Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Kohout.
Courtney, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up baking in Ohio with my Mom and Grandma. Baking cookies is something I’ve enjoyed since I was young. In high school, I became very interested in health and nutrition and that grew even stronger in college. I ended up becoming certified as a holistic health coach. I joined The Earth Diet health coaching team and was given some TigerNut flour to experiment with. I am gluten-free and plant-based and was very dissatisfied with the gluten-free cookie options in grocery stores. So, using TigerNut flour, I created our classic Chocolate Chip cookie. A few years ago, before Courtney’s Cookies was founded, I went to a farmers market with plant-based desserts including chocolate avocado pudding, black bean brownies, chia seed pudding and the chocolate chip cookies. A customer told me, “with my ‘healthy’ hat on, the chia seed pudding, avocado pudding and black bean brownies are great. But with my ‘unhealthy’ hat on, those cookies are really something else!” That’s when I knew to just focus on the cookies. Two years later, with the help of my then boyfriend, now fiancé, Courtney’s Cookies was officially founded. We started with three different flavors of cookies. We have since expanded to six permanent cookie flavors, three seasonal flavors, edible cookie dough, homemade almond mylk and collaborated with Sweet Melody Ice Cream to create vegan and gluten-free ice cream sandwiches. We primarily sell in local farmers’ markets such as the Coconut Grove market, in addition to the Miami Flea, the University of Miami’s farmers market, and other pop-up events. We are also carried in local retailers such as Tea & Poets in Sunset Place NS Apple-a-Day and Lilikoi on South Beach. We also deliver around Miami and ship nationwide.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been a relatively smooth road, especially since I have the help of my fiancé. He is a graphic artist and has done all of the graphics for the company. He also takes care of the backend with keeping track of inventory, bookkeeping and making sure we have everything we need for markets. The biggest struggle thus far has been landing and keep local retail accounts. I didn’t think it’d be such a challenge, but it is very time-consuming trying to get ahold of the right person, then taking them samples, then getting back in touch with them to see if they’d like to carry the cookies in their store.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
All of our products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and nutrient-dense. I know that’s a lot to say, but it’s what makes us unique. The idea of a healthy cookie is very paradoxical for people, as cookies generally are a junk food. But, ours are different. They are made only with unrefined, nutrient-dense ingredients and are actually beneficial for ones health. We provide healthy sweets for those who are health-conscious, vegan, gluten-free, celiac, diabetic and lactose-intolerant. We are most proud that people love our products as much as they do. I’ve had people get so excited to the point of tears that they can finally eat a cookie or ice cream sandwich because otherwise they couldn’t due to dietary restrictions or food allergies. The future of food is absolutely more health-conscious, without all of the added crap. People want real food and the success of our business is proof of that.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been very outgoing and entrepreneurial. Starting in elementary school with fundraisers, I enjoyed and was successful at going door-to-door in my neighborhood selling whatever it was to neighbors. I was interested in music and sports – I started playing piano when I was five and violin in fifth grade. Sports wise, I started swimming, playing softball and tennis at the age of five. I also did a lot of baking and cooking with my Mom and Grandma. Being from Ohio, it’s totally the norm to make everything homemade. That’s something that will always be a part of me and something that makes me proud.
Pricing:
- Cookies: 1/2 dozen for $12.50, 1 dozen for $23
- Ice cream sandwiches: 1 for $6, 3 for $15
- Cookie dough: 1/2 lb. for $9, 1 lb. for $15
Contact Info:
- Website: www.courtneyscookies.com
- Phone: 330-881-4676
- Email: courtneys.cookies7@gmail.com
- Instagram: @courtneyscookies
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/courtneyscookies
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/courtneys-cookies-coral-gables-4
Image Credit:
Courtney’s Cookies
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
