We had the good fortune of connecting with Khelsey Daniels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Khelsey, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind our success and the success of our brand is family. We exude family oriented and love in every show, every customer interaction, every event that we are a part of. At almost all of our events our children (all four!) are with us and not just playing, but working the table, taking payments, passing out samples, etc. So much to the effect that when they aren’t there, we are questioned as to why!? My husband and I started this business based off my grandmother Dorothy’s 80-year-old, handwritten, family recipe and from that moment we kept family and love as the basis of our brand. Our customer base is largely filled with repeat consumers and they quickly become family. We are sure to engage with them during each transaction and take our time to know them. We Bake People Happy and the love is always felt in our service and in our product. Family is what has been the driving factor to our success.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dorothy’s Desserts is a family owned and operated cheesecakery located in Metro Atlanta, GA. My husband, Mike and I established this business in 2021 and haven’t looked back since. We started our online bakery, with only one cheesecake flavor, the World-Famous Sweet Potato Cheesecake. An 80-year-old family recipe, passed down to us by my grandmother Dorothy. We provide shipping, delivery and pick up in the Atlanta area and have, over the years, expanded to being in festivals, fairs, and other trade shows around Metro Atlanta. Since our inception, we have been Baking People Happy with our cheesecakes, leaving customers with long-lasting, sweet and savory flavors that their taste buds just could not deny. Now we have over 12 flavors on our website, have continued with our online premise, and have completed over 150 vendor events in multiple parts of Georgia and Louisiana. We are established weekly in the Marietta Square Farmers Market, with six more weekly markets starting in 2025 around Metro Atlanta.

Over the years, we have become sponsors of various schools and nonprofit organizations. Providing free cheesecakes to a vast number of surrounding communities. We were featured in the Mother’s Day Edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution for our Banana Pudding Cheesecake and the Kennesaw State University Newspaper for our Peach Cobbler Cheesecake. This year, 2024, we became “stamped” as the Best Savory Pie in Atlanta, winning the Adair’s Park Annual Pie Bake Off with our Sweet Potato Cheesecake. These accolades, in addition to our countless 5-star Google Reviews, have shown us that we are on the right track to becoming the household brand and established company that we see ourselves striving towards.

My background is in business and my husband’s is in education. We both are equipped with master’s degrees in these fields, but more so are equipped with the knowledge, perseverance and determination to keep grinding to make Dorothy’s Desserts the largest cheesecakery in the world. In order to do this and even to get where we are currently, we have faced many challenges. From financial setbacks, shipping issues, event mishaps, jumping into ventures prematurely, etc. we have been through some hard times, but they were lessons all along. These times helped to shape our business as a whole. It made us revamp some of our processes and also eliminate things that were weighing us down. Going through hardships, especially as an entrepreneur, allows you to grow within your business and we are grateful for the lessons that have turned into blessings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So, I am not originally from Atlanta. We moved here 11 years ago, and it has been the biggest blessing on our lives. Since being here, we have always tapped into the culture and fell in love with all the things Atlanta has to offer. From sporting events, festivals all over town, large conferences and networking events, to nightlife; Atlanta is and will always be home for us. When our friends visit, a time is definitely had. I always show them Atlantic Station. Not only is this a place where Dorothy’s Desserts frequents as a vendor, the vibe is unmatched and there is always something to do. Eat, drink, shop, bowling, movies, the festivals and events they bring there, just always a good time. Other places for us are definitely Downtown and Little Five Points. Other than that, we are in South Atlanta so keeping it on our side with lounges, various eateries and outside events is always a must as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my grandma, Dorothy Ervin. Without her guidance in my life, love, teachings in the kitchen, support, education and World-Famous, Award-Winning Recipes; we would not have Dorothy’s Desserts today. We thank you and we love you Grandma!

Website: https://www.dorothysdesserts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothysdesserts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorothydesserts

Other: Tik Tok – @dorothysdesserts

Image Credits
Khelsey Daniels
Micheal Daniels

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