Meet Alex McCormick | Baker & Student Athlete

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

Hi Alex, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

I started baking at a very young age alongside my mom. It was a fun hobby to get into and I experimented with different techniques and treats. Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies became my go to items, and I would bake these treats for all family events, holidays, etc. As I grew older, friends and family would ask to buy items from me for their own events. After a while of being paid to bake treats here and there I decided to make it formal. When I was in sixth grade, I started Alex’s Sweet Treats. I grew up watching popular baking shows and it was always so cool to hear people talk about their businesses. I especially loved going to the local cupcake shop to observe and enjoy their treats. The thought of people asking me to make special desserts for them was so exciting! I also knew I wanted my business to be more than about making money but a way to help others. 20% of all of Alex’s Sweet Treats sales proceeds go to charity. I also bake and donate treats to local front-line workers at area rescue squads, hospitals, and police stations. Over the years I have also baked and donated to many school and charity events and fundraisers (The American Heart Association, Just Tryan It, Samaritans NYC, etc.).

What should our readers know about your business?

I started my business when I was 11 years old right before the Covid-19 shutdown. I both sold and donated baked goods throughout the pandemic and have been going strong ever since. Trying to manage my baking business through middle school and now high school has not been easy. It is a unique challenge because along with my business I am part of the honors program at my school (The Academy of the Holy Cross) and a multisport athlete (running and ice hockey). Often, I don’t get home until after 6pm and finding time to bake along with homework has been tricky. I have had to bake before school and skip outings with friends or other fun events to be able to finish orders. I have minimized these challenges by figuring out how to better manage my time in addition to finding the right people to support me along the way. My friends and family understand that I have a lot on my plate, and they are always there for me. I am very grateful for their continued support. I am most proud of the growth my business has seen and that I have been able to help others by donating a percentage of sales in addition to baked goods to various charities. When I started my business, I was making simple cupcakes for my family and now I have fulfilled over 300 orders of fun and different treats for many people in my area. I have baked for human birthdays, dog birthdays, sports banquets, holidays and more. I even baked for a wedding, which was very cool. I have hosted kids baking classes and this past summer I ran a weeklong baking camp that was so much fun that I am going to run another one this summer. In 2022 I placed 3rd in the Quarterfinals of the Colossal sponsored Greatest Baker Competition. Over the years I have learned that practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it helps tremendously. My business has taught me to never give up and just because something doesn’t work the first time doesn’t mean to stop trying.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If a friend was visiting the MD/DC area, the first place I would take them is to a Washington Capitals game. Hockey is one of my favorite sports, I not only love to play it, but the Caps have been my all-time favorite team since I was little. The games are so exciting and filled with so much energy. Another fun thing to do is to go to a local diner and have milkshakes and fries. This diner has some of the best milkshakes around and the peppermint Oreo flavor is my favorite. One of my favorite things to do is to run on the local trails. They are just so beautiful and offer a great workout. After a run, one needs a good snack of course so we would get what Maryland is known for, steamed blue crabs. They are just so delicious. The Old Bay Seasoning used to flavor them can’t be beat. A fun early morning adventure would be to go into DC at sunrise to see the cherry blossoms near the National Monuments. When in peak bloom these trees are so full and pretty. While in DC we would also visit the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, Monuments and more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

There is one person who has helped me make my business what it is today – my mom. She is the one who fostered my love for baking and put up with me when I was a messy two-year-old, constantly begging to try everything. She started by having me pour chocolate chips into cookie dough and as I became older taught me everything I know about frosting and layering cakes, how to enhance recipes and more. My business of today wouldn’t be possible without her. She has spent countless hours helping me package orders, talk to customers and share color combination ideas. There have been many occasions where I was beyond tired and wanted to give up, yet she was right there supporting me and motivating me to finish. She encouraged me to start my business in 2019 and has been helping me from behind the scenes ever since. Of course, I am also grateful for my dad (the gopher) and his support, especially when he is always willing to run out for a last-minute ingredient or two or otherwise help wherever needed.

Website: https://alexssweettreats.com

Instagram: @alexssweettreats

Facebook: alexssweettreats