Empty Nest Bake Shop

🍂🎃 Holiday season is almost here! 🦃🎄✨

And if you know me, you know that means LOTS of cookies are coming! 🤍

First up… HALLOWEEN! 👻
My Bag of Boos are always a huge hit, and YES — they’ll be back this year! I’ll be sharing Halloween pre-orders as soon as I have the samples decorated.

Then before we know it, it’ll be Thanksgiving 🦃 followed by the busiest (and sweetest!) season of all… CHRISTMAS! 🎄🍪

I’ll be offering special holiday pre-orders along the way, but if you’re thinking about custom cookies for a party, hostess gift, corporate gifting, family gathering or holiday celebration, now is the time to get on my calendar.

Holiday dates fill quickly, so ordering early is always a good idea! 🤍

Stay tuned… the holiday cookie fun is about to begin! 🎃🦃🎄

❤️Barb

🎣 A little fisherman is on the way! 💙

This baby shower theme was such a fun one to create! Fishing poles, bobbers, little blue fish and a few personalized touches for Baby R made this set come together perfectly.

And Baby R is officially “o-fish-ally” arriving soon! 🐟🎣

Some designs are hand decorated and others are created with my edible printer—I love mixing the two to bring a theme together.

Every order, every creation, every cookie is baked and decorated with love. 🤍

The sweetest little hunny is on the way. 🍯💙
I loved bringing this classic Pooh baby shower set to life—from tiny honey pots and rattles to some of my favorite Pooh sayings.
Because the sweetest celebrations deserve cookies made with a little extra love. 🤍

When the celebration calls for fashion… you make the cookies match. 🇮🇹✨

Mia earned her Master’s in Fashion Design and even spent time interning in Florence, Italy — so this set had to bring together a little fashion, a little Firenze, and a whole lot of celebration.

From the hand-piped dresses to the Italian flag and vintage-inspired printed details, I loved getting to create something completely different for this one.

Congratulations, Mia! What an exciting accomplishment and adventure ahead. 🤍

And now I have to know…
Which would you choose — the black & white dress or the cream dress? 👗

Candice Gundersen

And here’s what all that flour, dough, cutting and icing turned into… 🤍🍪

A sweet baby boy set with soft sage, a touch of blue, vintage trucks and just the right amount of western charm.

“Just a truck load of love arriving soon.” 🛻💙

I loved bringing all of these little details together, and it feels SO good to be back in the kitchen doing what I love.

Which cookie is your favorite? 👀

🍎✏️ Wishing all the students, teachers, school staff, and parents an amazing school year! 📚❤️

A new school year brings fresh notebooks, new friendships, exciting milestones, and endless opportunities to learn and grow.

To every student beginning a new adventure…
To every teacher preparing a classroom…
To every school staff member helping make it all happen…
And to every parent sending their little (or not-so-little!) one off…

I hope this year is filled with kindness, confidence, laughter, and lots of success.

Thank you to all of the incredible educators who pour their hearts into our children every single day. ❤️

Here’s to a wonderful school year!

🍎📚✏️

P.S. These are a few of my favorite school-themed cookies I made from past years.

Growth isn’t always obvious when you’re living it… 🤍

I was scrolling through old photos and came across a baby shower set I made in January 2023.

Then I looked at this one from January 2026.

Same baker.
Same love for creating.

Just three years of learning, practicing, experimenting, making mistakes, celebrating little victories, and decorating thousands of cookies.

When I look back, I don’t see “perfect” or “imperfect.”

I see progress.

I’m incredibly thankful for every client who has trusted me with your birthdays, baby showers, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and all of life’s sweetest celebrations. Because of you, I’ve been able to keep growing while doing something I truly love.

As I get ready to head back into the kitchen on August 10, I’m feeling especially grateful for this journey—and excited for all the sweet celebrations still to come.

Thank you for being here. 🤍🍪

Such a fun set for this beautiful, newly 17 year old!
I love when my customers share pics with my cookies!
Happy Birthday Sweet Ella!