Today we’d like to introduce you to Lani Donnelly.
Hi Lani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Prior to COVID, I had spent over 7 years working in the hospitality industry as an event planner. Planning events was a profession that I really enjoyed, however, in the midst of COVID, I chose to switch gears and turn to another passion of mine: baking. Since I was little, I have always enjoyed baking for my loved ones. From making brownies for my mom in my Easy Bake oven as a child to making tiered birthday cakes for my friends in my twenties, I’ve always found baking to be a therapeutic hobby. This year (2022), I decided to turn my hobby into a business. Although I enjoy baking cakes, brownies, and pies, cookies are a passion of mine. I specialize in jumbo cookies (chocolate chip, peanut butter, rainbow sprinkle, etc.) and custom-decorated sugar cookies. I accept custom orders, and you can also see me at local events, such as farmers’ markets.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road for me. My biggest struggle with starting this business is to do the thing. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I had my doubts starting – “what if people don’t like my products?” or “what if I make a mistake?” or “what if I fail miserably and the business doesn’t turn out to be profitable?” It’s been challenging trying to stay out of my head because I am my biggest critic. I think keeping my mind on baking and connecting with others through my baked goods keeps me going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the head baker of Sugar & Sprinkle, LLC. I specialize in cookies and am most known for my jumbo chocolate chip cookies. When I say jumbo, I mean each cookie is at least 6 ounces. I also make jumbo cookies in other flavors such as peanut butter, chocolate chunk, pecan, and rainbow sprinkle. In addition to the jumbo cookies, I make custom-decorated sugar cookies. I’ve custom-decorated sugar cookies for all occasions: Chiefs-themed, baby shower/gender reveal parties, graduation parties, birthdays, and so on! I’ve been branching out a bit for farmer’s markets and have made other baked goods like scones and dog biscuits. What sets me apart from other home bakeries is my jumbo cookies’ sheer size and appearance. People compare my jumbo cookies to muffin tops, scones, and biscuits! They’re dome-like in appearance, with a crispy exterior and an ooey gooey, cake-like interior.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I know that my friends and family deserve credit for my home bakery. After all, they’re the original taste-testers and have given me much constructive criticism and praise. My biggest cheerleader and supporter has been my husband, Marc. He was the one who encouraged me to ditch the full-time, corporate job life and follow my dream to start a home bakery business. I keep telling him that he’s the Small Business Spouse of the Year because he will wake up early on Saturday mornings to help me at farmers’ markets and stay up late with me during the week to help me package cookies or clean up my messes in the kitchen. He does all of this in addition to his full-time job. I could go on and on about how amazing Marc has been throughout this experience. He is a true gem!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sugarandsprinkle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarandsprinklellc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SugarplusSprinkle/
