Meet Nicole Ross | Founder & Cookie Decorator

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

Hi Nicole, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly? After 15+ years of practicing law, I climbed pretty far up the corporate ladder—I got to travel the world, sit in the executive conference rooms, and scratch that glass ceiling. But no matter how high I climbed, I was always working on executing someone else’s vision. I started to crave the freedom to create something that was completely mine—start to finish, imperfect, personal, and, frankly, fun. I had started decorating cookies as a pandemic hobby, and it quickly become a passion. Cookie decorating gave me a surprising sense of control and creativity I never found in contracting drafting. It might sound corny, but piping icing onto a cookie felt more me than anything I’d done in years. So I took the leap. I traded in licensing agreements for piping bags. And as it turns out, cookie decorating has far fewer conference calls and way more sprinkles. Win-win!

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?
My business is called Piped by Nicole, and I make custom decorated cookies that are extra—meticulously designed, hand-piped, Instagram scroll-stopping kind of extra. People always tell me they’re too pretty to eat, but I tell them I use the good butter, they’re too delicious not to! What sets my work apart is the blend of high-design detail with a sense of cleverness and whimsy. I want every cookie to feel like a tiny, joyful celebration—whether it’s for a celebrity baby shower or your bestie’s divorce party (yes, that’s a thing now).

Getting here was anything but easy. I didn’t exactly go to pastry school—I went to law school. So much of my early business was powered by YouTube tutorials, sending frantic messages to others in the cookie community, late nights, and an occasionally terrifying amount of trial and error. Starting over in a new industry meant checking my ego at the door and being a beginner again. That was humbling, but also kind of amazing. I had to learn how to price my work, trust my taste, and accept that mistakes are part of the growth process.

What I’m most proud of is that I built something from scratch—literally and figuratively. This business reflects my voice, my creativity, and my belief that small things (like a single cookie) can make a big impact if they are made with heart. I want the world to know that it’s never too late to change course, and that success can look like a bakers box filled with cookies decorated with safari animals in party hats instead of a LinkedIn promotion announcement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: First things first: Alfred’s for an iced vanilla latte and an intro to the art of L.A. people-watching (obviously—I have a caffeine-based loyalty to that place). Then we’d stroll Melrose for some vintage finds and celebrity-adjacent sightings. If we didn’t get enough celeb sightings, dinner is at Dear John’s or Craig’s.

Day 2: If it’s their first time in L.A., we lean into the clichés: the Hollywood Walk of Fame, snapping a touristy photo with the Hollywood sign, maybe even spotting a Batman impersonator or two. If not, we’re being bougie and shopping on Rodeo drive. Either way, cap the day with a chic dinner at A.O.C. or Jon & Vinny’s, on the patio.

Day 3: Studio day! If they’re at all interested in the entertainment world, we’re doing a behind-the-scenes tour at Warner Bros. or Universal Studios. End the day with sushi at Sushi Park or Sushi Fumi—no photos allowed, just gratitude.

Day 4: Start the day with a stroll around the Hollywood Reservoir for something a little more serene. Then grab some well-earned hand rolls at Kazu Nori, followed by a walk around the Petersen Automotive Museum for a little culture with horsepower—honestly, even non-car people are impressed. If we’re feeling culture deprived, add the Academy Museum, the Getty, or LACMA. Then tacos from Tacos1989 or Guisados because it’s a moral obligation to eat tacos in LA, and finish the night playing arcade games and riding the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier.

Day 5: Malibu escape! Morning hike in the canyons for the views, followed by lunch at Malibu Farm Café right on the pier or uni at Broad Street Oyster Co. Back home, we’d unwind with a cookie decorating session in my dining room (bonus if they leave with a newfound respect for royal icing). Dinner is door dash, comfy pants required.

Day 6: Brunch at Republique. Then beachside vibes with a twist. We’d explore the Venice Boardwalk—a little weird, a little wonderful—then head into Abbot Kinney for shopping and a great dinner at Gjelina or Felix.

Day 7: Brunch at Smorgasburg. Then an architecture stroll through downtown. If feeling pekish already, grab a bite at Grand Central Market. Then we’re hanging out at a brewery, because skee-ball is my jam. If we’re up for it, we’d check out some galleries in the Arts District. Final dinner at Bestia or Bavel—because if they’re flying home tomorrow, they might as well be full and emotional. After that, cocktails at Death & Co., because just like us it is moody, glamorous, and mysterious.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I have to thank my local Alfred’s for keeping me sufficiently caffeinated through both identity crises and cookie all-nighters. Without their iced oat milk lattes, there would be no cookies—just emails and existential dread.
But truly, I owe everything to my family and friends. Walking away from a stable, successful legal career to become a full-time cookie entrepreneur is the kind of twist that can make people nervous. But instead of (or in some cases, after) questioning me, they cheered me on. They reminded me that success isn’t always about titles or corner offices—it’s about waking up excited to do the thing you love. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to trade in laptop bags for piping bags, and I’ve never looked back. So this shoutout goes to all of them—for believing in me, taste-testing everything, and never making me feel like I was throwing anything away, but rather stepping into something new and exciting.

Website: https://pipedbynicole.com

Instagram: pipedbynicole