If walls could talk, the Browne family’s kitchen would sing of the sweet aroma of caramelizing brown butter that wafts weekly from the oven, preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Sophomore Tatiana Browne whipped up her baking business, Angelic Apron Bakery, last year to satiate her love for baking. Her kitchen produces a wide variety of baked goods including cookies, cakes and cake pops. 

“I really love baking,” Tatiana said. “It’s always been a big hobby of mine. People kept telling me that I’m good at baking and I really enjoy it. It’s a great pastime for me. I thought ‘I am spending a lot of money on this, so I might as well get paid for it.’ My mom has always been really supportive of me – she was the one who suggested I start a business.”

With cultural connections to Serbia, Mexico and France, Tatiana spent her childhood influenced by a spice rack of different baking styles. 

“We grew up with influences from both sides,” senior and sister Adriana Browne said. “My family likes being taste testers, too. I get to tell her what I like from an objective standpoint. We do a lot of figuring out if something is good enough for her to put on the website or not.”

The naming process, Tatiana said, proved the most time-consuming ingredient. After months of brainstorming and feedback from friends, Tatiana finally settled on Angelic Apron Bakery, a name which blended her Christian faith and passion for treat-making. 

“Most of my customers are my friends and family,” Tatiana said. “They’ve helped me a lot throughout the name picking process and just supporting me in general. They pushed me to start the business. All that support and the constant feedback is great. My mom is definitely my biggest supporter.”

According to sophomore and volleyball teammate Grace Kelly, baking provides Tatiana a safe harbor to find peace in.

“I’ve supported her by encouraging her and being someone who is always there when she needs it,” Grace said. “When she pitched the idea of starting a baking business I supported her more than she supported herself. Just saying her buckeye cookies were good is an understatement. The chocolate and peanut butter blended better than I could’ve imagined, and the cookie itself was soft and filling in the best way.”

Prices are quoted individually for each customer’s order, typically ranging from $15 to $55 per dozen, depending on the design and flavor’s complexity. 

“Running Angelic Apron is not an inexpensive thing,” Tatiana said. “That’s why the prices for my baked goods are higher. It’s time consuming because there’s a waiting period for every step. Sometimes I say stay up until 1 a.m. baking and it’s always made fresh. I don’t like to procrastinate, but sometimes I put my business before my school work. But even so, I do get most of my work done.” 

For graduation season, Tatiana now works to bake dozens of cap and gown-themed cookies for senior orders.

“She’s very creative and has a wide variety of skills when it comes to baking,” Adriana said. “With her custom orders she’s very meticulous. She always tests out recipes again and again so she can get it right before she hands it off to people. She’s pretty professional in that aspect.”

Angelic Apron’s cookies are based on the iconic New York City variety, which Tatiana said are thicker than the average bakery’s.

“My cookies are the gourmet thing – they’re always fresh,” Tatiana said. “The chocolate chip cookies you buy at Randall’s are full of preservatives. The cookies I make are always made fresh and made with brown butter and hand-chopped chocolate chips. My cookies are frozen too, to amplify the flavors. I don’t want to give off a homemade vibe. I want people to see Angelic Apron as a genuine bakery because that’s what it is.”

Tatiana offers 16 different cakes, cookies and cake pops, along with customizable options. 

“It’s important to support small businesses because your money doesn’t just go to a corporate fund or a CEO, it goes toward something more meaningful,” Grace said. “Tatiana is such a kind carrying soul who puts herself last. She puts so much love into her baking and genuinely loves and appreciates being able to make stuff that brings joy to others. If you’re going to buy from any bakery, let it be Angelic Bakery.”

Information on how to order can be found on Tatiana’s website, angelicapron.com. 

“Baking is nourishing for my soul,” Tatiana said. “It makes me happy to help others. If someone’s having a hard time, I hope my cookies improve their day. It just makes my heart happy to see other people enjoy food. Really, my baking is about helping other people. Also, I love sweets, so there’s some benefit to me too.”