Baked goods business inspired by pop-up ‘cookies’

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JOHOR BARU: Housewife Kanaga Mani does not reject “cookies” that pop up on Internet sites. She devoured them instead, spending hours to experiment with what she finds on cyberspace.

And thanks to recipes she found on the Internet, she has become well-known for her homemade cookies.

She spent hours to improve on the baking methods, creating cookies that are now a hit among locals and Singaporeans, especially during Deepavali.

Homemade goodies: Kanaga showing a box of one of her cookies at her stall along Jalan Ungku Puan in Johor Baru, recently. With her are her family members.

Recalling her hardwork, Kanaga, 35, credited her brother for initiating the idea about searching for online recipes.

“He would collect the recipes. I would do the baking, improving on them by finding the perfect blend of ingredients,” she said.

The mother of three said she spent many nights trying to figure out the variety of cookies and cakes for her business.

Now, there are 26 types of cookies and cakes that are personally decorated and packed.

“My family and I started making cookies at a small scale from our home about four years ago but this year, we decided to open a stall of our own,” she said.

Kanaga added that competition was tough because many other traders also ventured into the business, especially during festive seasons.

“Many people, however, prefer our cookies as we put a lot of effort into creating each piece,” she said.

She said that although business was not that good this year, the shop had received positive response from Singaporean shoppers.

“We understand that people are going through tough times. I always try to give a discount to people who purchase items from my shop,” she added.

Her cookies are packed in plastic containers, priced at between RM20 and RM25. Dharchaeni Home Made Secret Recipe is located along Jalan Ungku Puan and is open from 9am to 12am.