Sorting through the ingredients in her cupboard, senior Kalei Mayer, faced a dilemma.  Mayer was attempting to decide which treat she craved more:  cookies or cupcakes.  While most people would weigh their options carefully, or eat both, Mayer was struck with the inspiration to combine the two desserts.  From her confusion, her passion for baking blossomed along with her first original baked good, yellow cupcakes infused with a cookie dough center, topped off with cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of cookie butter.

Since she was not able to eat the entire batch of cookie cupcakes on her own, Mayer brought them to school.  After watching her sweet treats disappear within seconds, Mayer realized that her baking skills could have more value than merely pleasing her own sweet tooth.

“As a sophomore who was still a little shy and easily intimidated by other people, I grabbed at the opportunity to potentially make some friends by picking up the whisk,” said Mayer.

Though Mayer occasionally sells her baked goods, she finds greater joy in seeing people smile when they taste her creations rather than when she looks at the size of her wallet.  The happiness she sees in people after consuming her pastries is what really motivates her to continue sharing the products of her hobby.

“As long as it keeps people happy, I’ll keep baking,” said Mayer.

With her beautiful desserts and confident attitude, most may assume that anyone in her position may be arrogant in her skill, but Mayer, just like everybody else, has insecurities.  After all, though her treats may taste otherworldly, she is only human!

“I remember when I really gained my confidence as a baker,” said Mayer.  “I went to a promo shoot for an a cappella camp over the summer.  I made cookies for July 4, but didn’t wind up going to the party I made them for, so I brought them to the shoot for everybody there. We were working with a very charismatic, innovative group that had won the TV show The Sing Off called Pentatonix.  One of the members had one and just looked at me and said, ‘Are there angels in these cookies? Can you do that? Did you put angels in these?’”

Although Mayer does not want to pursue a career in baking, she will continue making scrumptious goodies.  This master baker is one to look for around campus because you never know when she will show up with a sweet surprise!

For more information, check out www.facebook.com/mixandbatchbaking.