THE ORIGIN STORY
My name is Jess.
One of my first memories is from my fifth birthday party. About 50 close family members (we have a really, really big family) were slammed into my parent’s 2-bedroom apartment in Staten Island all to celebrate me.
It was about to be my favorite part of the day: cake time.
My mom came from the kitchen and placed the most amazing Little Mermaid cake in front of me. As my family began to sing, I stared with awe and wonder at my mom, feeling blessed by the cake she handcrafted just for me.
A full Ariel doll was peeking out of a wave entirely of cake and homemade frosting. Tufts of buttercream graced her elegant frame. Blue, white, and green frosting glimmered in the light of the five candles on top. I looked up at my mom with pure adornment – completely enamored that she made me something so beautiful. It was in that moment that I realized…
You can taste love.
And it tastes sweet.
Each birthday, holiday, and special occasion, my mom had a tiny new baking buddy in the kitchen. Some of my best memories were baking cookies with her for Santa, trying new recipes after exceptionally rough pre-teen school days, or making something special for my dad ‘just because’.
In 2016, I was blessed with my own (not so little anymore!) munchkin Ariya to pass on traditions with. She became my inspiration to go bigger and try even more elaborate desserts, with each birthday pushing me to greater confectionary heights.
Before my mom passed away in February 2025, we were blessed with a few wonderful years of three generations of bakers working towards one common goal:
to live deliciously.
The passion for baking has lived in me since before I could see over the kitchen counter. So after over 30 years – inspired by the memories of my family and my personal passion for all things creepy – I’ve decided to share that love with the world.
I’m proud to introduce my cottage bakery: The Spookery.
The Spookery conjures up a wickedly delicious line of spooky and decadent desserts, perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth for the strange. From spellbinding cookies and devilishly rich brownies to wicked pastries, each treat captures the magic of spooky season all year-round.
At The Spookery, each treat contains a special ingredient: a little bit of magic.
So take a bite and live deliciously!
Based in Monmouth County, New Jersey, you can find us at local farmer’s markets, fairs, and community days across the state.
Want to see where we will be next?
