A cookie business started by an 11-year-old has now grown into one that serves well-known celebrities, artists, and musicians. 11-year-old Emily Henegar started by walking around her neighborhood, giving out free cookies along with her business cards. She had to stop after only one street because she already had 19 dozen cookies ordered! She began with classic cookies but soon realized her passion for decorating, and as her skills grew, so did her customers.
Emily came from a family of entrepreneurs who helped her as she got started – her sister designed a logo for her, while her mom helped her set up a WordPress blog. For privacy, she blogged under the pseudonym “Cookie.” The name stuck and inspired her bakery’s name – Cookie in the Kitchen.
She continued baking and selling cookies throughout middle school, high school, and even college, where she studied entrepreneurship and graphic design while baking cookies from her dorm room kitchenette. Since graduating 2 years ago, she has been baking and decorating cookies full time in Nashville, TN.
While she does not yet have a storefront, she still has the same dream as when she was little of having one. Emily wants to “open a bakery so I can bring joy to people through cookies, treats, and coffee in an atmosphere that invites creativity and thoughtfulness.”
Emily can inspire others to pursue their dreams as she pursued her dream of owning a bakery by majoring in entrepreneurship. One of her biggest takeaways from college was discovering that she also loved entrepreneurship in addition to baking. Emily’s touch for design and art is evident from her cute website to her intricate cookie decorations, and she combined her skills and interests in a cookie decorating business. She places quality over quantity, recognizing that it takes time to make beautiful cookies. Although she has hopes and plans for the future, she’s trusting in God’s timing and enjoying where He has placed her now!
Learn more about Emily at https://www.cookieinthekitchen.com/about!
This is a great post! It always amazes me how kids so young can start something so successful. Kids are so creative, and I think we can learn a lot from them when it comes to our own entrepreneurial ventures. It’s also crazy to me that she was doing this while in college, I can’t even imagine baking tons of orders of cookies from my dorm room! You wrote this post very well, it’s clear and concise, and I enjoyed reading it. Great job!
I love Emily’s story and her ability to continue to love what she is doing even after she has worked for years repeating the same routine over and over. I also love that she is working to create an innovative space for herself and others to develop their passions in ways they may never have before. She is really highlighting Johnson’s liquid network by creating places that encourage innovation.