{ SHARING THE SUGAR } Featuring: Sweet-Stops Divine Desserts!!!

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet two truly inspiring and talented women. In February, Lin Sue Cooney and Cindy Leech of Phoenix decided to come together and marry their passion for baking and their cherished friendship into a business. The result was pure perfection! And, just a few short months ago, Sweet-Stops Divine Desserts was born! 

Together, they have really created something special... It is a business that not only consistently turns out the most delectable desserts but their dynamic personalities and spirits are just LOVELY to be around. In this extremely competitive industry, it is just so refreshing to meet such down to earth people who just really LOVE what they do. Outside of their Bake Shop, they both have full time jobs and are quite good at what they do. But they have found that this passion for baking can produce a thriving business...

Our meeting was just so much fun! We talked about trends in the industry, events we have worked on and what is on the horizon for Sweet-Stops... And, I have to say, it's really EXCITING!!! These are two women you definitely want to know... So, today we are {Sharing the Sugar} and giving you the opportunity to get to know them. Something tells me you are going to see A LOT of them! They are simply FABULOUS in so many ways...

They offer a great variety of items and are flexible and willing to take special requests. They have darling packaging too but are always willing to do something special if a client wants something different. So, if you are hosting a wedding or an event and want a takeaway gift or favor and would like it to match the color scheme of your event, Sweet-Stops is ready to help! 

So... without further adieu... Let me introduce you to Lin Sue Cooney and Cindy Leech and their dream come to life: Sweet-Stops Divine Desserts!

Tell us a little about yourselves...  

We are two dear friends who both LOVE to eat… and we also share a passion for cooking, baking and entertaining. I’m (Lin Sue) type A, she’s (Cindy) definitely B.  I’m (Lin Sue) dashing here and there, she’s (Cindy) serenely content. I’m (Lin Sue) a perfectionist, she’s (Cindy) soothingly practical … it’s the perfect combination!  

We made a pact when we opened our company on February 1^st that if we ever felt like the business was compromising our friendship we would dissolve it.  We are that important to each other. And so far, it’s been a dream working together… We get along famously; each one trying to make sure she’s pulling her weight.  So, the end result is… we’re both working our tails off… But it’s so much fun!

How did the two of you meet and decide to start Sweet-Stops? 

We met 5 or so years ago at Bible study and gradually became friends… only to discover we have tons in common… from our love of God, family and home… to our fascination with any kind of food… to our passion for decorating, crafting and creating beautiful things (okay, so most of them are edible!) Once we discovered we live 3 minutes from each other…. We were each other’s houses constantly.  My husband doesn’t even blink when he wakes up and Cindy’s letting herself in the house with her own key!

{ Famous Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee }

Have you both always had a passion for baking? 

Yes! Probably since we were in utero...

{ Assortment Tray featuring Brownie Bites, Truffles and Toffee and Chewy Gooey Oatmeal Toffee Cookies }

What inspires you two? 

Flavor, beauty, creativity, the sparkle in someone’s eyes when they taste that first bite of something heavenly. Oh, and the smell of chocolate baking!!!

{ Almond Shortbread Bunny Cookies }

Tell us about a typical day in the life of the Sweet-Stops Girls... 

We are up early baking cookies, cupcakes or brownies… making truffles or toffee.  

Packaging orders for pick up, delivering to stores… then running home, jumping in the shower and getting ready for a 9-hour day at our other jobs! But because we LOVE our company so much… it’s invigorating and energizing.. not work!  We love our commercial kitchen… the owners are a dream and the facility is huge!

{ Butterfly Cupcakes }

       

Tell us about some of your FAVORITE Sweet-Stops creations...  

Our ganache-filled fudge cupcakes with swiss meringue icing, berry-infused truffles, soft chewy oatmeal toffee cookies, or our delicately crisp sugar toffee cookies… and of course… our famous signature dark chocolate pecan toffee.  But we can make anything. Recently we made lemon curd honey cakes with berries, fondant monkey cupcakes, surfboard cupcakes and craisin pecan candy bars. They were precious!

{ Truffles and Chocolate Pecan Berry Truffles }

Are you pretty flexible and willing to do custom creations for special events and weddings?  

We LOVE to create something custom for our customers… That’s the beauty of being a made fresh to order business.  We don’t have a store-front that has to have bakery cases full of pastries that don’t sell and get stale.  We make what our customers are craving and they pick it up baked fresh!

{ Surfboard Cupcakes }

If you could have ANY celebrity call the bake shop to place an order, who would it be?  

Lin Sue: DUH… Martha Stewart.  What a rush it would be to have her flip over something we made!  

Cindy: Oprah (only because our sales would increase and 1,000,000 more people would be enjoying our desserts)

Their second set of answers to this question were...

George Clooney might look pretty good eating a cupcake too! Or Brad Pitt... because they'd like to see how yummy he looks with chocolate all over his face! LOL (Too funny ladies... But, I think we'd ALL agree!!!)

{ Baseball Cupcakes and Sweet Heart Cupcakes }

What sets Sweet-Stops apart? What makes you FABULOUS?  

Well, we have to admit, we think our black and white boxes with red ribbon are FABULOUS! Our recipes are fabulous because we celebrate rich decadent desserts.  We are firm believers in indulging in the best.  No need to overdo it… but why eat a lot of something that doesn’t satisfy… it’s much better to treat yourself to something really really special and love it.  Take the time to just relax with a cup of coffee and a FABULOUS cupcake and revel in the moment. 

Our motto is…
Life’s a whirlwind… savor Sweet-Stops along the way!

{ Pumpkin Cupcakes and Spider Web Cupcakes }

Outside of baking, what do you two enjoy to do in your spare time? 

What spare time?  Actually, we both love spending time with our husbands and children… but we make time to enjoy our girlfriends too.  We have a pretty close knit group of girls from our bible study… and we drop anything to be there for each other.

{ Peach Pie and Chocolate Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes }

What are some of your favorite Valley Hot Spots? 

Yasu Sushi Bistro, Rokerji, Corbins, Los Dos Molinos, Trader Vics, Sierra Bonita, Hana Sushi, Cherry Blossom Café, Wild Thaiger

{ Christmas Ornament Cookies and Butterfly Cupcakes }

What is on the horizon for Sweet-Stops? What are some predictions of some exciting things to come for Sweet Stops...

   We are eagerly anticipating the opening of the beautiful new FRENCH BEE store at Scottsdale fashion square because owner Michael Hansen is going to sell our lovely toffee gift boxes there! We are constantly developing fun new recipes to share with our clients… who’s hungry for toffee whoopee pies? And while we LOVE our corporate clients… we’d love to do more wedding favors (hint hint OH, SUGAR!)

{ Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes and Monkey Girl Cupcakes }

{ Lemon Curd Honey Cakes }

Well... as you can see, these ladies are INCREDIBLY talented. And not only are they talented, they are passionate about their creations and it really shows. I know they are going to be a huge success and I just cannot wait to watch it all unfold! 

For more information about Sweet-Stops or to place your order, please visit their website:

www.Sweet-Stops.com

Follow them on facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Stops/188839241148506

You can also reach them via email at: sweet-stops@cox.net

Or, give them a call at: (602) 692-4176

Go check them out... You will not only love who they are but you'll love their Divine Desserts!

Until next time... Because life REALLY is better with a little SUGAR!!!