Meet Crystal Huggins of The Modern Betty in Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Huggins.

Crystal, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always had a passion for baking, especially fueled by a supportive father with a sweet-tooth that was willing to eat just about any crazy concoction that I dreamt up. As any good father does, he’d tell me my recipes were great. He especially raved about my chocolate chip cookies. I officially launched The Modern Betty in 2018. Our very first product was, of course, a chocolate chip cookie. Within a few months, and lots of recipe testing, I had several flavors on the menu. I was constantly asking friends and coworkers to taste test new cookie flavors.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Towards the end of 2019, we joined the makers at the Made with Love Market in Downtown Gilbert. Unfortunately, when COVID-19 hit, we were forced to pivot our business to an online model. This challenged us to rethink how we did business and how we interacted with our customers. We are currently offering cookie delivery to the East Valley on Saturdays and offering contact less pickups on Sundays.

Please tell us about the company.
The Modern Betty is a up to date take on classic American baking. I founded The Modern Betty with the idea of turning the classic cookies we all grew up on, into a modern culinary experience. Each recipe is carefully developed and extensively taste tested before we release a new flavor. All of our cookies are hand crafted by myself and my husband in our home which is licensed as a cottage kitchen. We love what we do, and look forward to sharing our products with the community. Nothing makes us happier than the relationships that we have built with our loyal customers, and giving them a personalized experience. We’re known for our stuffed cookies such as S’mores, Red Velvet and Salted Hazelnut.

As a company, we are most proud that when COVID-19 hit, we were able to pivot our resources to help the community. My husband and I quickly began using our 3D Printer to print the Montana Mask in March. These masks are 3D printed with PLA filament and are great because they can be disinfected and reused to extend the life of hard to find N95 or surgical masks. To date, they’ve made over 400 masks for the community, including medical professionals and local Police Departments.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I didn’t grow up in a household full of chefs or bakers. I was raised by a single dad so if it couldn’t be thrown on the grill or come with instructions on the side of a box, I didn’t eat it as a child. Like most people, my first cookies were from a recipe on the back of a Nestle bag. In high school I discovered the Food Network and watched countless hours of programming. I literally learned how to cook from watching TV.

Pricing:

• Classic Cookies 1/$3.25
• Half Dozen $18
• Dozen $35

Contact Info:

• Website: www.themodernbetty.com/order-online
• Email: hello@themodernbetty.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/themodernbetty
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/themodernbettybakery

Image Credit:
Crystal Huggins

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