Kylie Arnold shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kylie, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ince breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m actually the most proud of the parts of Kylie’s Desserts that no one sees—the heart and dedication poured into every aspect of my business. Everyone else sees finished cookies, social media posts, and event setups. But so much more goes into ensuring the success of this business, which I built on my own, taking no shortcuts. There are the countless late nights, managing social media accounts, ongoing customer interactions, accounting/expense management, inventory, and coming up with and testing new items and designs, to name a few.
I’m most proud of myself—of the me behind the scenes, working countless hours to make it all happen. My quiet strength. Even though most of that work is invisible, it’s what makes Kylie’s Desserts what it is today.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Kylie—the owner, baker, and creative mind behind Kylie’s Desserts. Kylie’s Desserts is a small, home-based dessert business specializing in decorated sugar cookies. The inspiration for my business came from my grandmother, who sparked my love for baking when I was growing up. After she passed in 2021 at 93 years old, I took the leap and began building my business. Over time, it has grown into something truly meaningful.
While we also offer classic desserts like cupcakes, what makes us special is that we can put just about anything onto a cookie. By combining my love for art and baking, I’m able to take the details customers share with me and design cookie sets that are unique and personal to each customer and event! We also cater to large events and companies, as we have the ability to print logos directly onto our cookies!
Another thing that’s special about us, and very important to me, is that we’re a 100% nut-free business. As someone with multiple life-threatening allergies, I know how hard it is to find safe desserts. I’ve always wanted to offer a safe option for others who struggle with allergies. We’re currently working on the addition of gluten-free options! It’s more than cookies to me—it’s about helping people celebrate life’s moments in a way that feels special, personal, and safe.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Cole, my long-term partner and best friend, saw me clearly before I could see myself. I’ve never been very confident or comfortable trying new things, and I’ve struggled with severe anxiety my entire life. We started dating in 2018, and over our seven years together, he has played a major role in helping me love myself and live with more confidence. From day one, he has done nothing but support me. He saw strength, creativity, and determination in me before I ever could, and he’s helped me use those qualities to build Kylie’s Desserts into what it is today.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Mental health. Living with health OCD, chronic anxiety, and clinical depression has been the biggest challenge of my life. It affects how I see myself and the world every single day, and it can make even ordinary things feel overwhelming. On top of that, I also deal with chronic pain, which has forced me to slow down and really listen to my body. I’m still healing, and I know it’s an ongoing process, but I’ve learned to work with these struggles instead of letting them define me. More than anything, these experiences have deepened my kindness toward others and toward myself, because I know how much even small acts of care can mean when you’re struggling. My heart goes out to others who are dealing with similar challenges. There’s still so much stigma around mental health, and I think it’s so important to talk about it openly. If putting myself out there and sharing my story can bring even one person a little comfort or make them feel less alone, then it’s worth it.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Our motto, “Love all. Be kind. Eat cookies.” sums it up perfectly. To me, Kylie’s Desserts is about more than just cookies — it’s about kindness and making others happy with our cookies. Physically, I want Kylie’s Desserts to be a safe space for those with allergies, and a good experience for everyone. Online, I want it to be a space where everyone feels welcome, and where our content can bring comfort or joy to anyone who might be struggling. I even find myself going back to watch my own decorating videos when I need a little calm or a reminder of why I started. I want my customers to feel seen and cared for, whether they’re celebrating something joyful or simply in need of a little kindness on a hard day.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Our cookies, of course! They’re the heart of what I do. But I’d like to think they’d miss more than just that. I hope they’d miss the way I sincerely care about their stories and want to help make their events special. I’d like to believe they’d also miss the kindness, care, and personal connection I bring to every order—the feeling of being seen, celebrated, and understood through something as simple as a cookie.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kyliesdesserts.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyliesdesserts/
- Linkedin: https://tr.ee/R2xLoUIVHD
- Facebook: https://tr.ee/aC49PSFTmw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kylie-s-desserts-edgemere?osq=kylie%27s+Desserts
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@KyliesDesserts
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kyliesdesserts?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
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