Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabuela Q Cookies Aka Sharon Quiñones
Hi Fabuela Q Cookies, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
December 31, 2019, I found myself looking for an alternative to a New Years Resolution. I decided that I would make a list of 12 things that I had been wanting to do and knock out one of them each month. 2020 had other plans for my list, and it remained just a list. I picked it back up in 2023, and Facebook must’ve heard me say I was looking at a cooking/baking class because all of a sudden here is a Sugar Cookie Decorating Class in my newsfeed.
I have actually never liked decorated sugar cookies. I’ve always found them to be too hard and lacking flavor; pretty to look at, but a waste of calories. I needed to complete something new for the month, so I signed up. My cookies looked like pre-K artwork, but it was so much fun. I hadn’t eaten before the class, and it was about 2pm when it ended. I reached over for one of those cookies, which I just knew was going to be so gross, but I needed to eat something. Much to my surprise, the cookie was so soft and had a wonderful almond flavor to it. I took another class from the same Cookier, and my cookies looked like Kindergarten artwork now. I asked this Cookier if she would mentor me, and she agreed. Fabuela Q Cookies was born.
What’s the meaning behind the name? I am of Hispanic/Latina descent, but I wasn’t raised around that side of my family. A cousin told me how much I favored my great grandmother and how much she enjoyed cooking for others, so I wanted to honor her. Instead of Abuela, I chose Fabuela because it is more fabulous. Q is for my last name, which is Quiñones.
My first year as a Cottage Baker has been overwhelming. There is so much to do and learn. I am still working on perfecting my skills and growing my menu, which currently includes Decorated Sugar Cookies, cRookies (a croissant and cookie combo), and Gourmet Cookies that may or may not be stuffed.
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?
I honestly have nothing to compare it to, but I won’t say it has been easy. I had to decide on a name and then work on a logo. I worked with one company for several weeks, before finally deciding to try another company. I loved the logo I ended up with.
Customers and followers prove to be challenging as well. The only way to gain customers is to get my products in their mouths. Maintaining three social media platforms is also time consuming, but 2 of the 3 have over 1k followers now, with the other just around 750.
The biggest challenge or struggle is time. I work full-time and I Cookie part-time. Trying to fulfill orders, create content for social media, and try new recipes for my menu proves to be my biggest challenge these days.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My full-time job is a Senior Commerical Real Estate Loan Processor, AVP for a local bank. Essentially, I close and fund commercial real estate loans. I have been with my current bank for 3.5 years now, and in Banking for about 11 years overall.
As a Cookier, I also produce a soft cookie. I believe my flavor profile sets me apart from other Cookiers.
What does success mean to you?
Wow. The younger me would’ve totally defined success as fame and fortune, maybe not so much fame, but definitely fortune.
53-year-old me knows it is so much bigger than that. Success can mean so many things. it could be fame and fortune, but it can also be getting through the day, gaining a new customer, networking a new lead, or finishing an order that was a new design for me.
Pricing:
- Decorated Sugar Cookies start at $45 per dozen, with a two-dozen minimum. Multiple and seasonal flavor options available.
- cRookies are $40 per dozen, with a one-dozen minimum. Flavors include: Biscoff, S’mores, Cookies and Cream, and regular Chocolate Chip. More to come.
- Gourmet Cookies start at $30 per dozen for unstuffed
- Gourmet Stuffed Cookies start at $36 per dozen
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fabuelaQcookies
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fabuelaq
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fabuelaQcookies
Image Credits
Harper Photography (my branding shoot). All cookies images are mine.
