Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Heckenliable.
Hi Caitlin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My baking story began with cookies and a little bit of loss of self. Let me elaborate on that a little bit.
The first time I decorated sugar cookies with royal icing was in 2016 for my older sister’s baby shower. I had the idea of trying something different rather than our usual “thank you” gifts of candy or Bath and Body Works hand soap. I remembered seeing decorated sugar cookies somewhere, maybe it was at another party or in a magazine in the grocery store checkout lane. There was no better time in my mind to try something brand new. I just couldn’t resist the idea of letting my creative juices flow while also baking and eating cookies.
When the baby shower finally came around and my cookies made their first “public” appearance, I had such a positive response from my family and friends. After that day, my amazing family and friends started to ask me for cookies and desserts for their special events. Word was slowly spreading among their colleagues of my edible creations, and I started to get requests from friends of friends.
So now that we’ve talked cookies and now, you’re probably wondering where the “loss of self” comes in. Just bear with me. During this time, I was working at a physical therapy clinic and when I wasn’t working, I was home taking care of my infant, Ian. We had the help of family to watch Ian while I worked part-time, but soon those arrangements had to come to an end. My husband, Taylor, and I had a decision to make with the money I was currently bringing home, we could either use the majority of my paycheck to pay for childcare, or I could quit my clinic job and stay home to raise Ian. The answer was an easy one for me, I was now a stay-at-home mom.
I’m not sure if you have heard, but being a stay-at-home parent is a tough task. I don’t necessarily mean in the way of changing diapers and wiping up baby drool constantly, but more in the mental state of it all. I had my husband every evening and I had my family and friends who would stop by here and there, but most of the day, it was just me and Ian. And that can get lonely. For me, I was always in mom mode.
Occasionally, I got to be in wife mode and have a date night with Taylor. But I wasn’t doing things for myself anymore. I felt like I was losing my spark. But then, my sister got pregnant, and she needed her baby shower, which in turn led to my baking journey. With each cookie or cake request, seeing the excitement people had from something that I created with my own hands, I was slowly finding myself again. It wasn’t just “mom” or “wife” anymore, I had discovered something pure “Caitlin”.
As the years passed, we had another baby: Owen. So now with everyday life, I was juggling a toddler, a newborn, and a growing hobby. We were making it work. I loved being able to raise my kids, bring in a little income, and keep my creativity going. It also didn’t hurt to always have some sort of dessert in our house. As time continued, my boys grew and so did my hobby. At this point, I couldn’t call it a hobby anymore. I had a constant influx of regulars and new clients wanting desserts for their special occasions. It was time to take this to the next level, and One Heck of a Treat was established. I took the steps and registered as a small business. I was no longer just a stay-at-home mom, but I also got to add the title of entrepreneur/small business owner.
The more orders I took, I discovered my true love was in decorated sugar cookies, though I didn’t mind the occasional cake, cupcake, or dessert order. Cookies and royal icing are my mediums of choice. They are also the reason I got to have one of the coolest and most stressful experiences in my life: competing in Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. Never in a million years did I imagine that I would be picked out of the hundreds of cookiers out there for this amazing experience. I was flown to Knoxville, Tennessee, and raced against the clock and 4 other amazing bakers for the chance to win $10,000. Spoiler alert: I didn’t win. (Christmas Cookie Challenge, Season 5, Episode “Christmas Cookie Games”).
Since then, my husband and family have helped me to build a full kitchen in my home’s basement strictly for my business, along with a “cookie room” for all my decorating needs. I got said kitchen inspected and am fully licensed as a cottage home bakery. Along with my clients’ custom orders, I’ve been teaching private cookie decorating classes (and am expanding to online classes!) and participating in local farmers’ markets and events.
As I’ve continued on my journey, I look back on the first set of cookies that I ever created and I’m proud of the progress and happiness I have found. I can’t wait to see what the coming years have in store.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No road is perfectly smooth, and this one was no different. I was a self-taught cookie decorator and baker entering the unknown world of entrepreneurship. I was (and still am) juggling my family, home life, social life, and business.
One of my biggest obstacles has been setting boundaries and not overworking myself. I know there is a time commitment when you start a small business, but it should never come at the cost of your self-care or your family time. I’ve always had trouble saying “no” to a last-minute order or even when I’m at my max for what I can handle for the week. I’ve been so stressed to the point where I’ve pulled all-nighters, sacrificed time with the family, and have even forgotten to eat meals. Over the last year, I’ve been doing better at setting boundaries for myself, not letting my work schedule overflow, and asking for help when I need it.
Decorated cookies and desserts are also a luxury item. They come at a cost due to the time and the work that goes into creating them. I’ve gone through my fair share of people who have complained that my pricing is too high for “just cookies”. I’m extremely lucky that I have found my clientele, who is continuing to grow, and who appreciates me and the love that I have for my craft.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about One Heck of a Treat?
One Heck of Treat specializes in decorated sugar cookies, along with other desserts, such as gourmet cookies, macarons, and chocolate-dipped treats. I also take the occasional cake and cupcake order.
I am located in West Valley City and operate out of my fully licensed and inspected cottage home bakery. I also teach private cookie decorating classes (which I like to call “Cookie Parties”). For these, I will travel to your home or venue, and as long as you provide the space with tables and chairs, I’ll bring everything else and teach you step-by-step how to decorate 5-6 themed cookies of your own for you to take after the class is over. No experience is needed at all!
My decorated sugar cookies are what I’m best known for! Customized to your event, I can create cookies that embody your occasion. Matching colors or bringing images to life through icing, I will create something that will help to make your event much more memorable.
At markets and events, I usually have multiple flavors of sugar cookies available to try outside of my most popular flavor, Butter Vanilla. I’m talking Cinnamon Swirl Pecan (my Food Network Competition flavor!), Mango Tajin, Banana Bread, Vanilla Red Hot and so many more.
I love to create little works of edible art that will bring that special touch to any event. No matter how big or little the occasion is, I’m so happy to create a little something that will bring not only a smile to your face but also your stomach.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I feel like success can be portrayed in different ways. How I feel successful when I see the joy of my client when they receive their dessert order. Or when my family and friends brag about my business to others.
But I also feel that success is something you feel when you are happy with where you are and what you are contributing to yourself and the world. Knowing that there is always room to grow and mistakes to be made, you are proud of where you are and excited about what is to come.
Pricing:
- Custom-decorated cookies start at $75/per dozen
- Macarons start at $30/dozen
- Chocolate-dipped treats start at $30/dozen
- Cookie Parties start at $60/person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oneheckofatreat.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneheckofatreat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneheckofatreat
Image Credits
Shannon Volmar and Kate Moore
