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Working mom turned micro baker
Kristy Hodder learned to love baking in her Nan's kitchen, and that love became Kristy Cakes, a micro bakery in Kentville, Nova Scotia, in the Annapolis Valley. The kitchen has always been her creative outlet, her happy place, and where she feels most at peace.
Before any of this, she was a full-time working mom, balancing a career, family life, and a passion for baking on the side. Being a working mom taught her time management, organization, perseverance, and making the most of every opportunity, and those are the skills she relies on every day now. In March 2026 she took a leap of faith and a leave of absence from her full-time job to pursue baking further and help her partner with his business. It was a big step outside her comfort zone. What started in her kitchen has grown into custom cakes, seasonal goodies, and a cozy roadside bake stand, and one of the most rewarding parts is knowing her daughter gets to watch her turn a dream into something real.
Her non-negotiable is that everything is made with the same care and attention she would put into baking for her own family. She chooses quality ingredients, loves visiting local markets and selecting from local growers and small businesses, and carries that attention all the way through to how a treat is packaged and presented. Even when things get busy, she refuses to let the personal touch get lost.
The stand runs on the honour system, which means it only works on trust. Some of the sweetest moments come from hearing that people's children follow Kristy Cakes on social media and look forward to visiting the stand each weekend, excited to see what treats will be out. She never imagined that when this was just a dream.
She believes good food brings people together, creates memories, and makes even the simplest moments feel special. What she is building is a place in her corner of the Annapolis Valley where neighbours connect over something homemade, local growers are supported, and trust and kindness still matter.
Pink shelves, honour system, Annapolis Valley
A cookie named for Faye
The Faye Cookie is the bestseller at Kristy Cakes, the micro bakery Kristy Hodder runs from the Annapolis Valley in Kentville, Nova Scotia, and it carries her mother's name. Faye loved Toffifee, those little chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut bites, and Kristy built a cookie around that love. It is the most personal thing on the bake stand menu, and the one people ask for first.
Rich chocolate, toffee caramel, crunchy hazelnut, a Nutella center, all held in a soft homemade cookie texture. It feels a little indulgent and entirely wholesome at the same time, the kind of nostalgic treat that fits a celebration or an ordinary afternoon, and keeps people reaching for just one more.
What makes it more than a cookie is the story that comes with it. Every batch carries a little piece of her mom and the love she had for baking and the simple joys in life. That something so personal has become a community favourite means more to Kristy than she can put into words, a reminder that food can bring back memories and create new ones, too.
Seasonal treats and custom creations beyond bestsellers
Cheesecakes
Cake Tins
Dessert trays
Baked varieties
Baked varieties
Cupcakes
A Heartfelt Note
Kristy Cakes started in my kitchen. A small dream, a lifelong love of baking, and a whole lot of heart. It's still a small micro bakery, nestled here in the beautiful Annapolis Valley in Kentville, but what began with homemade treats at my own counter has grown into custom cakes, seasonal goodies, and a cozy roadside bake stand. It has grown into something so much bigger than I ever imagined, and that's because of people like you.
Behind every treat is a busy mom and a dream I'm working hard to build for my family. Your support allows me to keep doing something I love while showing my daughter what it looks like to follow your passion and believe in yourself.
If you're just discovering Kristy Cakes, welcome. Whether you've stopped by my little bake stand, placed a custom order, found me at a market, or followed along on social media, I'm so happy you're here.
Every purchase, share, kind message, recommendation, and familiar face at the stand means more to me than you'll ever know. Thank you for supporting my little business, trusting me with your sweet treats, and helping make Kristy Cakes part of this incredible community. You're not just supporting a small business; you're helping make a dream possible.
I can't wait to keep sharing new treats, creating sweet memories, and growing alongside all of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here and for helping me share a little homemade happiness.
~ Kristy Hodder, Kristy Cakes
