Love at first bite: Recent Utah Tech graduate turns ‘stress baking’ into sweet business

ST. GEORGE — What began as one stressed-out college student’s hobby to unwind and ease stress gradually became a cupcake and cake business, Desert Flower Sweets. 

Becky Condie, who graduated from Utah Tech University three months ago with a bachelor’s degree in education, told St. George News that during her college career, she found herself looking for an outlet to relieve pressure. One day, feeling extra stressed, she made a batch of cupcakes. And a pattern emerged. 

“Every time I had a test, I’d start baking because I was avoiding the test,” she said. “My family started referring to it as my ‘stress baking.’ Whenever I’d bake, they’re like, ‘Are you OK, Becky?’”

The more cupcakes she made, the more cupcakes she ate, and the 22-year-old said she quickly realized she needed more people to bake for. She shared her cakes and cupcakes with her friends and family, who encouraged her to start her own business, which is when she took the dive and started selling some of her desserts.

“I initially never thought they would be good enough,” she said. “I was just this student baking at home when I had tests.”

With her newfound love for baking, she took a job at Lin’s Market bakery, making hundreds of cakes. While she loved to make cakes that took over an hour to decorate, she said the grocery store didn’t take any orders that would take longer than 20 minutes. 

“I’ve made tons of cakes now and have quite a bit of experience, but I really wanted to lean more into my own style,” Condie said. “That’s when I was like, ‘Let’s make this a thing.’”

When she finished her degree in December, she was ready to put more energy into her baking business and began selling at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market. Condie said what she loves the most about attending the market are the positive feedback from the community and the face-to-face interactions.

Some of Condie’s favorite items she’s created include an Avengers-themed cake with a Thor hammer on the top and a purple butterfly cake with edible pearls. She also makes her own paper toppers with acrylic and vinyl. 

While business ownership is a new feat for her, it is not new to her family. Condie said she grew up watching her parents run their own business, Douglas Family Farms in Vernon, but never realized how much work went into the business side until she started her own.

“It’s definitely made me respect every business I go to now because, wow, this is a lot of work,” she said. “There’s so many different costs and things that go into it that you never think about until you’re actually making one. I definitely enjoy it, but it’s also been a lot to learn.”

Condie asks that cake and cupcake orders be placed a week in advance but can sometimes squeeze them in on a shorter timeframe. For cupcakes, the minimum order is twelve.

Her future goals include obtaining a full-time teaching position while growing her dessert business, focusing on specialty cakes and cupcakes.

For more information on Desert Flower Sweets, including a portfolio of work, visit this website. To place an order, message @desertflowersweets on Instagram. 

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