Sweet Simplicity – Toronto Cupcakes are her speciality

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Avalanche Bark Decker Cake, Eggnog Cheesecake Bars, Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars, Lemon Bars, Millionaire’s Shortbread Oatmeal Carmelita Bars, Peanut Butter Cup Bars, Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Scotcheroos, Seven Layer Bars, Snickerdoodles…

I know, I know, you might have already started your resolution to eat better in the New Year but come on; you must already realize that this is the worst time of year to do that. I am not going to make it any easier on you, because this week’s Business Feature is all about those guilty pleasures that get us in trouble this time of year.

It is that clean, slightly sweet, yeasty aroma that is like inhaling a blanket on a cold winter day. It is a smell that brings back memories of licking the bowl after our mothers/fathers finished pouring the mixture into the pans. Then we anxiously waited for the timer to go off, so that we could sample the tasty treats with a tall glass of milk…

This week I am proud to highlight a young lady who I have watched blossom into a young entrepreneur. She reminded me that we all have dreams in life, and these often started when we were younger.

When you were in high school, you may have had visions for your future, of the places you wanted to get to, and of the person you wanted to be. Too many of our youth end up in colleges and careers they don’t want, and that is because their parents have pushed them in directions they don’t want to go.

So, what happens if you are a young person who has found something that you are passionate about? Nobody wants to hear that they are not good enough to accomplish something that they have set their mind on. It is about managing their dreams with a dose of realism; it provides a healthy, even essential way to prevent deceptions of what can be actualized.

Rayaan Hassan is a 15-year-old entrepreneur who has shown brilliance for baking tasty, tantalizing treats at her now established business Sweet Simplicity Toronto. I met Rayaan when she was nine years old, and even then, I saw something unique about this young energetic mind. During the pandemic, I lost touch with her family, but most recently we reconnected, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that during our lockdown, she had used that time to launch her business.

Last week I went to visit her, and she shared with me how Sweet Simplicity Toronto came to life…

“It started with me helping my mom in the kitchen. My mom used to bake a lot when I was younger, and I used to help her a lot. When the pandemic hit, I started to bake. I was shocked when my family told me that they actually enjoyed the treats that I was making.

I was six years old when I first helped my mom make Tiramisu. After watching her, I made my own. I realized how much I enjoyed baking. I spent time in the kitchen with my mom and I would help her cook, but I realized quickly that I liked baking more than cooking.”

Her first solo project was angel cake, and she shares how disastrous her first experience was.

“I forgot to put baking powder in it,” Rayaan say’s laughing, “So that was my first ‘L.’ When I attempted again, I made sure to put baking powder in it, and it turned out really well.

I then upgraded to baking muffins. I remember that week, my mom had bought new muffin tins, and I wanted to try them out. Those turned out really well. My mom was always around when I was baking, always assisting, and making sure that I didn’t do something silly like forget baking powder,” she says chuckling.

“I then moved on to cookies. I made cookies for my brother and my sisters, and then I wanted to start experimenting with frosting. One day my sister’s friends were all over, and I made my first attempt. Looking back now, I think I got fake feedback. I think they were horrible, but my sister and her friends said they were well done.”

Rayaan made that first set in August 2020, then she went on to make Red Velvet muffins, which she says turned out better.

“I went from baking once a week to every other day. In October 2020, I got the recipe and design style down for the frosting. I spent a year perfecting my work, but I also spent a lot of time thinking, why would anyone buy cupcakes from me? My parents and my favourite cousin told me to start my business, and not to doubt myself.

My sister Ramla helped me with naming the business. My mom’s friends made one of my first large orders. It was for her wedding, and she ordered 60 cupcakes. That is when people in my community started to hear about my baking, and I gained so many followers on Instagram. When my mom came home that night, she told me that people were asking her for my business cards, so I had to go and make them.

I went from one or two orders a month, to one or two orders a week. It became overwhelming, so I have had to slow it down a little and focus on my schoolwork. Now that it is the holiday season, orders are coming in again, but with the holiday break coming up, I will have more time to do what I love.”

What is in the future for this young baker extraordinaire?

“I see myself opening a bakery with my sisters. Ruwayda (my little sister) helps out, and Radwa (older sister)does my social media marketing.”

What I was reminded about during this interview is that the more you can: support, steer, gently cajole, and encourage young entrepreneurs, the more you can ensure all of their dreams come true.