Two Friends
Our story begins with two friends brought together in the workplace. Elyse—the heart and hands behind our cookies—spent over 25 years perfecting her recipes alongside her mother in their family kitchen in Boone, NC. Every holiday season, she shared those cookies with coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family. Her homemade treats quickly became the highlight of the gifting season, and before long, her community was begging her to make cookies year-round.
Michelle, also a proud North Carolina native with roots tracing back over 250 years, carries forward her family’s rich legacy of southern traditions. From treasured recipes and genuine hospitality to farm-fresh ingredients nurtured on the McDowell Family Dairy Farm, these values are baked into every cookie. Their passion for all things southern, local, and heartwarming is the foundation of Southern Darling Bake Shoppe.
A Shared Dream
When their professional lives shifted in 2025 for both Elyse and Michelle, one thing never changed: their shared love for gifting, hospitality, and making people feel cherished—along with Elyse’s irresistible, fresh-baked cookies. For years, they joked about “starting a cookie business,” because everyone who tasted Elyse’s cookies wanted more. After seven years of friendship and countless conversations, that dream became a reality, and Southern Darling Bake Shoppe was born.
Celebrate the Sweetness
At Southern Darling Bake Shoppe, we honor tradition in every batch we bake. Each cookie is made the old-fashioned way—by hand, in small batches, using recipes passed down and perfected. We choose only quality ingredients and add a dash of Southern charm, because we believe every treat should taste like it came straight from your grandmother’s kitchen.
Whether you’re sending a thoughtful gift, setting a dessert table for a celebration, or simply treating yourself, we want our cookies to make you feel welcomed, cherished, and a little bit spoiled.
Because here at Southern Darling Bake Shoppe, we believe there is sweetness in every corner of life—and that sweetness should be celebrated.