Sugar Apple Baking Company

We believe that women and underrepresented folx businesses are the way of the future! The Dove Song Award is meant to celebrate local business leaders who exemplify connection, collaboration, and community.

For the inaugural event, DOVETAIL is excited to honor a local, woman-owned business, Sugar Apple Baking Company!

Sugar Apple Baking Company is a boutique cottage industry bakery that started as an idea between friends March of 2022. Sugar Apple specializes in unique pastries and treats with a rotating and always changing menu. Collaborating with local businesses for pop ups, events, and brand collaboration allows the bakery to stay connected to the community. Focus on flavor and technique allow them to curate menus based on theme, events and personal narratives.

Dani Reynolds is a Fayetteville native by way of the caribbean. Born in the old Washington Regional Hospital she was raised on the small island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but spent summers with her family traveling internationally and visiting family in Northwest Arkansas. Dani moved back to what feels like her second hometown to pursue a degree in Food Science with a concentration in Dietetics. She later received a Masters in Teaching Science from the University of Arkansas. Dani is from a family of bakers and hospitality workers and food, its meanings, culture and flavors have always been a large part of her life.

Blanca Maldonado moved here from Elizabeth, New Jersey, in pursuit of a degree in International Business. Blanca is a serial entrepreneur and lover of music, food and living everyday to its fullest. Like many NorthWest Arkansas transplants, Blanca fell in love with the ease of raising a family and the community that NorthWest Arkansas represents. As a mom, friend, wife, and adventurer Blanca strives to be her authentic self and never stops learning.

We encourage you to connect with them on Instagram: @SugarAppleBakingCo, their website: https://sugarapplebakingco.square.site/ and Facebook: @SugarAppleBakingCo

We got to ask the duo behind Sugar Apple Baking Company a few questions, see below for their responses…

Why did you start Sugar Apple Baking Co?

We started Sugar Apple Baking Co to create a culinary experience in NWA. We love pushing the limits on flavor profiles, and our goal is to create a unique and memorable experience for our customers and wholesale partners.

What was the most exciting thing about starting your own business?

The relationships we form with customers have been some of the best moments. Many of our items are seasonal because we're a pop-up, and we love that customers reach out asking us when they can try a cookie for a pastry again. The trust that our customers feel when buying an item or flavor combination that they have never had before, is one of the most exciting moments, that willingness to try out hard work and creativity is always amazing. 

What is the most challenging thing about starting a business?

Being patient in the beginning when it's just your friends and family who may be the only ones supporting you, we like to say "the money will come" when there's a moment of self-doubt as business owners. The less glamorous parts like accounting, especially if you don't have an accounting background can be the most challenging, our advice would be to figure out how you will accomplish the less glamorous, but necessary parts of the business. 

If you could give one piece of advice to other people, business or general life, what would it be? 

There's a lot of social media pressure to "start the business", to "go big or go home", behind that are a lot of starts and stops that people won't show you. You know yourself best, you know what your skills are, and there's nothing wrong with testing the waters, figuring out what you like in business, then taking that leap, or the small jump. Brene Brown has a quote that says" If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback." surround yourself with people who will aid you in your journey, and will still believe in you even if the first try doesn't work.

What is your favorite activity or thing to do in NWA?

Blanca can be found mountain biking, networking, and being a social butterfly! Dani can be found in her house in the country baking, and writing. 

Future goals or exciting news?

This year we're focused on building partnerships with retail locations that are looking to carry puff pastries and our unique cookies! We're also in an 8-week mentorship program with Cureate and can't wait to see what we learn. We're looking forward to our 1 year business anniversary, and making our second year in business even bigger and better than our first.

We hope you’ll get a chance to try their sweet treats and support this amazing business by two fantastic women!