Courtney Clifton runs a cottage food bakery out of her Santa Rosa home called Cove & Crumb, specializing in royal icing cookies.
She combines a love for art, baking and family life to create stunning cookies for special occasions that also happen to taste good. Her traditional sugar cookies are an almond and vanilla bean flavor, but she can make chocolate, birthday cake or other flavors upon request. However, in the Cove & Crumb case, these cookies truly are too beautiful to eat.
The busy mom also works with Hanna Center, a nonprofit that provides mental health and community services in Sonoma, to lead their Winter Culinary Camp this year. This camp gives kids a fun, hands-on experience to learn basic cooking skills, recipes and kitchen safety. Hanna is also offering other winter skill-building experiences on their 90-acre campus, including basketball and LEGO robotics, to give local kids a place to learn, grow and explore during the holiday break, Dec. 29–Jan. 3. Clifton loves getting to work with kids, and is inspired to support the incredible work Hanna Center does for Sonoma families.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Courtney Clifton: My first ‘order’ was a gender reveal set of cookies for my sister. It was such a hit that people began asking for their own custom cookies. It wasn’t long before I became an official cookie business.
I started working with Hanna Center because I wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way and partner with an organization that truly makes a difference in Sonoma. Their mission to support local families through mental health services and youth programs really resonated with me. Being able to share my love for baking and cooking with kids while contributing to a place that brings so much good to our community is incredibly rewarding.
Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
All of my cookies (and ‘aha’ moments) are products of late nights with iced coffee and Alani energy drinks.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
My current morning obsession is a vanilla latte. I like to end the day with a cozy tea or Golden State Cider.
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
El Gallo Negro’s seasonal margaritas are my go-to.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
Lemon drop martinis.
Hanna Center, 17000 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 707.996.6767. hannacenter.org. Cove & Crumb, coveandcrumb.com.
