Daily Inspiration: Meet Kaitlyn Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Harris.

Hi Kaitlyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My sugar cookie journey began in 2020, during a time of major transition in my life. I was a new mom, navigating postpartum depression and having just left my teaching career to stay home and raise my family during a pandemic. In the midst of it all, I found myself searching for something that was just mine—a creative outlet that gave me peace, joy, and a sense of identity again.

What began as a pandemic hobby quickly became a form of therapy. I wanted to make decorated sugar cookies for my son’s first birthday, and it lit a spark in me. I spent an entire day baking and taste-testing six different cookie and royal icing recipes with my husband and mom. None were perfect on their own, so I experimented and blended the best parts of each to create my own signature recipes—cookies with the ideal balance of flavor, structure, and texture, and icing that’s as beautiful to work with as it is to eat.

At first, I baked for friends and family. Word spread quickly, and before I knew it, I had more orders than I ever expected. In November 2023, I officially launched my business, Beechmount Bakery—and I haven’t looked back since. Cookie decorating gave me purpose, creativity, and healing when I needed it most. Now, I’m honored to share that joy with others, one cookie at a time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Royal icing is notoriously tricky—any cookie artist will tell you that! Teaching myself how to work with it was a labor of love. I watched countless videos, read blogs, scrolled through TikToks, and joined Facebook groups filled with Cookiers who share their wins and flops. I’m also part of a local baker community where we constantly trade tips and techniques. The learning curve was steep, but I embraced every bit of it. I love growing my skills, trying new methods, and pushing myself creatively—because every cookie is a chance to learn something new.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a cookie artist who specializes in custom decorated sugar cookies made entirely from scratch in my home bakery. I’m known for my original recipes that deliver not just beautiful cookies, but unforgettable flavor and texture. My most popular is my lemon vanilla sugar cookie with lemon vanilla royal icing—a thick, soft-bite cookie with the perfect cookie-to-icing ratio and just the right pop of citrus. I also offer classic vanilla, vanilla confetti, and chocolate sugar cookies, and I’ve recently added chocolate chip cookie cakes topped with vanilla buttercream, which have quickly become client favorites.

What sets me apart is the care and creativity I bring to every order—whether it’s a small personal set of three cookies or hundreds for a corporate event or wedding. I’m always working closely with clients to create something custom, meaningful, and within their budget. I take pride in providing not only a sweet treat, but a memorable experience.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve grown my business from word-of-mouth orders to working with well-known companies like Zoetis and Kellogg’s, and local institutions such as Albion College, Western Michigan University, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I do it all from my home bakery—balancing creativity, quality, and quick response times (I’m known for being up at all hours!) while building something I’m incredibly proud of.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is being in my element—decorating sugar cookies with royal icing. It’s my favorite creative medium, and there’s something deeply fulfilling about bringing a theme to life in cookie form. I truly light up when clients come to pick up their orders. Their reactions make every 5:00 a.m. decorating session worth it. Just recently, a client teared up over a set of Titanic-themed cookies for her son’s 7th birthday. She told me how obsessed he was with the Titanic and how he was even planning to wear a captain’s suit in the blistering summer heat for his birthday party. It’s stories like that that stay with me. Every order is personal, and every new theme is a chance to create something meaningful. I’m always up for a challenge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://forms.gle/gxXqGpzGhTses7WK9
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beechmountbakery?igsh=MXBzdjBqMjUwY3hyNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/192sNGuv1A/?mibextid=wwXIfr