Meet Katie Carrico | Baker, cake & cookie artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Carrico and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Working for myself has always been my end goal. I’ve worked in restaurants and bakeries for the last 17 years and have learned a lot of things from some amazing people. It gets hard though when you’re always working under someone else. It’s their business, their ideas, and you have little creative freedom (depending on where you’re working.) I knew that there was a lot more I wanted to do as far as baking and decorating went that would require me to go out on my own. When the pandemic hit, like a lot of people, I found myself without a job. I had already started the Mollie Rose, but it was like a newborn baby. I thought ok it’s now or never, so I dove into it. I got my cottage food license, hired a graphic designer, developed a menu and haven’t looked back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Cake and cookies are my art. I’ve been creative all my life but I was never much of an artist. My sister (who the bakeries named after) was an amazing artist. Like, unbelievably talented. Cake decorating didn’t come naturally to me. I wanted to be good at it and I enjoyed it so I practiced. I was lucky enough to work with a lot of really gifted decorators and I would just watch and learn. After a while, you start to develop your own style and you know what you like and what you don’t. In the beginning when I went out on my own, I was always in the head space of “I have to say yes to every order.” Even if it was a design I didn’t really like. Now, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable letting people know that their design idea isn’t really in my wheelhouse. At the end of the day, you have to be happy with what you’re putting out, and for me it’s not Mickey Mouse or Coco melon.

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.
I live in Long Beach and I absolutely love it!!! My life pretty much consists of eating, so my entire trip would be based around that. One of my favorite things to do is get some sandwiches from Olives and have a picnic out on the bluffs. The Baja club on ciabatta bread is my all-time fave. A trip on the Aqua Link is also a must in the summer time. Stopping by some breweries is always on my list. Ten Mile is one of my favorites along with Ambitious Ales, Trademark and Long Beach Beer Lab. For dinner I would visit all my favorite spots, The Ordinarie, The Attic, The Firkin, Simmzy’s or Lola’s. If we’re in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood, I’d take them to Wood and Salt for a nicer dinner, Dutches for pizza and beer or Rasselbock for some delicious german food. Then for an after dinner drink, Art Du Vin is my favorite wine bar in LB. Not to mention there’s always a food festival or music festival going on over here. It’s a great place to live.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Where do I begin??? I have to start by giving a huge shout out to my husband Pete. He has supported me every single step of the way. I’d like to believe that I would have been able to accomplish this all on my own, but the truth is, I wouldn’t have. He cooks, he cleans, he lugs tables and ez ups around for me. He’s my backbone.

I also have to give a lot of credit to Susie Cakes Bakery. I worked for the company for 9 years before the pandemic hit. I was a head baker, culinary support specialist and market leader. They really invested a lot of time and energy into me and I can honestly say that a lot of my work ethic comes from working there for so long. They also taught me how to decorate!

Website: mollierosebakeshop.com

Instagram: @mollierosebakeshop

Facebook: facebook.com/mollierosebakeshop

Image Credits
All images were taken by me.