Ten Years of Dani’s Kitchen Shop: From Teaching Kitchen Dream to Cookie Artist of the Gorge
- Dani Annala
- May 9
- 2 min read
When I started Dani’s Kitchen Shop ten years ago, I had one dream: to create a teaching kitchen. I envisioned a space filled with warmth, creativity, and connection—a place where people could learn, bake, and grow together.
Back then, I had no idea that sugar cookies would change the course of my journey.
The Cookie Chapter Begins
Seven years ago, I picked up a piping bag and tried my hand at cookie decorating. What began as a creative experiment quickly turned into something much bigger. People started noticing the detail, the care, and the heart in every cookie. Orders started rolling in—and I said yes to nearly all of them.
I was determined to become the go-to cookie artist of the Gorge. To me, that meant being someone people could trust—someone who would take their ideas and turn them into edible art. It also meant learning how to run a business focused on high-volume, custom production while maintaining quality and creativity.
Systems That Support the Yes
Saying yes to nearly every order wasn’t just about hustle—it was about building the right systems. Today, I decorate around 600 cookies a week on average, often one or two weeks a month much heavier than others . I’ve streamlined production, trained my team, and created a workflow that allows me to deliver at scale.
But with growth comes limits. I’ve reached my physical capacity—and I’ve also reached a turning point.
A New Season: Creativity, Teaching, and Impact
Custom cookie work still brings me joy. It challenges me creatively, stretches my thinking, and keeps me inspired. But I’m also feeling the pull to return to the original dream that sparked Dani’s Kitchen Shop in the first place: teaching.
Now, I’m expanding into a new chapter—helping others rise.
That means:
Teaching home bakers the skills I’ve honed over years of cookie decorating and experimenting with food
Guiding small business owners to define and share their brand stories
Offering mentorship and creative strategy rooted in real, lived experience
It's Time to Radiate
Dani’s Kitchen Shop started with a vision. Cookie decorating brought that vision to life. And now, it’s time to radiate it.
If you’re a small business owner ready to elevate your brand, refine your message, and confidently share your story—I’d love to help you make it shine. Click our link below to learn more about our upcoming community course!
Let’s rise together.
-Dani
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