It starts with 2 cups of sugar…
(this is the true story of a millennial bakery owner who once loved baking, then suddenly didn’t. then suddenly, did-ish again.)
the true origin story however goes back decades prior, as CEO Andrea Benn (formerly Andrea Dashiell) learned how to bake assisting her mother with pound cakes and pies from scratch during the holidays. Honeecakes Bakery was created as a by-product of an entrepreneurship course in 2004 while a Junior at Suitland High School in Forestville, Maryland. Through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program at Suitland, Not only did Andrea learn how to develop and shop a 22-page business plan to Fortune 100 and 500 companies throughout the East Coast, she also went on to serve on numerous boards such as NFTE’s alumni council as well as the inaugural entrepreneurship academy advisory council (EAAC) at Bowie State University.
Honeecakes Bakery runs on the following rules:
Never bake when tired
Presentation is half the battle
You can always add ingredients, but can’t take them out
Honeecakes Bakery has been featured in Black Enterprise, Business Newsweek, Fox5 DC, The Gazette, honored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and more. In 2014, Honeecakes Bakery commemorated 10 years of business with a huge anniversary party, serving ten variations of pound cakes to a host of family, friends, and clients. Andrea has baked for over 200 birthdays, weddings, baby showers, corporate functions, and celebratory events. Around 2017, the bakery quietly went on hiatus, pausing almost all operations. In that particular season, our CEO earned her master’s degree, married her honee, and had two beautiful mini chefs who’ve reignited the joy of baking in our kitchen.
Social media was not a brand’s livelihood when Honeecakes Bakery started; Instagram was nonexistent, car selfies (see throwback pic below) were a thing, and a chunky cardstock business card really impressed the crowd. Quality homemade dessert & word of mouth, however, never fail… as the saying goes, “IYKYK”. This is the bakery’s very first functioning website, truly a labor of love. What’s in store for Honeecakes Bakery is in God’s hands: trust the process. just know our kitchen still smells amazing!!
