Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It started out as a hobby. But now, this Massachusetts native, who calls Buckingham County home, has turned Wicked Cozy Bakery into a full on business. Less than six months into the project, she’s preparing for her first holiday rush. 

Steffanie Branch started Wicked Cozy Bakery as baking is one of her favorite hobbies. She creates cookies, chocolate bars, candies and hot chocolate bombs. Each of her creations is custom-made whether the customer wants a traditional favorite or to try something new. 

Branch is originally from a small town in Massachusetts. Growing up, she always had a love for baking. Once she moved to Buckingham in 2011, she worked at a coffee shop where she enjoyed serving her baked goods to customers and coworkers. This led her to think about doing baking full-time. Now as a stay-at-home mom, having this bakery in her kitchen gives her a chance to do what she loves, be home with her kids and make some extra money. 

“It’s so important for stay-at-home moms to have a hobby,” said Branch. 

Her favorite part of having this bakery is being able to be creative with the cookies and candies she makes. She has traditional favorites like chocolate chip and peanut butter and seasonal flavors like peppermint mocha and pumpkin spice. She then likes to take these normal flavors and add a twist, adding pieces of Oreos, butterfingers, candy canes and more to create something new. Even though she has some set flavors, she welcomes customers to be creative too and put in custom orders.

Wicked Cozy Bakery looks toward Christmas

Along with baking, Branch loves the holidays and calls herself a “holiday fanatic.” She has fond memories of growing up and going to the local tree lighting and getting hot chocolate afterward. She hopes her bakery can become a part of holiday traditions for local families. 

“I would really love to have my bakery become a tradition,” said Branch. “Even if it’s just for one family I would love that I could be a part of making someone happy.”

Looking to the future, Wicked Cozy Bakery won’t be limited to Branch’s home kitchen forever. For the next step, she would love to open a food truck. She has played with the idea of looking into opening a storefront, but for now, the food truck is the next goal. 

Anyone interested in learning more or placing an order can visit the Wicked Cozy Bakery Facebook page.