Meet Stefanie Embree of OKC Sweets in Oklahoma City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Embree.

Stefanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Nine years ago, I was a newlywed and a middle school orchestra teacher. I had always enjoyed reading through cookbooks and baking the occasional cookies or cake, but it wasn’t until that point in my life I discovered that I really loved baking. About two and a half years into marriage, my husband and I started talking about what it would be like to have our own little shop, but before we had a chance to really explore that option, we found out I was pregnant with twins! At twenty-five weeks gestation (fifteen weeks premature), my baby boys were born- they were so tiny and sick and weighed in at 740 grams each, which equates to one pound and 10 ounces each.

It was a trying time, but by God’s grace, they not only survived, but they thrived. When they finally came home I had the opportunity to stay home with them, which I absolutely loved! A few years later, we added a precious daughter to our family through adoption and it was over the course of those years as a (mostly) stay at home mom that I started baking regularly. Baking truly became something I was passionate about and in January 2018 after incredible encouragement from family and friends I launched my home bakery business, OKC Sweets.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey from newlywed to mother to running a home bakery business has been just that- a journey. I’ve experienced so much joy in the last nine years of my life- the joy of marriage, the opportunity to experience childbirth, the beauty of adding to our family through adoption, the success of my home bakery, expanding my baking skills in ways I never imagined as well as the exciting growth of my Instagram account. On the flip side, and in all actuality the side that has brought me the most growth, I’ve experienced the trauma of watching my children suffer and spend 81 days in the NICU after birth, the many hours of therapy to help them thrive, the sudden loss of a brother, and the challenges of postpartum. I think those are the experiences that have changed me and shaped me the most. In the craziest of ways, I’m thankful for the experiences I’ve had and my prayer is that I will always strive to be a more compassionate, brave, and resilient woman because of it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with OKC Sweets – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business, OKC Sweets, is located in Oklahoma City, and I provide (mostly) cakes to OKC and surrounding areas. I also have a thriving Instagram account with followers from all over the world, on which I share photos and videos of my desserts and often provide tips and tutorials for others. I love the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with others, and in turn, see them try those things for themselves. I absolutely love decorating cakes- it brings me such joy when a customer receives their cake and lights up with delight. It’s a double bonus when I get a text later telling me how amazing it tasted! One thing that I think sets me apart is the flavor quality of my desserts- my goal is for everything I serve to not only look fabulous but also to be the best tasting of its kind out there! I’ve recently started dabbling in painting cakes, and while it’s definitely a labor of love, it’s become one of my favorite things to do!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My dream for the future is to open my own dessert shop that specializes in individual-sized treats, custom cakes, and other fabulous things! I would also love to teach others how to do things like decorate a cake, paint designs on cookies, and bake something completely from scratch. I have so many ideas brewing!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @okcsweets

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