by Julia Chojnacki
After having spent many hours twice a month making recipes, mixing batter, whipping buttercream, and baking dozens of macarons the four bakers, sophomores Elise Atkinson, Phoebe Caplan, Lilly Cook, and Bryn Walsh, fell in love with the sweet meringue based confection, French Macarons.
With positive feedback from friends and family, the girls found that the macarons were good enough to sell, and they did just that. Soon, A Pinch of Kindness was born.
According to their website, the girls knew they wanted the cookies to benefit people in their community and around the world, rather than themselves because “they didn’t have a need for the money,” Caplan said. From this simple idea, a non-profit bakery blossomed.
A non-profit organization was the “best way” to give back to the community and expand “their friendship” for each other. Although a difficult decision, the girls decided to to donate their proceeds to Charity: Water–a charity that is committed to providing hundreds of people in third world countries access to clean water saving them from having to walk miles to retrieve only a small amount of water. On their website the girls explained that they “all recognized the great need for access to clean water as a struggle millions of people go through everyday; one that we have never had to go through”.
The girls have expanded their menu within the last year and circulate seasonal flavors to their regular nine flavors. On average, the bakers receive about six dozen orders in a month. Until recently, the girls baked at Caplan’s house about twice a month, but have recently been granted permission to use a local church’s certified kitchen which provides more resources and space ideal for baking.
A Pinch of Kindness has appeared at events school and district wide. To this date they have sold their macarons at the annual blackout volleyball game, Indian Rock Fall Fest, The CTC Variety Show, as well as online on their website.
Although all of the flavors on the menu are delicious, the girls said that their “Coffee Macaron is by-far their best seller.” As for the girls’ personal favorites, they love “Toasted Coconut–a coconut shell with coconut cream filling and garnished with toasted coconut flavors and Lavender–a lavender shell with french vanilla filling and a lavender garnish”.
Within the last year, the girls have donated about “2000 dollars to Charity: Water and an additional 500 to other organizations,” Atkinson said. The girls are going to continue baking and selling the macarons. To support A Pinch of Kindness and purchase macarons place an order on their website–http://a-pinch-of-kindness.mozello.com.