Daily Inspiration: Meet Mari Baracuhy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Baracuhy.

Hi Mari, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for baking has been with me all my life. I grew up in Brazil with my mom and grandma baking cakes and sweets weekly for our family. Every birthday was celebrated with a personalized cake and little sweets called “Brigadeiro”. I vividly remember my mom making a snoopy cake for my birthday.

And when I was old enough, I started to help her with the mixer. I was always in the kitchen when she was baking (I also always wanted to lick the bowl of dough!). When I was older I started helping my mom when we had birthday parties, holidays, or any function that required a cake and sweets. I have worked in several fields in my lifetime. Mostly the medical field. But I wasn’t as happy as I am today, being able to create a cake, and sweet memories, for families nationwide.

In 2019, I decided to turn that passion into something more. I decided to invest in professional baking courses, where I learned the best, about techniques, and different cake styles, and started creating one-of-a-kind cakes. Soon enough, I was able to design, bake, and deliver amazing cakes. I then got my website where customers can place orders and pick up cakes and sweets. It’s an online “cakery”. Cakery because I make cakes, cupcakes, brigadeiros, and other small sweet products like cakesickles.

I’m still growing the business. After the pandemic things did change, but I didn’t let that challenge bring me down. I was still able to bring happiness throughout the pandemic. Baking a cake is more than just flour, eggs, and butter. I am creating memories for you to celebrate with your family and loved ones. No matter the occasion. After all, sweets bring us happiness.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I opened the business right before the pandemic. Once everything closed down except for essentials like food and meals. I hesitated if I wanted to go through with it. After all, ice cream shops, bakeries, and other second plan foods were not essentials, and the places didn’t reopen until later. It was nerve-wracking, not knowing the future at that time. But I don’t give up on things. So, I launched my website and customers could place orders and have them delivered, with no contact.

This was a great opportunity because we still wanted to celebrate birthdays, graduations, newborns, accomplishments, and such…. So, I made these things accessible to my clients. It was bittersweet at times when I would place a birthday cake with sweets at someone’s doorstep and from a distance see their reaction to happiness.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a custom cake designer and “Brigadeiro” baker. I create one-of-a-kind cakes for someone’s birthday, baby shower, graduation, and wedding. My designs are carefully planned to meet my customer’s expectations. My fine ingredients and my passion for baking, make each cake delicious and unique. I also bake these bite-size marvelous Brazilian sweets called “Brigadeiros”.

What are “brigadeiros”? Brigadeiros is a bite-size chocolate sweet very popular in Brazil. It’s simply made with condensed milk, and heavy cream (or butter). But you can add cocoa powder, organic pastes like vanilla beans, nuts, and almost anything to create a flavor. Brigadeiro is also a filling for cakes. In a more creamy consistency, is perfectly paired with a fluffy spongy cake that will make your taste buds super happy. So many flavor combinations can be created. It’s a must-try.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Brazil. I have two younger siblings. Being the oldest I guess gave me a role of leadership among my family, friends, and peers. I’ve always been driven to achieve what I wanted in life. I believe this strength came early in my lifetime. My social personality is a plus in my personal life and business. I can make friends at a party where I don’t know anyone. I think is a great trait to have. Having a bubbly personality helps me with my business.

I love traveling as much as I can. I also love to try new cuisine anywhere I travel. I enjoy the beach life. Swimming or snorkeling in the ocean walks on the beach at sunset time, a trip on a speed or leisure boat. I feel I have a bit of “Moana” in me. But I also enjoyed the land. Hikes to waterfalls and discomfort ver new nature beauties, like hikes in the mountains or even the Utah desert can be a great adventure.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://happinessandsweets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happinessandsweets?igsh=MXltcWc3MWphNmc4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happinessandsweets?mibextid=LQQJ4d