the voices of britney + brooke of the dessert stand

— q + a —

In a season where stress may accompany joy and gatherings, making room for the sweeter things in life is of the utmost importance. While some find making holiday desserts meditative, others would rather leave the prep work to the pros. That’s where Britney and Brooke of The Dessert Stand step in for holiday hosts. With over ten years in the baking business, Britney and Brooke are consistently impressing their clients by pulling inspiration from their customers’ bespoke requests.

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    How did you find your calling in desserts?
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    Both of us worked in the graphic design field when the recession hit in 2010. That industry came to a halt due to the economic impact on small businesses, so we were looking for something to do on the side. Having grown up with amazing grandmothers and a mom who taught us how to bake, opening a baking business felt like the most natural thing to start for us.
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    What does your day look like from start to finish? How do you maintain a work-life balance?
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    Typically, we start our day around 4:00 a.m. with production planning and beginning the baking shift with a few other employees. By noon, we’re leaving the bakery to start checking emails and doing administrative work for The Dessert Stand. Since we both have young families, we try to work in between our kids’ schedules as well. Generally, we both end up working into the evenings with production planning for the next day or event/wedding setups.

    Honestly, when you’re in a hospitality-based business, there’s not much work-life balance. We love being a part of people’s special moments and celebrations, but that does mean sacrificing almost every weekend and holiday to help others have sweet treats for their celebrations.

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    To what do you attribute your success?
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    We really attribute our success to our innovation and ability to creatively figure out how to keep our audience coming back. After over a decade of desserts, we’re known for making quality baked goods at reasonable prices. We are constantly thinking of new items to offer or new ways to utilize current products and keep things interesting.
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    What does your at-home pantry contain?
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    Oddly enough, our pantries don’t contain a lot of bakery items! Neither of us tend to bake much at home unless we do so with our kids.
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    In what ways do you feel that a beautifully crafted dessert contributes to the happiness in a home?
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    When something is both beautiful and delicious, it becomes the centerpiece of the party. People love comfort food, and nothing is more comforting than a good dessert.
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    “We really attribute our success to our innovation and ability to creatively figure out how to keep our audience coming back.”
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    Your desserts are works of art. What types of desserts would you recommend as a centerpiece for at-home gatherings and why?
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    Cakes are always an amazing centerpiece. With so many styles, looks and ways to customize, they can really bring a party together. Also — who doesn’t love a good assortment of cookies or brownies? Our party trays are one of our biggest sellers and a nice way to offer guests variety at a great price.
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    What products would you recommend for the at-home baker, from the beginner to the seasoned pro?
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    Quality baking pans are always a must. They don’t need to be overly expensive; we use a lot of Wilton products. Putting parchment paper on the bottom of the pans before baking cakes or cookies also helps with getting them out of the pan after cooling. After all the hard work of baking a cake or cookies, the last thing you want is for them to stick.
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    Do you have any recommendations for podcasts, books or magazines to inspire creativity?
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    We use Pinterest for a lot of creative inspiration, or Instagram from fellow bakeries. Anything Martha Stewart is usually fabulous as well. In most cases, our customers really inspire us with their ideas for their celebrations.

    To create a little more ease during the holidays while supporting local businesses, request a custom creation from The Dessert Stand by visiting their website.

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