Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Larson.
Hi Shelby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey with cookies began in 2016 when I started decorating for family, That then led to selling custom cookies from my home under Texas’s cottage food law a few years later. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into a thriving home-based business.
Then life took an unexpected turn. During COVID, my husband left his corporate job to start his own business, and around the same time we welcomed our fourth child. As our family navigated those changes, I stepped away from cookies and began focusing on something that would ultimately reshape my entire business philosophy: the ingredients we were bringing into our home.
I started researching artificial dyes, food additives, and ingredient sourcing. The more I learned, the more changes we made as a family. Over time, we noticed meaningful differences in our own health and well-being, especially in our children.
Even while I stepped away from baking professionally, I always knew I would return to it. When I did, I wanted to create something different—a bakery where beautiful treats didn’t require compromising on ingredients.
That vision became DÉLICE Bakery: a place where customers can enjoy handcrafted cookies, macarons, coffee, and desserts made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, free from artificial dyes, while still delivering the flavor and artistry people expect from a specialty bakery.
What started as a home baker’s dream in 2016 has grown into a storefront built around a simple belief: indulgence without compromise.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been sourcing high-quality ingredients that meet our standards. We use non-GMO ingredients, unbleached and non-bromated flours, bone-char-free sugars, natural colors, and avoid artificial dyes and flavors. Those ingredients are often more expensive, harder to find, and sometimes require ordering from multiple suppliers.
Another challenge has been educating customers on why our products may look or cost a little different than what they’re used to. Natural colors don’t always behave the same way as artificial dyes, and quality ingredients come at a higher cost, but we believe they’re worth it.
Like many small business owners, we’ve also faced the challenge of getting the word out. Marketing a new business while simultaneously baking, decorating, teaching classes, and raising a family can be overwhelming. There have been plenty of long days and late nights, but seeing customers appreciate our mission and return again and again makes it all worthwhile.
Throughout the journey, our faith has been a constant source of strength. There have been many times when we didn’t know how things would come together, but we’ve continued to trust God’s guidance and take the next step forward. Seeing customers connect with our mission and support what we’re building reminds us why we started and makes every challenge worthwhile.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the owner and creative force behind DÉLICE Bakery, where I specialize in custom decorated cookies, macarons, and other handcrafted desserts. My work combines artistry with a passion for creating beautiful treats made from high-quality ingredients. Every design is created by hand, allowing me to turn a customer’s vision into something both memorable and delicious.
What sets me apart is my commitment to ingredients. After years of researching food dyes, additives, and ingredient quality for my own family, I made the decision to build a business around treats that don’t compromise on what goes into them. We use natural colors whenever possible, non-GMO ingredients, unbleached and non-bromated flours, bone-char-free sugars, premium chocolate, and avoid artificial dyes and flavors.
I am most proud of building this business from the ground up while raising four children and staying true to the values that inspired it. What began as a cottage bakery in my home has grown into a storefront bakery and community gathering space where people can enjoy beautiful desserts, attend classes, celebrate special occasions, and feel confident about the ingredients they’re consuming.
Beyond the desserts themselves, my goal is to show that food can be beautiful, thoughtfully made and delicious! Through creativity, education, faith, and a commitment to quality, I hope to leave a positive impact on every customer who walks through our doors.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, is about far more than financial achievement. It means building a life and business that align with my values, allow me to serve others, and leave a positive impact on my family and community.
As a business owner, success is creating products I am proud to put my name on, staying true to my commitment to quality ingredients, and knowing that customers trust us enough to make us part of their celebrations and everyday lives. It’s seeing a child light up over a birthday cookie, hearing a customer say they appreciate our ingredient standards, or watching someone discover that treats can be beautiful, thoughtfully made and delicious!
On a personal level, success means balancing entrepreneurship with being a wife and mother to four children. It means leading with integrity, keeping faith at the center of my decisions, and trusting God’s plan even when the path isn’t always clear.
While growth and profitability are important, I believe true success is measured by the lives we touch, the relationships we build, and whether we remain faithful to our purpose along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.delice-bakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delice.tx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delice.tx
