Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Bell And Maritza Nessi.
Hi Dani Bell and Maritza Nessi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2020, like so many others, we found ourselves feeling overwhelmed and isolated. The world felt very quiet, and we desperately needed something to ground us. Naturally, my mind wandered back to my childhood in Venezuela. I could almost smell my mom’s kitchen. That incredible aroma of cookies being baked entirely from scratch. In Venezuela, you couldn’t just buy a tub of frozen dough; you had to put in the work! I have such vivid memories of sitting at the table with my siblings and my dad, all of us with a glass of milk and a plate of mom’s warm cookies.
One day, my mom and I were reminiscing about those moments. In that moment, it clicked: What if we could recreate those memories and share them with others during a time when everyone needed a happy thought?
That’s when we decided to replicate those recipes. It wasn’t easy; we spent about six months in test kitchen mode, baking batch after batch based solely on her memory, perfecting the dough. We finally hit that perfect flavor. The one that tasted exactly like my childhood. We were ecstatic!
The name came next. We wanted to pay tribute to the city that welcomed us with open arms. Adding Austin’s area code felt perfect, and that is how 512 Cookies, our mother-daughter duo, was officially born.
We are so happy and grateful to have always had the unwavering support of our family throughout this journey. In 2024, our family grew when we welcomed my son! We decided to take a small step back for a while to focus on him and enjoy those early moments. Now that he’s two, he’s officially the newest member of the 512 Cookies team. He even “helps” us in the kitchen now. Though, don’t worry, his “help” usually involves moral support and making sure the floor stays clean of any stray sprinkles!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Believe it or not, I am actually a very shy person! Moving to Austin and navigating life with English as my second language made me even more hesitant to speak up. I was so afraid of making a mistake or having people focus on my accent. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by my incredible husband, family, and friends who pushed me out of my comfort zone, literally forcing me to talk to strangers until I found my voice.
When we started 512 Cookies, marketing was a huge challenge. In an era of viral TikToks and Face-of-the-Brand videos, a shy baker is at a disadvantage! So, since we weren’t getting enough traction on social media, we decided to go “old school.” We went door-to-door to local businesses with boxes of cookies. It was nerve-wracking to introduce myself, but once they tasted the cookies, the response was amazing. And it was so gratifying when the orders started coming in.
There’s also the “Home Baker” hurdle. People sometimes assume that a home-based business is just a hobby, so we often find ourselves explaining why small-batch, handcrafted cookies cost more than something from the grocery store aisle.
Behind the scenes, the logistics can feel like a workout. We’re the bakers, the designers, the delivery drivers, and the supply chain managers. Some days we’ll visit three different stores because one is out of unsalted butter, and another carries the specific flour we need.
And our kitchen definitely has a bit of a split personality. At 3:55 PM it’s a professional production space, and by 4:00 PM it starts turning back into a family kitchen again.
Balancing “production mode” with “mom mode” is a daily whirlwind. Sometimes we have to declare the kitchen off-limits for six hours so we can meet our deadlines. But watching my son grow up around this business makes all the hard work worth it. And just to reassure everyone—his “supervision” of the baking process happens strictly from the safety of his highchair.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My journey into the kitchen wasn’t just a whim; in 2015, I moved to the U.S. to attend Le Cordon Bleu to earn my culinary degree. While I focused on the savory side, my heart (and my sweet tooth) eventually led me back to baking.
At 512 Cookies, we specialize in authentic, 6oz New York-Style “Thick & Gooey” cookies. These aren’t your average cookies; Each one is a premium-weight mound with a golden, crisp shell and a center that stays perfectly soft and indulgent. Basically, the cookie equivalent of a hug.
What makes us truly unique is how we blend our cultures. Our signature cookie is the Glorious Guava. Growing up in Venezuela, my mom used to make pastelitos de guayaba con queso crema—flaky pastries filled with sweet guava and savory cream cheese. We wanted to translate that nostalgia into a cookie. People are sometimes hesitant when they first hear “guava and cream cheese,” but we always tell them, “Just try it.” One bite later, most people are completely hooked.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For us, it’s Integrity. In a home-based business, there’s no corporate boss looking over your shoulder; it’s just my mom, me, and the oven. Integrity means never sending out a batch that is “just okay,” even if we’re exhausted.
When someone chooses to support a local Austin maker, they’re trusting you to deliver something special. Every cookie we bake is our promise of quality. Keeping that promise every single time is how we build a loyal community around our family business—one cookie at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://512cookies.com
- Instagram: @512cookies
- Facebook: @512cookies
- Twitter: @512cookies
