A Maryland woman exchanges her desk for a spatula to open a Black-owned bakery

An example of the many elaborate cakes Dessert and Company designs for their customers (Dessert and Company/Facebook)

The owner of Dessert & Company, formerly located in Greenbelt, Md., left behind her corporate job for an apron to pursue her passion of being a baker. 

Nusirat Balogun, known affectionately as Nusi, started an at-home bakery six years ago when she was dissatisfied with being a research assistant. After going to pastry school in Canada, she moved back to Maryland to open her bakery in a two-story house with a functioning kitchen.

Compared to other bakeries in the area, she said her bakery is based on convenience and accessibility for her customers because she offers consultations before they purchase anything.

“We offer desserts for them to see and try prior to buying that way they’re not just guessing,” said Balogun. “You pretty much experience it before you purchase.” 

Dessert & Company offers an array of dessert options that depends on the customer and the occasion. For example, the business offers wedding cakes and birthday cakes. If you aren’t a cake person, they also offer finger desserts, such as cake pops, cupcakes, and sugar cookies. 

To receive one of these baked goods, customers go on the company’s website to place their order. Once the order is complete, they get a notification via a phone call or text message. They can choose if they want their order shipped, pick it up themselves, or have it delivered with the option of contactless delivery.  

One of Balogun’s assistants, Dani Washington, said that delivering products is one of her favorite parts of the job. Washington, who started working at the bakery in 2020, helped make and decorate cakes and cupcakes. Although she doesn’t complete deliveries often, she said that the customers are always nice and that she loves seeing their reactions to the cakes, especially birthday cakes for kids. 

Balogun promotes the bakery through Instagram, Facebook and word of mouth. Although she keeps herself busy by mainly running the bakery by herself, she wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

“Instead of going from one job to another job, why not just go with what I really wanted to do?” asked Balogun. 

Dessert & Company is now located in Towson, Maryland and can be found on Instagram and Facebook at @dessertandcompany.