With a passion for baking and art, the founder and owner of Jolly Biscuits by JD has cooked up the perfect business opportunity.
Local outlets are placing orders for her unique, tasty edible mini pieces of artwork, as well as customers looking for a special occasion treat.
From Jen Dunn’s domestic kitchen in Church Brough, she is creating hand-made and iced biscuits, and found the perfect work/life balance.
Jen said: “I have always had a passion for baking and art, and when the opportunity arose to combine the two I launched Jolly Biscuits by JD.
“I bake a buttery vanilla biscuit, hand decorated using royal icing. What I like about designing biscuits for individual people is that no two orders are the same. I’m always creating new designs which mean something to the person they are being given to. I can design anything, from hand-painted flowers, an image of your beloved pet or a design to honour a hobby!”
Jen’s business idea for Jolly Biscuits By JD started during the pandemic. A registered pharmacy technician and former manager of a Kirkby Stephen pharmacy, Jen was an essential worker during lockdown — but missed seeing her friends.
To keep herself busy and take her mind off the situation, she decided to learn how to ice biscuits after a conversation with a friend about new crafts and learning opportunities.
Jen said: “I have made celebration cakes previously, for weddings, birthdays etc., but felt I wanted to learn a new way to delight and surprise people with edible gifts.
“I had some experience of royal icing as my grandmother and her sister used to make wedding cakes and I had helped them out in the past — but that was over 40 years ago.”
After watching several instruction videos on YouTube, Jen started to practise and now is an expert in the art of biscuit decorating. “I am always looking for new techniques and ideas; there is still much to learn,” she said.
Jen reduced her days to two at the pharmacy and stepped down as manager to concentrate on her own business. She added: “My work/life balance is so much better now and I really enjoy what I am doing.
“Every biscuit is made to order to create a biscuit perfect for my customer’s special occasion, to send as a special birthday treat, or to a loved one to show how much they care. I am often surprised how far they have travelled as they have been posted all over the world. In my kitchen I have a map where I scratch out the country of their destination.
“I have posted as far as New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, and many in Europe. And, of course, throughout the UK.
“Packaging was a huge learning curve. To ensure they arrive in perfect condition, I print a special note to the postman asking for extra special care, which is often commented on when they are received as having made the postman chuckle.”
Each box is hand packed with love and care, using eco-friendly packaging wherever possible.
Jen said: “I use recyclable card and paper, tissue and cellophane bags with ingredient labels.
“All postal packaging is recycled paper padding, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes, which friends and neighbours collect for me.”
Jen makes specialist biscuits for local businesses including Tan Hill pub, White Hare Cafe in Kirkby Stephen, and has made special occasion biscuits for Augill Castle and Fabulous Fox party planners as well as a new stockists in Ambleside. Jolly Biscuits by JD has also helped to raise money for charity, with Jen creating blue and yellow heart biscuits for a Ukrainian family and donated biscuits for breastfeeding awareness events.
“It has been a wonderful start to my new business, and I am making so many new friends. I’ve had to develop some new skills and ways of working, including being able to take customer orders through the gournmet2go app. Now I am looking forward to creating more new designs. It is a wonderfully creative business.”
A few of Jen’s many biscuit designs can be viewed on her website, www.jollybiscuitsbyjd.co.uk.
