Demand for Tri-Cities baker’s hand-crafted treats explodes during stay-home orders

There is nothing simple about Angela Dutton’s specialized sugary creations.

The owner of Simple Sweets Co. makes hand-decorated cookies with elaborate details, cakes oozing with frosting flowers and candy bar cookies that weigh in at a third-pound each.

The 34-year-old orthodontist assistant officially opened her cottage bakery in late June, and she runs it from her Kennewick home.

Demands for her treats that were once only made for friends, family and co-workers exploded as people were stuck at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“My first thought was panic mode,” said Dutton, fearing she and her husband would be laid off from their regular jobs. “But then I said, ‘I’m just going to keep baking,’ and there was a domino effect.”

She said that many parents have been asking for special-order cakes to celebrate birthdays for kids who can’t have a typical birthday party with friends.

Customers spread the word and Simply Sweets Co.’s Instagram fan base grew from 200 to nearly 2,000 in just a few months. And Dutton is now booked until October.

“This is great income — just as something to fall back on,” she said. “If you have the talent ,why not pursue it as a business?”

Her secret weapon is that while she has a passion for dental work, she also has a degree in nutrition from Central Washington University.

“All of our labs were cooking. We’d have to create a plan to make something healthier such as for those who are diabetic or gluten free,” she said.

She’d review textures, consistencies and figure out how to formulate a recipe. Dutton now puts those skills to use making all her treats from scratch.

The mother to small children balances baking during her days off from work and caring for a 2-year-old daughter and nearly 4-year-old son.

She said she’s often in the kitchen in the hours after their bedtime.

“If I’m posting at midnight, that is when I’m getting my baking done,” she said.

Prices range from $25 to $40 for a dozen decorated sugar cookies and $25 and up for a custom cakes.

Dutton also makes macarons, candy bar cookies and gluten-free items, also made from scratch. Her items eventually will be available at The Coffee Crush when they open a new location in August at Road 68.

To order, call or text 509-528-1649 or go to Instagram or Facebook.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 10:10 AM.