Laura's Sweets & Treats
Baking is in my blood
Laura, 30, is the proud owner of Laura's Sweets & Treats , located in the quiet As. "Baking is in my blood!" Laura says enthusiastically. Her passion for baking started at a young age, strongly influenced by her grandmother. "I learned so much from her. We called each other when something went wrong, or she stood next to me in the kitchen to help me. Now that she is no longer here, her handwritten recipes are my greatest treasure. That way she is with me in my studio every day."
From hobby to full-time entrepreneur
Laura’s baking journey started as a hobby. “What started as baking for friends and family quickly grew into a serious business.” After a lot of positive feedback and word of mouth, she knew it was time to take it to the next level. “In 2020, I was still dreaming of baking full-time, and in 2021, I took the plunge. I’m pretty proud of that!”
A typical day in Laura's bakery
A day at Laura's Sweets & Treats always starts with a cup of coffee, followed by rolling cookie dough and baking her famous cookies. "Every cookie I make is a celebration of life," Laura says with a smile. She attaches great importance to the presentation of her creations. "The decorating and festive packaging is just as important to me as the baking itself."
Favorites and Challenges
Although Laura loves decorating cookies, there is one type of baked goods she prefers to avoid. "Macarons! Miserable, annoying cookies, haha!" However, she really enjoys making decorated Christmas cookies. "Christmas is the time for me when I get completely absorbed in the detailed icing. It's almost therapeutic."
An emotional memory
The most special assignment for Laura was making hand-decorated cookies for the funeral of her grandparents. "It was my way of dealing with the loss. I designed unique cookies, especially for the people I love the most." This year she also dedicated her entry for the Cake and Bake contest to her grandfather, which was a particularly emotional moment for her.
Inspiration and heroes
Laura draws her inspiration from many sources, but Renee Terry of Sweet Cheeks is her biggest inspiration. "To one day be able to make cookies that are half as beautiful as hers, that's my dream!" Despite her admiration for other bakers, Laura stays true to her own style. "I'm not really into trends in the baking world. I prefer to follow my own creativity and the customer's story."
Social media and customer connection
Social media plays an important role in Laura's business. "I try to create a cozy and loving atmosphere through Instagram and Facebook. I want people to feel the warmth and love that I put into my cookies." Her cookies are often shared by customers, which is the best compliment for Laura. "When my customers tell me how many compliments they get about my cookies, I know I'm doing something right."
Top three tips for aspiring bakers
Laura has valuable tips for bakers just starting out:
- Choose your core business. "You can't do everything well. Stand out with something that makes you unique."
- Do what you love. "You see and taste the difference when you bake with love."
- Dreaming dreams and chasing them. "Don't let fear hold you back. Follow your passion."
The power of good packaging
For Laura, the packaging of her cookies is at least as important as the cookies themselves. "Floralis always provides the most beautiful mini bouquets for my cookie gifts. And Studio Mie has designed unique stickers for my cookie tins. This gives my products a personal and luxurious look."
Unique requests and dreams for the future
One of the most unique requests Laura received was to make cookie tins for a funeral home. “I thought this was so special because it shows how cookies can really create a moment of warmth, togetherness and memories.” In the future, Laura hopes to grow her business and become a household name in the cookie world. “Making a living out of baking cookies, is there anything cooler?”
Want to learn more about Laura and her beautiful cookies? Visit her website www.laurassweetsandtreats.com or follow her on Instagram @laura.s_sweetsandtreats .