The Weekly Whisk by Valley Girl Kitchen – Meet Shelby Braziel of Salt & Sugar Baking Co.
✨ Celebrating Small Bakers with Big Dreams – One Whisk at a Time! ✨
If you’re in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and someone mentions “The Cookie Girl”, they’re talking about none other than Shelby Braziel—the powerhouse baker behind Salt & Sugar Baking Co.! Her half-pound gourmet cookies and nostalgic classics have become a local must-have, with fresh-baked goodness hitting the scene every Friday.
HOW IT STARTED
Shelby’s love for baking goes way back. While other kids were picking out toys at the school book fair, she was flipping through cookbooks, already dreaming up sweet creations.
Her baking business started out of necessity—right before the holidays one year, she found herself between jobs and thought, Why not share my cookies with the community? It wasn’t an overnight success, but through consistency, marketing, and showing up at local events, she built a loyal following—and now, she’s the go-to baker in town.
THE SALT & SUGAR BAKING CO. EXPERIENCE
Shelby’s approach to baking is all about quality over quantity. Every batch is made fresh with locally and ethically sourced ingredients, no preservatives, and nothing is ever frozen or stored. Her customers know they can count on that just-out-of-the-oven taste every single time. 🍪
But it’s not just about the cookies—Shelby has built genuine relationships within her community and with fellow bakers online. From expanding her home bakery space to launching a website, she continues to grow—all because she believed in her craft and kept going.
BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
Baking isn’t all sugar and sprinkles. The rising cost of ingredients (and those dreaded egg shortages!) have made things tough, but Shelby has found ways to navigate it by working with local farmers and keeping her prices fair for customers.
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING BAKERS
“Just do it!” Shelby encourages anyone dreaming of a baking business to start now. Don’t let self-doubt stop you from sharing your talent. Bad days will happen, but they’re part of the learning process. Keep going, keep baking, and trust that your people will find you. 💛
WHERE TO FIND SHELBY
📍 Instagram: @saltandsugarbakingco
📍 TikTok: @bakehousebyshelby
📍 Website: www.saltandsugarbakingco.com
Shelby, your story is proof that consistency, passion, and a love for baking can take you so far. Keep making those half-pound cookies we all wish we could get our hands on! 🍪✨
Let’s give Shelby some love in the comments! 💕 Who should we feature next on The Weekly Whisk by Valley Girl Kitchen? Tag a baker who deserves the spotlight! ✨🍪👩🍳 Apply to be featured in The Weekly Whisk! 📩 APPLY HERE
XOXO Rachael