Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Rucker.
Hi Monique, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started Mon’Ami Sweets from my little kitchen in Melissa, Texas, but the heart of this bakery was born long before I ever sold a single cake. Baking became my safe space during some of the hardest seasons of my life. After losing my dad, going through deep personal losses, and fighting my own health battles—lupus, surgeries, chronic pain—baking was the one thing that brought me comfort, joy, and a sense of peace. It was the place where I could still pour love into something even on days when I didn’t feel strong.
A big turning point happened during my own wedding. I searched everywhere for a baker who could give us that true home-baked taste—the warm, nostalgic flavor I grew up with—and I still couldn’t find it. My husband finally said, “Just make it yourself,” and that’s exactly what I did. I went back to some of my old family recipes, started tweaking and testing, and brought those flavors back to life. That moment opened my eyes to something bigger: people don’t just want a pretty cake. They want a cake that tastes like home… comforting, familiar, and made with love.
Even then, I didn’t think I was ready to turn baking into a business. I was still healing mentally, emotionally, and physically. But my husband kept encouraging me, reminding me of my gift and telling me I could really do this. And my friend Lisa—an entrepreneur herself—took it even further. She became my very first customer and my biggest supporter. She hyped my business before I even believed I had one and kept pushing me to step into my purpose. I will always be grateful for her.
From there, Mon’Ami Sweets was born. I launched under the Texas Cottage Food Law and have been growing ever since—perfecting my recipes, building my brand, showing up at community events, and putting real heart into every cake I make. Every order reminds me why I started: to create something beautiful, comforting, and full of love.
My story is about resilience, faith, and turning pain into purpose. Mon’Ami Sweets is personal to me. It represents healing, hope, and the belief that you can start right where you are and create something meaningful.
And I’m just getting started.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The cottage bakery space is extremely competitive, especially in Texas where there are so many talented home bakers. In the beginning, it was intimidating to step into a market where everyone already seemed established. I had to learn how to trust my own style, my flavors, and the calling God placed on my life.
On top of that, balancing a full-time career, my health battles, and family responsibilities while trying to grow a business has been challenging. There were days my body was tired, days I doubted myself, and days when I wondered if there was even room for me in this industry.
But I firmly believe that what’s for you will always be yours. No one can stop God’s plan for your life. Every challenge pushed me to get better, stay consistent, and keep my heart in the right place. Instead of competing, I chose to focus on creating cakes that feel like home—full of love, flavor, and intention.
Those struggles ended up shaping me, grounding me, and helping me build Mon’Ami Sweets with purpose instead of pressure.
We’ve been impressed with Mon’Ami Sweets, 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?
Mon’Ami Sweets is my cottage bakery based in Melissa, Texas, where I specialize in crafting cakes that taste like home. I’m known for pairing beautiful designs with rich, nostalgic, from-scratch flavors that people can actually feel. Everything I make is baked in small batches with premium ingredients, real fruit, and the kind of care you can taste in every bite.
My most popular cakes—the Banana Pudding Cake, the Lemon Velvet Cake, and my White Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Compote—have become customer favorites. These cakes are known for being incredibly moist, full of flavor, and the type of desserts people come back for again and again. They’re comforting, familiar, and still elevated enough to feel special.
What sets Mon’Ami Sweets apart is the heart behind the brand. This isn’t a mass-produced bakery. Every cake is intentional, personal, and made with love. I put just as much energy into the flavor as I do the design, because I want people to cut into a cake that not only looks beautiful, but instantly takes them back to a warm memory.
I’m most proud that Mon’Ami Sweets was built out of faith, healing, and purpose. This business has been a part of my journey through loss, health challenges, and growth—and it’s become a way for me to bring comfort and joy to others. Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, or a simple celebration, my goal is to create desserts that leave a lasting impression.
At Mon’Ami Sweets, everything is baked with intention, heart, and a whole lot of flavor—one slice at a time.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there’s anything I want readers to take away, it’s this: Mon’Ami Sweets is built on faith first. I wouldn’t be here without God’s grace, His timing, and the doors He opened even when I felt unqualified, scared, or unsure of myself. This bakery grew during one of the hardest seasons of my life, and God turned it into something healing, purposeful, and full of joy.
I’m living proof that you don’t have to have everything figured out to start. You just have to trust the gift God placed in your hands. He will meet you where you are, multiply what you have, and surround you with the right people to help you grow. Every cake I make is a reminder that purpose can come out of pain, beauty can come out of loss, and God can use anything—anything—for your good.
So if someone is reading this and wondering if they should take the leap… do it. Move forward with faith. What God has for you will always find you, and no one can block a blessing that’s already been written with your name on it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monamisweets.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monami_sweets?igsh=MXI5M2gzMXFsczBpYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1PSBYiG7ic/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Headshot Photos by – 7 Arcs Photography
