabetic communities,” Pulido said. “Often, people cannot believe they are all sugar free and low carb.”

Pulido uses Swerve in place of sugar and replaces white flour, which is highly processed, with almond and/or coconut flour, depending on the recipe.  

Like Jones, Pulido has tweaked all of the basic recipes for her baked goods. Because she is a keto baker, Pulido experiments extensively with every recipe after replacing the sugar and flour to make sure she does not sacrifice flavor. 

Home bakers have home-grown success

Also like Jones, Pulido is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Baking at home, she said, allows her to cultivate that spirit “without the constraints of a brick-and-mortar storefront” and with the added benefit of being home with her children. It is definitely still a business, and they do have to pay taxes on their earnings and abide by other business and safety rules.

While Jones specializes in baked, iced sugar cookies made into almost any imaginable design, Pulido bakes keto cookies, bread, cakes and cupcakes in a variety of flavors. She also makes chocolate-peanut-butter and chocolate-coconut-almond fat bombs.

For both Jones and Pulido, the most effective form of advertising is word of mouth from their highly satisfied customers. Both also have Facebook business pages. Through those business pages, Jones and Pulido are able to share pictures of their tasty creations.

“I’m excited to continue to grow and learn about my cookie art,” said Jones. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the support and opportunities I have had so far.”

When you love what you do, it comes through in your product.