Forget about Insomnia Cookies and Dough to Door, Confections by Cookie is what it’s all about. Senior Jenn Purisch created this company with the help of a friend during her senior year in high school and has continued to sell her delicious baked goods at Wash U. Ranging from flavor-injected cupcakes to beautifully iced cookies, Jenn brings her A-game and never fails to thrill her customers (and their taste buds).
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Major: Anthropology and Marketing double major
On-campus involvement: 2014 Thurtene Honorary Public Relations, AEPhi
What prompted you to create Confections by Cookie? I have always loved cooking and baking, and in high school I competed in a few local cake competitions. After winning those, I was hooked! I started to focus on learning how to make more intricate and decorative baked goods, and ultimately had a lot of friends and family asking for baked goods for events, birthdays, etc. Senior year, a friend of mine was working on a design company startup and saw my business as a great project to add to his portfolio. So, working with him, I made my website, logos, and Confections by Cookie was officially in business!
When did you start baking and why? My family actually has a large cooking/baking background. I have a few cousins who are professional chefs (one of which is actually celebrity chef Antonia Lofaso who has been on Top Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, and more recently Restaurant Startup) and my family nickname is Cookie hence “Confections by Cookie.” My grandma was definitely the strongest influence on my decision to get into baking. It was always something we did together on my trips up to New Jersey, and her signature recipes were the first things I ever really learned to bake.
Do you like cooking too or strictly baking? I love cooking, but I am definitely more technically trained as a baker. I did spend a couple weeks at cooking camp one summer though!
What’s your favorite item to bake? To eat? My favorite item to bake is probably my decorative cookies. I am pretty crafty, and enjoy the decorating aspect more than the baking, so those give me the creative freedom and fun I love. Favorite item to eat is always a chocolate chip cookie. Have never met one I didn’t like!
Tell me a little about some orders you get. Are you busier during certain times? Orders I have gotten have definitely ranged over the years. In high school I got mostly Sweet 16 cake orders and other miscellaneous events. But since coming to Wash U, I have shifted gears towards primarily filling orders for Greek events such as big/little week! I have made letters, mascots, symbols, etc. and work in all chapter colors! It definitely makes running the business pretty crazy, with most big/little weeks falling in such a small window, but it’s also so fun and rewarding watching the girls get so excited over all their treats!
What do you think makes Confections by Cookies most unique? Confections by Cookie is unique because everything I make is custom, homemade, and allows the customer and myself to get creative and have fun! I have made cakes that light up, flaming cupcakes, and cookies that look like everything from Batman to sports jerseys, to sorority mascots and letters. If you can dream it, I can make it in cookie!
Do you want to continue Confections by Cookie wherever you move next year? I would love to continue Confections by Cookie in the future! I am still unsure where I will be, but as long as I have a kitchen, (even though I’m expecting it to be extremely cramped) I will be baking! I am also looking to create a new product line to be launched before then end of the school year, so stay tuned!
Do you want food or baking to have something to do with your future career? I would love to have a career in the food industry! My lifelong dream is to host a show on the Food Network! But I also know that that may not be the most realistic first job for a recent college grad (fingers crossed)! I am definitely going to continue baking as a side business for now, and I hope it really takes off in the future!
In your opinion, or based on popular review, what is the best item that Confections by Cookie has to offer? Definitely my custom sugar cookies! But just a warning, it’s really hard to have just one!
Anything you want to say to potential customers? If you are interested in ordering Greek letter cookies for big/little week please email Jennifer.purisch@gmail.com and visit confectionsbycookie.com to view my confection gallery and prices! Orders will be filled on a first come first serve basis, (I do still need to pass school and graduate!) but I am excited to once again be able to sweeten up some big/little weeks!