Today we’d like to introduce you to Kemaya Molden.
Hi Kemaya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey as a baker and entrepreneur began when I was a little girl growing up in Cincinnati. My passion was sparked at the age of six with a simple Easy Bake Oven. It was a cherished gift that, unbeknownst to me, planted a seed that would one day grow into a business. I’ve recited this fact countless times and it gets more surreal the more it sets in! Those “Easy Bake” adventures were ones for the books. One of my first M-Blog entries is about the time my younger sisters ransacked my brownie presentation.Years later, I had a dream about a similar travesty involving my Pink Lemonade Cookies and it unlocked that memory.
At age 12, I attended a summer camp and that is where Muu Muu’s Delights was born. My God mom, Jennnie Wright, had her young attendees choose a career path for an entrepreneurial project to close out the summer. I actually didn’t know what to do and she simply reminded me that I loved to bake! My mom bought some colorful plastic wrap and Betty Crocker and her, my brother, and I stayed up all night baking, frosting, and wrapping. It was fun, I just hadn’t realized how much fun it was at that time.
Many years were crowded by extracurricular activities, but it was right after high school, during an episode of Cupcake Wars, that I was inspired to get back into that kitchen! My first success was a pound cake, a simple treat that became my foundation. With the encouragement of my next door neighbor who asked me to make that cake and loved it, I launched my second business, “Maya’s Cake and Bakes,” in 2014-ish.
As the years went on, my love for baking grew and my skills evolved. I continued to bake and perfect my recipes, including our famous brownies named “The Best Brownies” by the people. Another M-Blog entry details the origin of the brownies and why they are special enough to be given away for free every June. In 2019, I formally incorporated my business as Maya’s Bakes LLC. I was ready to take my business to the next level. I decided to buy my first home to make my dream of having a dedicated home bakery a reality. (Looking back, I realized I was guided by The Highest Power because buying a house for a business without a plan is crazy! It wouldn’t be until years later when I actually had a grasp on entrepreneurship and my business specifically.)
The COVID-19 pandemic, while challenging, was a turning point for Maya’s Bakes. With the encouragement from some friendly employees at a local grocery store, I began to explore commercial avenues for my business. I joined a commercial kitchen, which allowed me to participate in my first outdoor market and it opened the door for us to pop up at some breweries. Shortly after the pandemic I went back to work and totally disregarded Maya’s Bakes, but soon learned a lesson about business: the bills are going to flow unless the business is shut down. During that time I had purchased my domain and designed mayasbakes.com, and along with the kitchen rental, I was caught off guard by some transactions. I fell back into business really quickly. I was able to scale my wholesale operations and partner with a major delivery platform, DoorDash, which provided invaluable experience in logistics, production, and forecasting. I also created and launched “A Taste of Maya’s Bakes,” a production where I recorded people tasting and reviewing my creations. That allowed me to connect with my community, get real-time feedback from my customers, and have a true marketing angle.
A huge part of Maya’s Bakes is community engagement. In 2022, I felt like I was ready to launch an idea of mine called Maya’s Bakes: For Fun! Easy Baking for Everyone! Which are hassle-free baking workshops that focus on fun kitchen art. Perfect for team-building, private parties, youth groups, aspiring entrepreneurs, or unique celebration activities. I was offered a space to conduct such activities, but the space was actually a retail specific space. Something I found out later on, but this is where everything changed. Maya’s Bake Shop was here and I had no idea what to do about it.
Shortly after I moved into the space I was asked to join the accelerator program that the space was attached to. I was very hesitant because I was aware that I had no idea what I was doing as far as business. Yes, I was talented and passionate, as well as blessed to be able to work my wholesale and catering angle successfully, but I couldn’t see me taking such a huge leap so fast! I politely declined, but it wasn’t accepted. I decided to join the program because my initial reason for not wanting to join was calmed by the promise of specific guidance. That guidance was non-existent, but I try not to be bitter about it now because in hindsight I definitely learned a lot from that experience. The program was very new and is doing much better now.
This was a 9-month period that, while challenging, is also a huge part of the journey that’s gotten me where I am today! I learned about professional financial tracking, scaling a business, and networking with other entrepreneurs. I literally had my own bakery and made tons of money and connections. That type of experience comes in handy every day. I also secured a grant for rebranding from Brackish Creative and have built a long-lasting relationship with The Hamilton County Public Library.
The shop was always temporary and incurring debt is not what I’d hoped to take with me as a part of the lesson, but the experience was invaluable. It taught me the importance of pivoting and having a solid financial plan. I took the lessons I learned and developed a new plan for my business.
Today, Maya’s Bakes is a Cincinnati-based, WBE, MBE, and EDGE certified business. I am currently operating under the Ohio Cottage Food Law, and I have a strategic plan to transition back to a commercial kitchen to scale my business. I have secured a month-long pop-up at Fountain Square, and I am in the process of stepping into my next phase of growth.
