Conversations with Annie McDaniel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie McDaniel. 

Hi Annie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband, Joe, challenged me to learn how to make French Macarons. He had tried them at work and really enjoyed them. I said “Are you crazy? Those are so hard to make!” But he just told me “You can totally do that!” 

I got started in 2019 making them for fun, family, and friends, and then in 2020, someone asked me if they could buy them from me! I was shocked! Since then, I have made countless custom orders for birthdays, weddings, showers, and corporate events. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It had not been a smooth road! Macarons are a difficult treat to make, I have had countless batches go right in the trash or given to friends/family as “rejects.” (Which my family now I think secretly love when I mess up a batch”) I am also a perfectionist, so if they don’t look how I want them or if they are not “up to AnneMade standards” as I like to say, then I won’t sell them. 

The worst is when I pulled a batch of about 40 out of the oven and tripped and dropped them forward in my oven, I got burned, I cried, and then had to start all over. 

I have aspirations one day to open up my own storefront, but for now, it’s just me baking at 6 AM, lunch breaks and evenings. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
AnneMade Sweets is an at-home bakery specializing in custom French macaron orders. I am known for taking a client’s favorites (colors, flavors, themes) and turning them into beautify pastries to complement their event. What sets me apart from others, I have been told, is my ability to create different macarons than you can get anywhere else in Columbus. 

I am most proud of my returning customers that keep coming back and letting me make their events special. 

When I am not baking, I am working full time at a healthcare start-up called Loyal Health, hanging with husband, Joe, and taking care of my three crazy kiddos: Jack, 6, Lucy, 4, and Penny Lane, 1 (we are big Beatles fans!) and Goldendoodle, Barry Barkin. 

We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I think a risk is jumping in head-first into anything that you are not sure about. I find myself holding back when I am not 100% confident, and macarons have helped me change that and say Yes to things before I have all the details or something I have never done before. 

I think one of my more recent risks were starting to take on larger orders, specifically macaron towers, which seem to be very popular lately. I had a client that wanted gold and dark green macarons. I wasn’t sure exactly how I would make them work when I got the request, but jumped in and figured it out on the way. The tower turned out beautifully and I came to find another local baker had said no to the request because of the challenge of making the specific colors. 

Pricing:

• Starting at 30/dozen

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annemadesweets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemadesweets/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniemcdaniel/

Image Credits
Juliet Carey Photography