Since watching her mother start and grow her own catering company, Chanell Heineman has dreamt of opening her own cupcake and coffee shop.
Thanks to her mother’s love for cooking and baking, Chanell became acquainted with the sweet art of baking from a very young age. Even though she had always baked in her free time and later part-time, she only pursued it full-time when she opened her own baking business last year in November. For Chanell it was ‘now or never’.
“I’ve always loved baking, especially cupcakes. For nine years I had a corporate job and only baked when I had the time. About two years ago I started baking for others on request, and it soon became my side hustle,” she said.
She soon learnt that with some hard work and dedication she could make her lifelong dream come true. It wasn’t long before her home-run business, Cupcakes & Crumbs was on everyone’s lips – literally.
Apart from the classics, Chanell likes to experiment with flavours such as salted caramel, raspberry and white chocolate ganache, strawberry cheesecake, caramel popcorn, and blueberry and lavender. She went on to say that she enjoys baking any kind of sweet treat such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, tarts and macarons for special events like birthdays, weddings and parties, to name just a few.
“What I love most is when I can look at the end product and just appreciate the beauty of it, knowing it tastes just as good. I am a perfectionist so when I’m not happy with something, I start all over again,” she said.
“I also enjoy the challenges that go with it because I like learning more about the craft. When I’m not baking, I’m watching YouTube videos to learn more about it. I can spend hours just baking and turning a few ingredients into a work of art.”
Along with her dream of opening a cupcake shop, Chanell hopes to establish her brand within various communities whilst improving her skills in the kitchen. Her advice to other aspiring bakers?
“Just do it – don’t wait, just do it!”
If you would like to show some support, feel free to visit Cupcakes & Crumbs on Facebook, or contact Chanell on 076 610 7480.
