Daily Inspiration: Meet Denise Maracich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Maracich.

Hi Denise, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My biggest supporters are my husband of 35 years and our four sons. I’m Mimi to my two littlest taste testers and I love baking for them. I’ve lived in the beautiful state of South Carolina all of my life and love its people. Being able to fully enjoy all four seasons in one state is a pleasure that’s not taken for granted.

My love of decorated sugar cookies began when I hired a young lady to create some cookies with my embroidery business logo on them. The cookies were given to my clients during the holidays and they loved them. She decided it was time to start her family and would, understandably, take maternity leave breaks with each new addition to her family. She eventually closed her business altogether and I craved her delicious cookies.

Having been a lifelong crafter, determination set in to figure out how to create these amazing treats. Late-night Instagram scrolling led to the discovery of the world of cookiers, and some amazing new friends. Did you know there is a “cookie conference”? It’s called CookieCon and it’s a gathering of sugar cookie creators from all over the world who totally support and uplift each other. Scoring a ticket to this event is comparable to the golden ticket in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. With the support and guidance of cookie creators on Instagram and at CookieCon, I was able to perfect my recipes and greatly improve my cookie decorating skills.

A year quickly flew by as I practiced my decorating skills and sold, under SC Cottage Food Law, to family and friends. Covid-19 hit the world hard in 2020 just as CookieCon was coming to a close. Seeing a drastic drop in embroidery orders due to no celebrations or gatherings of families and friends, I decided it was time to hit the ground running selling decorated sugar cookies at local farmers’ markets. “Art on a delicious cookie canvas!” was adopted as the slogan and “Paint Your Own” cookies were being sold as homeschooling art projects. “Do It Yourself” cookie decorating kits that were addition, subtraction, and fraction lessons were offered as well. Parents and teachers loved them!

I have continued to participate in our local farmers’ markets and have added other vendor events to the schedule. Even though custom decorated sugar cookies are sold through Creative Cookiery’s website, interacting with customers at vendor events brings the greatest joy. I love seeing the pride in the children’s faces as they share photos of the cookies they have “painted”.

An FDA-approved direct to cookie printer was recently added to our kitchen. It can print logos and pictures directly onto sugar cookies and marshmallows using food coloring. This new printer will help to expand custom offerings, especially to companies and agents looking for personalized client gifts.

It was an honor to have been chosen by CookieCon to demonstrate cookie stenciling to its attendees in 2020. In 2021, I was then chosen to serve as a “Purple Apron” and had one of my original recipes included in the CookieCon tasting event. I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching how to create and package PYO cookies to fellow cookiers during The Colorful Cookie’s Holiday Cookie-A-Thon. I’m grateful for the opportunities to give back to a community that has taught me so much.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was definitely a bumpy road navigating the world of royal icing consistencies, especially with the humidity levels in South Carolina. This is probably the biggest struggle for new sugar cookie decorators. Thank goodness for dehumidifiers!

As the pandemic started closing the door on my embroidery business of 16 years, I truly feel like everything fell into place and opportunities presented themselves leading me down a path where doors kept opening. It’s been an amazing cookie journey thus far.

I’m extremely happy to say that both of my business ventures are now thriving.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Although custom-decorated sugar cookies are offered, PYO sugar cookies and DIY sugar cookie kits are extremely popular items. These cookies bring out the creativeness within my customers. My sugar cookie flavors, and their icing flavor pairings, are what set me apart from other cookiers in our area.

Information regarding holiday cookie pre-sales and participation in local vendor events is updated on Creative Cookiery’s social media accounts weekly. The goal for 2022 is to offer in person cookie decorating classes.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My fondest childhood memories are spending time in the kitchen with my grandmother and being taught different crafts by my aunt. My grandmother always encouraged my love of baking and allowed me to use my Easy Bake Oven for uses not intended by its maker. Both of these amazing women encouraged entrepreneurship from an early age. All of their lessons are applied in one way or another through Creative Cookiery. 

Pricing:

• Paint Your Own Cookies $6
• Do It Yourself Cookie Kits $18+
• Custom Decorated Sugar Cookies $45+ Dozen
• Gourmet Cookies $30 Dozen
• Hot Chocolate Bombs $4.50+

Contact Info:

• Email: CreativeCookiery@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.CreativeCookiery.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/CreativeCookiery
• Facebook: facebook.com/CreativeCookiery

Image Credits
Jodi Washington
Creative Cookiery