Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawana LaTrice.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey with You’ve Been Baked started from a very personal place. During a difficult season in my life, I experienced loss of the love of my life. The very person I began baking for. In that time, I realized I was no longer baking for my husband. I was baking for everyone else. It became my peace, my therapy, and a way to process what I was going through. What started as a form of bonding with my family became healing in my home kitchen, and slowly became something much bigger.
As a mother and entrepreneur, I was also searching for a way to create income while maintaining time freedom and flexibility. Baking naturally evolved into that opportunity. In the beginning, I didn’t have everything figured out. I faced the same challenges many home bakers do; cakes not turning out right, wasted ingredients, and moments of self-doubt. But I stayed committed to learning, refining my process, and truly understanding baking at a deeper level.
Over time, through consistency and genuine customer experiences, You’ve Been Baked began to grow. What started as something small turned into a brand known for bold flavors, quality, and intention. Today, our desserts are enjoyed by individual customers, sold in local restaurants, and featured at community events and vendor markets throughout South Florida.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that this brand was built with purpose. Every cake represents not just skill, but care, healing, and resilience. That same foundation led me to expand beyond baking into teaching—through digital recipes and my baking course, I now help other women build confidence in the kitchen so they can create desserts without fear or frustration.
Today, You’ve Been Baked is more than a dessert brand, it’s a reflection of turning pain into purpose, creating peace through creativity, and building something meaningful from the ground up. And I truly believe this is only the beginning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has played a role in shaping both me and the business.
In the beginning, one of my biggest struggles was consistency. There were times when my cakes didn’t come out the way I expected; too dry, uneven, or just not at the level I knew they could be. That led to wasted ingredients, frustration, and moments where I questioned if I was truly cut out for this. Learning how to trust the process and develop consistency took time, patience, and a lot of refinement.
Another challenge was balancing everything. As a mother and entrepreneur, I was building You’ve Been Baked while managing real-life responsibilities. There were seasons where it felt overwhelming trying to grow a business, fulfill orders, show up for events, and still be present at home. I had to learn how to manage my time better, set boundaries, and give myself grace in the process.
There were also mental and emotional challenges. Building something from the ground up requires a lot of belief in yourself, especially when you don’t always see immediate results. There were moments of doubt, comparison, and uncertainty; but I stayed committed to the vision and reminded myself why I started in the first place.
Financially, there’s also a learning curve. Understanding pricing, protecting profit margins, and making sure I wasn’t undercharging while still growing the brand was something I had to learn through experience.
But through all of it, I’ve learned that the struggles are part of the process. They’ve helped me become more disciplined, more confident in my craft, and more intentional about how I build and scale my business. Today, those same challenges have positioned me not only to run You’ve Been Baked more effectively, but also to help others navigate similar journeys with more clarity and confidence.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At You’ve Been Baked, I specialize in creating homemade desserts that are rich in flavor, consistent in quality, and made with intention. My focus is primarily on cakes—from classic flavors like red velvet and pound cake to other signature varieties that bring a sense of comfort and indulgence. In addition to serving individual customers, I also partner with local restaurants and participate in vendor markets and community events throughout South Florida.
What I’ve become most known for is not just the taste of my desserts, but the experience people have with them. My cakes are often described as moist, flavorful, and memorable; but beyond that, they create a moment. Whether someone is trying a slice for the first time at one of my setups or bringing a cake home to their family, there’s a level of care and intention behind every product.
I’ve also expanded my work into education. Through digital recipes and my baking course, I help other women learn how to bake from scratch with confidence and consistency. That part of my business is deeply meaningful to me because it allows me to turn my own learning experiences into guidance for others.
What I’m most proud of is how this business was built from my home kitchen, through consistency, faith, and resilience, into a growing brand that now has a presence in multiple spaces. Seeing my products in restaurants, at events, and in the hands of repeat customers is something I don’t take lightly.
What sets me apart is the foundation behind the brand. You’ve Been Baked was built from a place of healing, and that intention carries through everything I do. I’m not just focused on selling desserts, I’m focused on creating something that feels good, that brings a sense of peace, and that people can genuinely connect with. That combination of quality, purpose, and experience is what truly differentiates my brand.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m very intentional about what I pour into myself, especially as an entrepreneur, because mindset plays such a big role in how you show up in your business and in life.
Spiritually, my foundation is my relationship with God; that’s where I find clarity, peace, and direction. That alone has guided many of the decisions I’ve made in both my life and my business.
When it comes to books, I gravitate toward personal growth and entrepreneurship. Books like Think and Grow Rich by Think and Grow Rich and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People have been impactful because they focus on mindset, discipline, and long-term success principles. Those kinds of books reinforce the importance of consistency and personal development, which are essential as a business owner.
I also appreciate resources that focus on habits and growth, like The Compound Effect by The Compound Effect, which really emphasizes how small, consistent actions lead to big results over time.
Outside of books, I learn a lot through real-life experience, community, and being in rooms with other entrepreneurs. Conversations, events, and collaborations have played a huge role in my growth. I also use platforms like Instagram not just to create, but to study; paying attention to marketing, branding, and how people connect with content.
Overall, I’ve learned that while resources are helpful, the biggest growth comes from applying what you learn, staying consistent, and being willing to evolve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bakesy.shop/b/youve-been-baked
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youve_beenbaked/
