05/18/2026
I just wanted to give you guys some insight about who I am and how this business was started.
Cookies by Clare was born from love, creativity, and a reminder that life is short.
Over a decade ago, baking started as a way to make my daughter’s birthdays magical. Every year brought a new creative challenge — cupcakes shaped like trees, unicorn cakes, surfboard cakes, candy-themed creations, and whatever wild idea she dreamed up next. Baking became my creative outlet and a way to show love through food.
At the same time, my heart has always been in healthcare. I became an LVN in 2004, went back to school to become a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2012, and later earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business in 2022. I’ve worked at Port Lavaca Nursing and Rehab since 2010, helping residents regain independence after strokes, surgeries, and life-changing health events. There is nothing quite like helping someone take their first steps again or teaching them how to safely get into a car so they can finally go home.
Over the years, my residents and patients constantly encouraged me to sell my baking. Last October, while my father-in-law was recovering from open heart surgery, I had one of those moments that changes your perspective. Life is short. So I decided to finally give it a try — and Cookies by Clare was created.
Everything I make is done in small batches with care. I brown my butter for richer, deeper flavor, and I won’t sell anything that doesn’t meet my standards. My sourdough recipes are intentionally softer because I want even my elderly residents to comfortably enjoy them.
And one of my favorite parts? Giving cookies away. At the Farmers’ Market, you’ll usually find my “Spin the Wheel” game for kids because I want families to have fun, make memories, and keep coming back to support local markets. (And yes — your kids are absolutely welcome to spin more than once.)
Do I plan to grow this into a huge business? Nope. My heart still belongs to rehab and caring for my residents. Baking simply fills the creative side of my soul — and it has become the sweetest hobby I could’ve imagined.
Thank you for supporting this little dream of mine.
— Clare