Sweet success of grandmother’s chocolate chip cookie recipe behind Dessert Boutique

Nancy Anderson

Shopper News

The financial media website Investopedia reports cottage industries, particularly those related to food production, continue to experience vibrant growth since the COVID- 19 pandemic. This is due to a surge in demand for locally sourced products. With low start-up costs and flexible schedules, turning a hobby into money is attractive.

A fast-growing niche is home cooking and baking. Stephanie Culp of Karns loves baking and said she has warm memories of doing so with her mother and grandmother.

Culp started the Dessert Boutique in Karns in November, and she’s been busy since posting her first offerings on Facebook.

She’s not the first in her family to start a cottage business. Her husband started Shortstop BBQ as a side business to his regular job. She added chocolate chip cookies to his menu, and soon people were interested in getting their hands on a dozen or more of them at a time.

When asked about her claim to fame, Stephanie said, “It’s hard to pin down, but if I had to pick two; I’d say one is GiGi’s chocolate chip cookies, named after my granddaughter. My kids always asked for those cookies for school or special occasions, so I started with them because they were tried and true. The other is Tennessee apple cake, which is my nod to the Vols. It’s an apple Bundt cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

“I love the scheduling of doing my own thing. The only thing is I don’t have time to test new recipes, but I guess that’s what sets me apart. My goodies are the kind you see in your grandmother’s recipe box. I’m really interested in the stories behind the recipes, and I’m a big fan of vintage Betty Crocker cookbooks.”

Stephanie Culp

Dessert Boutique

“Apples remind me of Tennessee. Apples have a rich Appalachian food history. You can do so many things with them. I just wanted to pay a little tribute to good old Rocky Top.

“Who doesn’t love cookies and cakes like your mother or grandmother makes? It’s fun. Soon after the cookies took off, I added cupcakes, pound cakes and cinnamon rolls. The cinnamon rolls are very popular right now, too.”

Culp believes in giving back. She recently participated in a fundraiser for a student at Karns High School battling cancer.

“I did cinnamon rolls and gave $5 per box sold to the family. It was a huge success. It was very special to participate in this because I’m a breast cancer survivor and I know firsthand noncovered expenses add up quickly.

“I don’t even know how many cinnamon rolls I made from Dec. 1 to Christmas!”

Culp has a part-time job in addition to her thriving cottage bakery, but she has big plans for the future that don’t include a brick-and-mortar storefront.

Culp is already gearing up for Valentine’s Day and offering red velvet treats.

Info: Find the Dessert Boutique on Facebook or visit www.thedessertboutique. com.