Community Highlights: Meet Danny & Janine Schikowski of Bumblebee Baking Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny & Janine Schikowski.

Hi Danny & Janine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We’re Danny and Janine—partners in life and in business—and if you told us a few years ago that we’d be running a bakery, we never would have believed it. Our story started back in 2019 during a trip to California. We were in a small beach town called Cayucos, enjoying fish tacos by the water, when Danny spotted a little bakery across the street. Being food lovers, we couldn’t resist.

When I (Janine) stepped inside, I was welcomed by a group of warm, grandmotherly bakers hand-rolling cookies. They offered me a sample—a brown butter cookie—and it was, without question, one of the most delicious things I’d ever tasted. I ran back to the car with my purchase, and when Danny tried one, he immediately said, “Oh no, we need to turn around and get more!”

We learned they shipped nationwide, but the flavor we loved most—brown butter honey—was the only one they didn’t ship. That left us disappointed, but also inspired. Once we got home, we started experimenting in our own kitchen, determined to recreate that delicious cookie. It wasn’t until 2020, when the pandemic gave us extra time, that we really dove in. We spent months testing different ingredients—types of sugars, honeys, leavening agents—until we finally landed on a version that felt just right and truly “ours”.

At first, Danny would bring test batches into work, where coworkers happily gave feedback. Eventually, they didn’t just want samples—they wanted to buy them. We began selling cookies in the lobby, and before long, people started asking for other baked goods. I wasn’t a trained baker, but I didn’t said no. One order turned into the next, and soon we were making everything from cake pops and cinnamon rolls to full custom cakes.

What began as a fun challenge turned into a business built on passion, creativity, and the joy of sharing something delicious with others. Today, we specialize in custom creations for everything from casual backyard gatherings to elegant weddings. It’s been an unexpected journey, but one we’re grateful for—and we still do it all together!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it always been smooth sailing? Absolutely not! Our very first big order was for 400 cookies, and it took us a grueling eight hours to finish. To put that into perspective, today we could knock out the same order in about two hours without breaking a sweat. It’s safe to say there’s been a lot of on-the-job training over these past five years!

One of our favorite memories has to be our very first custom cake pop order. What started as “cake pops” quickly turned into what we like to call “cake art.” Every inch of our kitchen was covered in chocolate-dipped creations that just wouldn’t dry fast enough! At one point, we even had them clipped to a makeshift clothesline with clothespins! It was chaotic, hilarious, and one of those moments we’ll never forget. But that’s been the beauty of this journey—experimenting, learning, laughing, and yes, feeding plenty of our “trial and error” samples to very willing family members.

Since this is our side hustle, we’ve been balancing the business alongside full-time careers and raising three kids. That means many late nights/early mornings, plenty of coffee, and a few moments of pulling each other up by the bootstraps to power through a week’s worth of orders. It’s hectic, it’s exhausting at times, but somehow, we always find our rhythm.

We’ve learned how to plan months in advance, keep everything organized, and make sure no detail falls through the cracks—even if it means rolling up our sleeves at midnight. Some weeks are definitely tougher than others, but at the end of the day, we both agree we wouldn’t change a thing.

We’ve been impressed with Bumblebee Baking Co. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’re a licensed, made-from-scratch home bakery that specializes in custom orders. If you can dream it, we’ll find a way to bring it to life! What really sets us apart is the way our different strengths complement each other. Danny handles the business side, drawing from his experience as a business owner, while I bring the artistic and creative touch from my background in interior design. Together, it’s a balance that allows us to run the bakery with both precision and creativity.

You can always find us online, but we also love popping up at local farmers markets and teaming up with some of our favorite establishments around town—so there are plenty of chances to grab a treat and say hi in person!

What we’re most proud of are the genuine connections we’ve built along the way. Many of our clients have become lifelong friends, and that sense of community means everything to us. We’ve made people’s engagement cookies and then go on to make their wedding cake, gender reveal cookies, baby shower desserts, first birthday sweets, on and on!. This “brand loyalty” means the world to us! We truly have the best customers! At the heart of our brand is simply who we are: down-to-earth a little bit crazy people juggling a lot, but above all hardworking, passionate, and caring. For us, baking isn’t just about desserts; it’s about creating joy. Nothing makes us happier than knowing we get to share that joy with others!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @bumblebee.baking.co
• Facebook: Bumblebee Baking Co