by Bea Peterson
Kelly O’Connor has been baking since she was 13. “I even went to college for it,” she said. She’s a graduate of Schenectady Community College. “They taught us to cook and bake,” she said. “But I chose to stick with what I loved – baking.” Kelly worked at Sweet Nothings in Round Lake for years. “That’s where I learned how to run a wholesale business,” she said. She also occasionally makes desserts for Peaches & Cream in Stuyvesant Plaza and the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy.
However, “Friends asked me to please open a shop so they could purchase the things I bake,” said Kelly. And that is what she did. Sweet Sara’s Custom Desserts is located in the lower level of the HAYC3 Armory. Everything she makes is from scratch, and she uses real butter. “I like making individual pastries,” she said, “so people can bring a little something home for themselves, not a whole big something.” All her pastries are made in the cool Armory kitchen. Her repertoire includes cannoli, delicious fresh fruit tarts, lemon tarts, rich chocolate ganache brownies, luscious cupcakes, big fat cookies and cakes galore. “I make dessert cakes to take with you when you go to a friend’s house,” she said. She also makes speciality cakes for graduations and birthdays.
Kelly said people are starting to discover her shop. She does very well on the Art Show and Concert openings Friday nights. “I like the ambiance of this location,” she said. Kelly is also selling at the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays. Though making desserts for restaurants may be a big portion of her market, she said, “I’m happy to see someone come in and buy one cupcake. I enjoy visiting with all my customers.”
“I hope I’m able to grow at a nice pace,” she said, “then I can hire and train others.”
Look for the sign on the corner outside the HAYC3 Armory. Sweet Sara’s Custom Desserts is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. “If you see the pink sign outside, I’m open,” Kelly said. Her motto says it all, “Eat dessert first – life is uncertain!