Hope Spicer helps customers at the Old Settlers Craft Show held June 24 in the City Park. She had a variety of baked goods to offer.

Spicer brings spice to hometown baking

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 7/5/23

Hope Spicer started baking as a hobby while in high school in North Bend, often making her own recipes.

Now it has grown into a business, The Muffin Ma’am Baking Co., that she has brought back to her hometown.

Spicer bakes in her home with a Cottage Food Handler Certificate from the state.

She started baking for others while her husband was stationed with the Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, for three years.

“We were stationed on base there,” Spicer said, “and I had many local friends and members of his unit telling me how delicious my baked stuff was and that I needed to start selling this stuff because people would definitely be interested.”

With that encouragement she started baking for others, slowly adding supplies and equipment as she went along.

The family returned to North Bend in 2019 and Spicer worked at the Tiger Pin and would bring her baked goods there.

In spring 2023, she decided it was time.

“I’m going to make this my thing for real,” Spicer said.

She went online to the University of Nebraska extension website and got her Cottage Food Handlers Certificate. She signed up for her first craft fair at the end of April.

“Since then, things have been sort of taking off like gangbusters,” Spicer said. “I honestly can’t remember the last weekend I didn’t have an order. It’s such a blessing.”

Spicer has a friend, Hanna Bauermeister, who helps her sell at vendor events and stays up late decorating with her.

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