Micro-bakery serving up holiday baked goods

A fledgling home-based micro-bakery is ready for the holiday rush.

Delaney’s Sourdough, launched just over a year ago, has already made a splash on the local food scene. From her specially equipped kitchen, owner Delaney Peters serves up loaves of crusty bread alongside scones, cookies, and other baked goodies.

Baking has been part of her life since she was very young. But Peters only recently decided to make a go of commercializing her skills as a way to help with household expenses while raising her young son.

The response was immediate, and a little unexpected, she said.

“Baking has always been one of my favorite hobbies, so it wasn’t hard to make more bread than we needed as a family,” Peters said.

Before officially launching, she would give bread, scones, and other baked goods to friends for feedback. Once comfortable with her product, Peters made a few extra loaves to test the waters.

“I made a little Facebook post about having a few loaves for sale, and the rest is history,” she said. “I never thought I’d sell more than just a few loaves at a time. I was looking for a way to make some grocery money for my family while also staying home with my son, but the community response really blew me away.”

That response recently translated into her 2,000th loaf sold. It also helped her hone her game through the winter last year, taking orders through her online storefront for pick-up the following week.

Over time, Peters said those weekly pickups grew. So did her need for more specialized equipment.

“I needed to invest in equipment that would allow me to bake in bigger quantities without losing more time with my family,” she said.

Her first purchase was for a second refrigerator dedicated to storing dough and other ingredients. The purchase of a Simply Bread oven, which Peters calls “a beast,” followed. That allowed her to bake 12 to 15 loaves at a time.

This past summer, she also set up shop at the Matanuska Community Farmers Market, a weekly pop-up in downtown Palmer featuring mostly fresh local produce.

“I absolutely love this market and plan on participating again next year,” Peters said. “All the vendors truly care about the quality of their goods. It’s incredible.”

In addition to online orders, Delaney’s Sourdough products are available to the public at Milk & Honey in Wasilla, and The Fern in Palmer. Both places feature Peters’ seasonal scone flavors. The window for Christmas orders opens Dec. 14 at hotplate.com/delaneyssourdough. Those ordering can choose to pick up their baked goods in either Wasilla or Palmer on Dec. 23. In addition to the usual weekly offerings, like artisan bread, English muffins, and scones, Peters is offering cinnamon rolls and cardamom buns. “I am very excited about my Christmas menus this month,” she said.

As with any startup business, the learning curve can be steep. But 14 months into hers, Peters said support is critical to smoothing the rough edges.

“The biggest lessons I’ve learned have been to ask for help when needed, saying no to things that are not worth my time, and to trust my gut,” she said. “A special shout-out to my lovely family, who either helps me prep for markets or plays with my son. I could not do it without them.”

Of course, having customers she enjoys baking for also helps.

“I have been so blessed by my community here in the Palmer-Wasilla area. I could not have asked for a better place to live or own a micro-bakery,” Peters said. “This town truly loves their small businesses, and we feel that in a big way.”

Her micro-bakery success has naturally made Peters think about the future.

“I’m always dreaming of owning a high quality organic artisan bakery,” she said. “But for now, I’m focusing on honing my craft, baking for my community, and raising my son – while keeping my heart and mind open to wherever life leads.”

FIND OUT MORE

www.delaneyssourdough.com