Local Bakers Do Business In Paradise

LA QUINTA BAKERS DO BUSINESS IN PARADISE AT Home Sweet Home The opportunity to live and work in this beautiful community is a treat no matter what business you’re in, but it’s especially sweet for these home-based bakers. The State of California’s Cottage Food Business License allows for preparation and packaging of certain foods in a private home-kitchen, which helped these women make their dream of opening a baked goods business at home a reality.

Dot’s Cakes

Dot Jones has been creative and crafty all her life. She was an interior designer before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She began watching a lot of cake shows, which inspired her to jump back into that creative world – starting with her daughter’s first birthday cake. Dot is a 100% self-taught cake designer and baker who has never taken any classes.

“I felt opening my business at home was the only way I could continue being a fulltime mom,” explained Jones. “Currently, I’m going into my ninth year, and I must say it has been successful.”

Jones has made cakes for a Toyota dealership, Coachella festival-goers, and even pop singer, Billie Eilish. She has created over 4,000 custom cakes since she began.

“While I’ve had to turn down Food Network competition opportunities because I am so busy with orders and traveling to cheer competitions with my girls, I am extremely grateful and blessed to have ongoing clients and new clients who order year-round,” Jones added.

New customers often find Dot on Yelp or Google, although she does have Instagram and Facebook pages to showcase her work. “I love what I do and making my clients tremendously happy with my creations. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and pleasure knowing I was a part of their celebration,” said Jones.

More info: Go to Google and Search Dot’s Cakes

SweetPops By Armida

Armida Harmon – who started SweetPops by Armida in 2011 – was born and raised in the Coachella Valley, and currently resides in the La Quinta Cove.

“It all began through a phone call with my bestie,” said Harmon. “After brainstorming ideas for our daughters’ birthdays, she suggested I watch a 10-minute video on how to make ‘cake pops.’ Cake pops are hand-rolled sculpted cake in various shapes that are then dipped in chocolate and most often served on a stick.”

While the video provided the basic instruction that she needed to learn about cake pops, she made some tweaks when creating a batch for her daughter’s birthday and they were a big hit. Then, Harmon’s husband thought it would be great to make some for his clients and the business took off from there.

“Word of mouth and social media has made my business what it is today,” added Harmon. “The best part was being able to stay home with my daughter as she grew into adulthood, and now I get to spend this time with my two grandkids – who are my biggest fans.”

Harmon feels fortunate for all the success she’s experienced, making cake pops for celebrities, musical artists and even one of the biggest tech companies in the world. She also credits the business for connecting her with some of her closest friends after first being introduced to them as clients.

More info: Search for the SweetPops By Armida page on Facebook

The Kookee Batch

Former fashion designer Gracie von Kriegenbergh decided to start a cookie company in late 2019 after moving to La Quinta from Los Angeles. To keep an income stream while she started learning about the baking industry, she took on freelance design jobs.

“I thought, ‘if I can build a clothing brand, I can build a cookie brand,’” said Kriegenbergh. “And The Kookee Batch was born.”

Now she’s baking fresh, gourmet craft cookies that are sold in a few retail locations like Cali Rosina Tea & Chocolate in La Quinta, and she also does pop-up events.

Browsing her Instagram page is a cookie lover’s dream. Her menu is filled with creative cookie flavors like La La Lemon (based on a lemon tart), Birthday Cake, Papi Churro, Double Dutch Buttah Cup (based on a Reese’s peanut butter cup) and Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip with Nutella Filling. Kriegenbergh has a selection of Vegan cookies, as well, and can also accept orders to do “gender reveal” cookies.

“I love desserts, so I started to create cookies based off of my favorite desserts and ice cream,” explained Kriegenbergh, when asked about how she comes up with the inspiration for her flavors. “I like to blend flavors that work well together. I also get nostalgic by recreating cookies I had in my younger years that remind me of family. This has been an unexpected cookie ride that I’ve been on, and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve been getting from my community.”

More info: TheKookeeBatch.GetMinimart.com