If you take a stroll down N. 15th street in the Sanger Heights neighborhood, you may come across the sweet smell of cinnamon wafting through the air from Baked Bliss, a bakery that is located on the corner of 15th and West Ave. Bliss means “heavenly joy “and is owned by Kim Cutler. Kim’s business motto is to create a heavenly experience with her baked goods, cultivating a culture of joy and hope through food. And that is exactly what she does.
Kim got her start by baking out of her house in 2013 on Fridays in the Sanger Heights neighborhood. She called them Fun Fridays, and from 7 am-2 pm, friends and customers could come by and get cinnamon rolls, scones, and cupcakes. This gave Kim the opportunity to explore recipes and find out what customers liked. Kim has always been committed to providing premium products, and it shows in the time she takes in developing her recipes and products. Kim has even taken the time to develop an entire gluten-free menu!
Before starting to bake out of her house, Kim took a job as a shift manager at Starbucks in 2006-2007 and worked there for 7 years to gain experience managing a bakery, so she was more than prepared when in 2015, she got a call from Joanna Gaines asking if she could sale wholesale, but she couldn’t bake out of her house and could she start in 2 weeks. It was a challenge Kim gladly accepted, and with the help of friend Kathy Wise, they were able to convert an old gas station that had been multiple things throughout the years, including a restaurant, into a commercial baking space within two weeks.
During her first year of baking for Magnolia, Kim also began thinking about how to expand to provide room for customers. The old gas station was big enough to bake in but didn’t really have room for customers to sit down and relax. She and her dad were able to repurpose an old FEMA trailer that they converted into a storefront. That with the addition of a deck that they were able to come up with a creative solution to find space for their customers to sit and hang out.
Baking has always been more than a hobby for Kim; it is a calling. She hopes to one day open more bakeries around the world, with not only the goal of selling baked goods but the goal of providing work opportunities for youth that teaches them life skills. She wants to provide a space for them to gain work experience but that also fosters a sense of social responsibility.
When asked what her favorite part about her business is, Kim says, “That her customers are her favorite part. She loves getting to celebrate life moments with them using food. She also thinks of her business as a family and team effort.” They are a large part of what makes Baked Bliss so great. So the next time you are on 15th street, stop by and get some heavenly treats from Baked Bliss.
Bake Bliss is located at:
1114 N. 15th Street
Waco, Texas 76707
254-214-9911
