Whether you’re looking to order gorgeously decorated cookies, perfectly tart key lime pies or gluten-free bread that actually tastes delicious—or you just want to scroll some Instagram accounts for drool-worthy pastry pics—these talented women are making Indianapolis a tastier place to be.
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ALANA COBB, OWNER OF PRINCESS CONFECTIONS BAKERY
PRINCESSCONFECTIONS.COM, @PRINCESSCONFECTIONS
“Princess Confections Bakery is a cake studio specializing in custom cakes for all of life’s celebrations. After discovering I had a keen interest in baking and cake decorating, I began making cakes for friends and family. What started off as a hobby blossomed into a career and successful business!”
HAYLEY MCGINLEY, OWNER OF NATIVE BREAD
NATIVEBREAD.COM, @NATIVEBREAD
“I birthed Native Bread in 2016 after learning I had a gluten sensitivity. I couldn’t imagine giving up crusty, rustic, artisan bread—and I didn’t want anyone else to have to, either! At that time, Indianapolis did not have an artisan, gluten-free bakery—so I decided to start one myself. Now, over four years later, I’ve been able to move my incredible team into our very own allergen-free production kitchen and storefront and we’re supplying our bread to restaurants and grocery stores all throughout central Indiana. It is the greatest honor to bring bread back into people’s lives.”
TAMARA JOHNSON-BOARDS, OWNER OF ARTASTRY COOKIES AND CONFECTIONS
@ARTASTRYCOOKIES
“ARTastry Cookies and Confections specializes in customized, decorated sugar cookies and petit fours for all occasions. It started as a challenge to myself to create birthday cookies for my daughter, and grew into a business where I now have to carve out my vacation days. I am constantly being challenged to create designs that are unique, meaningful, and truly an expression of artistry and tastiness. I decided on the name after hearing that people were trying to save the cookies because they were ‘too pretty to eat,’ but never succeeding because they were too delicious not to eat.”
MEGAN RITZ, CAKE CURATOR/CEO OF CLASSIC CAKES
CLASSICCAKESCARMEL.COM, @CLASSICCAKESCARMEL
“At Classic Cakes we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary. Our mission is to share a passion for creativity and innovation through custom cakes and education. Our services include custom orders, walk-in cakes, a ‘Cupcake of the Month Club’ and a live tutorial series on Facebook every Tuesday evening. I have the coolest job. I get to love on people and join them on their best days—their weddings, birthdays, and holidays. We make cakes, but this business is all about people.”
MARSHA QUARLES AND MICHELLE AVANT, CO-OWNERS OF MARSHA’S SPECIALTY DESSERTS & TIERNEY’S CATERING
MARSHASSPECIALTYDESSERTS.COM, @MARSHASDESSERTS
“Marsha’s Specialty Desserts & Tierney’s Catering is your one stop shop for all things unique and outstanding in the sweet and savory food world, where everything is freshly prepared to order. M&T’s was created from our family’s love of helping others and creating magical celebrations. We would love to customize the special occasions of your life!”
SANDRA K. TAYLOR, OWNER OF HART BAKERY
HARTBAKERY.COM, @HARTBAKERY11
“I started working at Hart Bakery in 1968 as a part-time employee, not knowing that 24 years later, I would end up buying the bakery and becoming the owner. I am the only woman Certified Master Baker in the state of Indiana. I have enjoyed learning and being able to raise my family in the business. It has been a pleasure being able to work on Indy’s east side and to be the third oldest bakery in the city. I’m happy that we have been able to keep with a lot of the older ways of making our products.”
FELICIA BROWN, OWNER OF TREATS BY FEE
@TREATS_BYFEE
“I started my business to balance out my budget due to student loan payments. Through the process and with support, it has taken on a life of its own. Not everyone can say that they get to do what they enjoy on a daily basis, but I can. I’m currently getting my treat truck together to be able reach more communities with my delicious treats.”
ALYSSA HINES, OWNER OF SUCARCOATED AVENUE
@SUGARCOATEDAVENUE
“Sugarcoated Avenue is a small baking business where sweets are handcrafted and ‘sugarcoated’ by me, Alyssa. This sweet gig started in high school when my classmates jokingly requested cupcakes, which introduced me to a hobby that has turned into my passion, peace, and craft over the years. Whether you’re simply satisfying a craving or hosting an event, there is something for you at Sugarcoated Ave.”
JORDAN JUSTICE, OWNER OF JAJUSTICEBAKES AND PASTRY CHEF AT KING DOUGH
@JAJUSTICEBAKES, KINGDOUGHPIZZAS.COM, @KINGDOUGHINDY
“As of right now I’m doing so much baking—both through my Instagram business and with my close friends at King Dough as their pastry chef. Through my business I offer a variety of cakes, pies and cookies for special orders and wholesale accounts. My goal is to slowly but surely establish myself in the baking community in Indy and exclusively work for myself!”
JASLYNN GHOLSON JIBUNOR, OWNER OF JAZZY BAKES
@JAZZYBAKES
“I developed a passion for baking after my aunt passed away in a car accident—baking with her was not only my peace, but also the start of me realizing that I could keep her with me every time I opened my oven door. Baking not only became my connection to her, but my connection to the rest of the world by trying to spread that same love and peace everywhere I go.”
Stephanie Groves is a freelance writer based in Indianapolis who is much better at eating than baking.
