Meet Danielle O’Day | Owner and Head Pastry Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle O’Day and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ever since I was a little girl I was creating and dreaming. This entailed all sorts of things, my interests led me down roads filled with creative writing, fashion, but baking seemed to have made the largest impact on me. I had so many ideas, I felt as though I was about to burst. My mother and father owned their own business, he was a landscape architect, perhaps it was instilled at a young age that this was the thing to do. Or perhaps I was apprehensive to stand under someone else’s umbrella as it may have hindered the rainstorm of creations I had daily.
Either way, I enjoyed my late teenage years and early twenties wearing several hats in different industries. I was awe-inspired at the people I met and minds I was able to banter with. Mentors, bosses, the restaurant owners lended me their knowledge and Sweet Dee’s LLC was born. Baking out of the home, with an inkling of just how big this could become.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
About the art:

My art is on display every day at Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop! The pastry case is my blank canvas filled with the most extensive novelty treats with colors, flavors and designs better than AI can dream up these days.

I feel what sets me apart from the rest are the extensive designs, flavors and diversity of treats you can choose from throughout the year. Ever time you visit the bakery, you’ll have a different experience (however, it will be consistently fun and delicious) the treats change often with the seasons, holidays and theme experiences we curate throughout the year. We also offer many gluten free and vegan options so everyone is able to enjoy the tasty treats. Our breakfast and lunch menu showcases bright flavors, made from scratch sauces, jams, and dressings. Our coffee menu has novelty options with dairy free cold foams, house made syrups and look so fun it begs you to take a photo of it.

I found myself so stimulated in creation that I began an entire lifestyle magazine filled with recipes, writings, photos and more! While it was merely a hobby that I spent my evenings with, it’s now for sale at the bakery and online.

So to summarize what I do every single day, is live authentically in creation for experiences of those that walk through the bakery doors. Whether to pick up a custom cake that I spent hours on, or a single macaron. Each bite is equally as important to me.

Set backs + lessons

A lesson I learned early- The integrity of your product cannot suffer. I have been in the position where my heart was shattered in a million pieces and had to make wedding cakes. Memories of my late father flood in while I make hundreds treats for all the dads on Father’s Day. And so on. While I wasn’t able to control circumstances in my life that have happened and continue to happen, I can control the product. If something is off, i’ll do it until it’s perfect. Someone picks up their birthday cake and is unhappy with the color, i’ll re-frost it. Some cakes last in photos forever, some are fleeting for a seemingly insignificant birthday party. However, they are all equally as important to me. Pastries, cakes, etc. are more than just sweet treats. They are moments of serotonin, celebration, and togetherness.

My mom told me when I was younger, you can’t mess up what is meant for you. I’ve held on to that statement like a delicate little flower in the palms of my hands. The road has absolutely been rocky, arguably some of the worst set backs have entered the chat when you least expect it and of course when you don’t have the funds or mental bandwidth for it. However, that is when you learn the most. I refuse to think that I’ve risked anything to be where I’m at today. I choose to think that I will continue to expand horizons, push comfortability, trust your gut instinct, and that the term “failure” doesn’t exist, it’s simply a reinvention.

Future of the brand or Sweet Dee’s

I have the kind of big dreams kids yap about when they’re little and the real world hasn’t touched them yet. I don’t picture an end to my career, just a perpetual reinvention. I’m not quite sure what it all looks like quite yet, but it feels like everything I could have ever dreamt of. I start my day filled with gratitude for Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop, getting to work with my mom, our employees and customers. For now, I will keep creating and say yes to every wondrous opportunity that comes my way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many amazing places to choose from but I’ll always go back to my favorites.

Always have to start your days with brunch!
For brunch or coffee I’d head to these places:
Lux Central
Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop 😉
Sumo Maya
The Mission
Royal Palms
or Olive and Ivy

Then you have to have solid day time plans!
For me this would include getting a resort pass to Mountain Shadows, the Valley Ho, The Scottsdale Princess, or the Caesars Republic. I would do this for a few days during the week, some of these resorts or hotels are amazing! Cocktails, snacks by stunning pools on grounds with western landscape, you’ll definitely get some good instagram photos!

A few other day time plans and hangouts would include a day at fashion square and in old town scottsdale, the mall has excellent shopping but so do all the local shops dotted throughout old town! Stop and get a sweet treat at the sugar bowl, a famous martini at AZ88, or an afternoon coffee at Berdenas.

There’s a few things to book in advance for DIY souvenirs that are such a blast to make! Rancher Hat Bar, Lip Lab or Light + Bark candle store. This is such a fun idea for BFF’s or a little date to make memorable hats, candles or lipsticks.

Head over to phoenix to stop by the Desert Botanical Gardens at sunset, or perhaps the phoenix art museum!

For day trips I ALWAYS love to take guests to Jerome, wine tasting through cottonwood or Sedona, of course. You can’t beat the hour and a half drive for a stunning hike through West Fork Trail in the red rocks. Local hiking is a fav in North Scottsdale. Do yourself a favor and always check phoenix and scottsdale happenings, there’s always tons of fun things going on! Farmers markets, sporting events (like spring training!!), and more.

THE BEST Happy Hours,
Buck and Rider, always. Oysters, cocktails, amazing food and great Happy Hour deals.
Favorite Patio- Olive and Ivy, you feel as if you’re in the Mediterranean!

Dinner Spots
Glai Baan, go early or get a reservation for the best Thai food!!
Cala for the Lumache A la vodka
FnB, stunningly curated menu with the freshest ingredients
The Ends- new but an instant favorite
Taj Mahal for Indian
Valentine
Vecina

Favorite Mexican/taco spots
Al pastor from Taco boys, La Santisma, Otro Cafe, Chantico, and Tacos Chiwas, I’m sure there’s so many more I haven’t had the pleasure of trying quiet yet!

For night time fun!

A trip to cave creek to ride the bull or watch bull riding at the Buffalo Chip, Darts at DJ’s in old town scottsdale, Cactus Coolers at Casey Moores in Tempe, The best cocktails at Bitter and Twisted in downtown phoenix, A concert at the Van Buren, CB live in Desert Ridge to catch a comedy show, walking through old saloon doors at the Rusty Spur in old town, Seeing the iconic dolls in the basement of Hanny’s in downtown phoenix, taking a golf cart around Old town to different bars and seeing the sights of night life- it really is a mini Vegas!

There’s always new places and different things to do around town, the weekend’s are always those to look forward to!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I own the business with my mom! Lynda O’Day, she has been there since the very first piped rose and is there with me through the long hours, infinite amount of work and all of the ups and downs. Sweet Dee’s wouldn’t be where it is without her.

Website: https://sweetdees.com

Instagram: sweetdees.bakeshop

Other: Tik tok! xo.sweetdee

Image Credits
For photos of myself (Fully Alive Photography)