Founded in 2014 by Lauren Brooks, “Bakery Bling” is transforming the baking industry with its luxurious, non-toxic, and fully edible “Glittery Sugar.” What began as an innovative solution for cocktail rimmers quickly grew into a beloved brand, offering whimsical gingerbread houses, designer cookie kits and edible cake toppers. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Bakery Bling operates out of a 100,000-square-foot facility, ensuring all products are nut-free, kosher, and crafted with the highest quality ingredients. Today, Lauren’s vision of creating safe, glittery products for families has become a household name, bringing joy and creativity to kitchens everywhere.
Are you originally from Oklahoma?
No, I’m not originally from Oklahoma, but my husband is. I actually did TV in Oklahoma City for a few years, where I helped start the morning show at Fox 25. But I was born and raised in Southern California.
Why did you decide on a location in Oklahoma for Bakery Bling?
We were looking for a larger facility because the business was growing fast. We had about 9,000 square feet in San Clemente and quickly outgrew that space. I started searching for bigger buildings and found one in Oklahoma City that was perfect – about 90,000 to 100,000 square feet. It was exactly what we needed, with wide open space for equipment. That’s how we ended up in Oklahoma.
What was the idea behind Bakery Bling?
We started making glittery sugars – that was our entry into the baking industry. We sold them to Disney, and some of our glittery sugars went on Starbucks cookies. Then, we began selling a lot of edible glitter to companies manufacturing products.
I had an idea for a cookie kit. A buyer from Kroger called me a couple of weeks later and said, ‘Can I get a hundred thousand of these for fall?’ We had never baked cookies, but that year, I ended up doing the fall pumpkin cookie kit and the snowman cookie kit for Kroger. That’s how Bakery Bling was born.
What is the secret of being a successful CEO and balancing home life?
It’s not perfect. It’ll never be perfect. I just try and make sure everybody’s happy. Sometimes work wins, and sometimes kids win. I still work at night. I get up early. I’m in a very busy stage of life because my kids are very active. I mean, someone’s going this way, somebody’s going that way all the time It’s just life right now.
Tell me about some of the awards you have received.
We got the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award last year. That was a big honor. We were also part of the 100 Women to Know and the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned Companies in the U.S. last year. Those are great awards, but for me, it’s really about my team and what they’re capable of. It’s not just about me, it’s about growing and achieving together as a team.
Have receiving these awards helped your business and career?
Here’s the thing about being woman-owned – it never opened a door for me. Last year, when I was recognized among the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned Companies, there were two men up there with me. It’s frustrating because large corporations use ‘woman-owned’ as a ploy, but it doesn’t actually help you in business.
In your opinion, how have women-owned businesses contributed to breaking through the ‘glass ceiling’?
It’s hard, especially if you have children. They want us to work like we don’t have kids and raise kids like we don’t work. In my opinion, raising children is the most important job. But I think that’s why women are so successful in business – we’re used to multitasking and wearing multiple hats. Those skills make you valuable in a business setting.
Lauren’s journey to building an innovative baking empire reflects her vision, perseverance, and dedication. As Bakery Bling grows, Lauren remains passionate about empowering women and making a meaningful impact in the baking and business industries. With her leadership and drive Bakery Bling will continue to flourish.
