Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Davis Qudduws Ware.
Hi Sarah Davis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sarah Davis and Qudduws Ware are the husband-and-wife founders of Crisp & Chew, a bakery dedicated to giving the humble oatmeal cookie the spotlight it deserves. What began as Sarah’s quest to perfect an oatmeal cookie recipe—after Qudduws struggled to find a truly great one locally—quickly turned into something bigger. After sharing the cookies as gifts with friends, a pivotal moment came when one friend insisted they should sell them, calling them “the best oatmeal cookies I’ve ever had.”
The idea lingered for years until, in 2024, the couple decided to take the leap and officially launch Crisp & Chew. Starting with online orders for local pickup and weekend booths at farmers markets like the Wolf Ranch Farmers Market in Georgetown, their cookies quickly gained a loyal following and frequently sold out. Along the way, Sarah and Qudduws discovered that the joy people felt from their crispy-edged, chewy-centered creations was contagious.
Now, they’re preparing to open their first retail storefront in Georgetown, Texas—the community whose early support helped turn a simple kitchen experiment into a growing business. Located at 1612 Williams Drive, the shop will bring Crisp & Chew full circle, serving the very community that believed in their cookies from the very beginning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sarah: I don’t think any small business journey is completely smooth, and ours definitely hasn’t been. One of the biggest challenges has been figuring out how to grow in a thoughtful way. When something starts as a passion project in your kitchen, scaling it into a real business takes a lot of learning and a lot of decisions.
Qudduws: Exactly. We’ve spent a lot of time asking ourselves questions like: Which markets should we focus on? Where do our cookies resonate the most? Early on we were testing different ways to reach people—online sales, farmers markets, local partnerships—and trying to understand where our energy would make the biggest impact.
Sarah: Another challenge has been figuring out how to share what makes our cookies special with a larger audience. We know how unique our flavors are, but telling that story and helping people discover them takes creativity and consistency.
Qudduws: The good news is every obstacle has taught us something. Each market, each customer conversation, each sold-out weekend has helped us refine what Crisp & Chew is becoming.
Sarah: And those lessons are a big part of what’s given us the confidence to keep growing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Crisp & Chew?
Sarah: Crisp & Chew is a bakery built around one simple idea—oatmeal cookies deserve the spotlight. While most bakeries treat them like a side option, we made them the main event. We specialize in cookies with unique flavors, crispy edges, and perfectly chewy centers, using high-quality ingredients and recipes we’ve spent years perfecting.
Qudduws: What really sets us apart is how we push the boundaries of what people expect from an oatmeal cookie. Of course, we love the classics, but we’re also known for fun, creative flavors like Key Lime Pie, Lemon Raspberry, and Bourbon Caramel Chocolate Pretzel. When people try them, they’re usually surprised by how versatile an oatmeal cookie can actually be.
Sarah: Brand-wise, what we’re most proud of is the joy people experience when they try our cookies. Watching someone take that first bite and realize an oatmeal cookie can be this good never gets old!
Qudduws: And we’re especially proud that this brand grew organically from our community. From gifting cookies to friends, to selling out at farmers markets, to now opening a storefront in Georgetown—it’s been fueled by people who genuinely love what we’re making.
Sarah: At the end of the day, we want readers to know that Crisp & Chew is about more than cookies. It’s about joyfully taking a nostalgic classic and giving it new life—one crispy, chewy, unforgettable bite at a time.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Sarah: A lot of people assume I’ve always been a professional baker, but that’s actually not the case. Baking started as something I loved doing as a child, for the people around me, for family and friends. Crisp & Chew really grew out of that spirit of sharing, not from a traditional bakery background, although I loved watching the PBS Great Chefs show as a child!
Qudduws: And on my side, people might be surprised that this whole business really started because I couldn’t find a great oatmeal cookie locally. I’ve always loved them, and I would constantly say, “Why is it so hard to find a really good oatmeal cookie?” Turns out the solution was sitting right next to me the whole time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crispnchew.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crispnchew/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crispnchew
Image Credits
Kelly Phillips Photo