I created Have Mini Cookie Company LLC in January (because why have one, when you can Have Mini?), but I felt it was missing an element. This year I won SCRAPS Rescued Food Cook-Off, in which my delicious Vanilla Pound Cake got a standing ovation for its part in our mystery ingredient dish. I realized that my very first raved about cake, which happens to be the star of my Google reviews, and also a customer favorite, and now award-winning, was that element!! I came up with the product line Premium Marbled Pound Cake, our beloved classic with a twist. It allows me to be creative in the kitchen while offering an elevated staple.
From that competition, I caught the attention of Ron Hamilton who owns and operates a top-tier photography studio in downtown Cincinnati called RHP. Our partnership is amazing! I’ve been hands-on in the shoots we’ve shot and it has taught me so much. It’s definitely taught me to stay in my baking lane; you really have to love what you do, and his staff absolutely does. We have so much planned for the future and I’ll be sharing deets on social media and The M-Blog as well as all our other ventures!
My journey has been a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of a good story. I have faced challenges, made mistakes, and learned from every step. Through it all, my mission has remained the same: to share “a bite of nostalgia” with my community and beyond. I am indeed blessed; 1 Peter 4:10.
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?
Long story short, imagine scaling a recipe. All the experimenting, the time, the ingredients, the trials, they took a toll on me. It was amazing once I got things situated, but imagine having things situated then having to scale those recipes and processes back down? That time was dreadful! Now I’m at the point where I’ll have to scale up again, but I’ll do so gladly and educated.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
About Maya’s Bakes
Maya’s Bakes is a Cincinnati-based, WBE, MBE, and EDGE certified bakery dedicated to crafting gourmet, nostalgic baked goods and unique culinary experiences. My mission is to empower people to discover the joy of baking and unleash their kitchen creativity, providing nostalgic treats that build confidence. We strive to bring “a bite of nostalgia” to life, creating delicious, handcrafted treats that evoke cherished memories. We’re known for our award-winning pound cakes which birth our marbled line, “The Best Brownies,” and our famous Pink Lemonade Cookies that can be dipped in juice! Available for direct-to-consumer sales on our site, at popup events and festivals, and corporate gifting. We also offer wholesale, allowing customers to grab individual treats on the DoorDash app at DashMart. Our full-service event catering, highlighted by our unique and interactive “The Cake Bar” experience, is where guests can customize their own dessert masterpieces. Lastly, but certainly my most beloved sector of Maya’s Bakes, Maya’s Bakes: For Fun! Easy Baking for Everyone! We host hassle-free baking activities to fulfil our main mission.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly makes Maya’s Bakes unique is our blend of artistry, authenticity, and community-focused mission. Unlike larger, mass-produced bakeries, we provide a level of personal service and quality that is truly our own. We offer specialty items like our vibrant Pink Lemonade Cookies and our luxurious Premium Marbled Pound Cakes, which are designed to be both visually stunning and unforgettable in flavor.
We’re also proud to offer “Maya’s Bakes: For Fun!” workshops, which set us apart from traditional bakeries. These workshops go beyond just selling a product; they provide a fun, engaging, and hassle-free experience that empowers people to explore their creativity in the kitchen.
What I Am Most Proud Of
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the emotional connection we have with our customers. The fact that my business is built on a foundation of nostalgia and joy, and that we have over 50 five-star reviews on Google, means so much to me. It’s proof that our mission is resonating.
I’m also incredibly proud of my journey of resilience. From running my own shop under circumstances that I wouldn’t want any entrepreneur to have to endure, to making it out of that by the grace of God now being a certified diverse business with a clear plan for growth, my story is proof that with faith and determination, anything is possible.
What I Want Readers to Know
I want your readers to know that Maya’s Bakes is more than just a bakery—it’s a community experience. Whether you’re looking for a special treat for yourself, a unique gift for a client, or a fun activity for a team or family, we are here to provide a moment of joy. We are a small business with a big heart, and every purchase helps us continue to grow and deepen our community impact, one sweet memory at a time. Stay Blessed!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Without a doubt, the most important quality has been a combination of my strong will, determination, and unwavering faith. This journey hasn’t been easy, and there have been moments when the challenges of being a small business owner felt overwhelming. But my strong will has always pushed me to keep going, even when a door closes and my faith has been the anchor that has held me steady.
My passion for baking is what started it all, and my determination is what’s kept me focused on turning that passion into a viable business.
I believe in the purpose of Maya’s Bakes: not just to sell treats, but to share joy and foster creativity in the community. That sense of mission, of being called to serve others with the gifts I’ve been given, has been a constant source of strength and motivation. It’s the reason I’ve been able to move past setbacks, learn from my mistakes, and remain confident that I’m on the right path.
My determination is fueled by my faith. It’s what gives me the strong will to keep going when things get tough. I know that my business has a purpose far beyond just baking, and that purpose is what gives me the strength to continue.
Pricing:
- We have a popup bundle of 3/$10 on our brownies, pound cake, and pink cookies!
- $10 Premium Marbled Pound Cake Flights at our pop ups!
- Whole Premium Marble Pound Cakes start at $75
- The Best Brownies are now apart of Have Mini Cookie Company and are sold as two-bites in reusable glass jars! $23.99
- Have Mini Cookies are sold in glass cookie jars starting at $23.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mayasbakes.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ilovemayasbakes
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ilovemayasbakes
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilovemayasbakes
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/ilovemayasbakes
