Aya’s Little Nook is where I’m documenting my home bakery journey, from a small kitchen and zero sales to, I hope, my first $1,000 a month. I shared the full story of why I’m starting in my first post, Why I’m Starting a Micro Bakery From My Small Kitchen, so here I’d love to tell you a little more about who I am.

My very first baking memory (and the hand mixer I ruined)

My earliest baking memory is a slightly embarrassing one. When I was a child, I washed our hand mixer under running water, because I truly believed that was how you were supposed to clean it. My mother quickly took it outside to dry under the sun, hoping to save it, but it was no use. That hand mixer never worked again, and I still laugh every time I think about it.

The bake everyone asks me to make again

If there’s one thing people keep praising, it’s my kek batik, a rich chocolate and biscuit cake. What I love about it is that it has cousins all over the world, each with its own little twist, like Scottish tiffin with raisins and cherries, and Lithuanian tinginys, which means “lazy cake.” The kek batik I make comes from a recipe I bought. I can’t eat much myself, so I gave most of it away to the people around me, and the compliments kept coming back. I still make it from time to time, and every batch reminds me how good it feels when something you made with your own hands makes someone else happy.

My dream bake: Japanese cream puffs

The one thing I’d love to be known for someday is the Japanese cream puff. Yes, this is another recipe I paid for! The taste amazed me: a crispy crust that gives way to a soft, lemony vanilla cream. It’s light and bright, and to me it’s the perfect treat for summer.

What I want my bakes to feel like

I want people to take the first bite and feel that every cent was worth it for the taste. My dream is to hear someone say they’ll definitely order again, and mean it wholeheartedly, and then tell a friend, who tells another friend. For a tiny home bakery like mine, I believe word of mouth is the sweetest kind of marketing there is.

Who I am outside the kitchen

Outside of baking, I love to create and build things. I’ve launched quite a few web apps for my own personal use, and some of them I built especially to make my bakery journey easier. I’m honestly so excited to show you a few of them as this journey goes on.

Maybe that’s why I love efficiency and a smooth workflow so much. Even before I start baking, I like to make sure everything is just right. They might seem like small little things, but they really matter to me.

What I hope you find at Aya’s Little Nook

If you’re dreaming of starting a home bakery but feel scared to begin, I hope my journey gives you the courage to take that first step. I’m learning as I go, and I’m sharing my real numbers, my mistakes and my small wins so you know you’re not alone.

Thank you for stopping by Aya’s Little Nook. I’d love for you to read my journey and follow along on this odyssey with me. 🍪