Our Story
Our Story begins in 2016
After leaving the corporate world for good.
Our story at Carla’s Cookie Box starts with Carla’s love and passion for family. We are an independent, woman-owned, and locally family-run online bakery. She specializes in Award-Winning Gourmet Butter Tarts, Artisanal Cookies, and luscious deep-fudge brownies. Carla started her online baking business out of a passion for baking, rooted in her Italian-Canadian heritage.
My Italian roots and passion for anything sweet prompted me to really hone in on my grandmother’s traditions. I love when food comes from its natural state. The simplicity in cooking is what makes our ancestor’s food so flavourful.
With the importance of supporting LOCAL, Carla found a way to support local farmers and businesses while building her own local business.
I wanted to support other people that were doing what I was doing but I didn’t have the financial means to do it. I decided right from the start of my business that purchasing local raw materials to make my own product was the way I could do my part to support farmers & local artisans.
Staying true to her roots
Our Story of Being Italian Canadian
Born Canadian and raised Italian, Carla’s story continues with her love for baking. At a young age, she would watch and help her mother in the kitchen. They would bake many traditional cookies for Christmas and other special occasions. As Carla matured into an adult, she began experimenting with her recipes.
Keeping true to Italian traditions, she keeps everything simple yet flavourful and adds a unique twist to her traditional recipes.
I love to be creative but I am horrible at drawing. LOL. One way I learned to be creative was in the kitchen. I began to experiment with traditional desserts and started adding unique spins to my favourite desserts, this is where I came up with my many different Gourmet Butter Tart flavours.
It’s never too late to make a change
Changing Our Story - Making Life Decisions
At 39 years old, Carla’s story made a dramatic turn. She lost her conventional office job and had to decide what to do with her life. With three young children and bills to pay, she was faced with uncertainty. Carla agreed it was time to take a leap of faith in herself and dive into new territories. She wanted to show her young family that it is NEVER too late to follow a passion.
I decided to start this little business during one of the most desperate times of my life. It was incredibly scary and invigorating at the same time. My children are the one thing that drove me and continues to drive me. I wanted to show my children that it is never too late to have a dream and follow a passion. There is beauty that lies underneath hard work and determination.
Shifting Our Story
Carla is now deeply focused on giving back to her community and creating a positive impact. After the heartbreaking loss of her beloved brother Paul to a drunk driver, she was inspired to start a meaningful project aimed at making a difference in the lives of others. Through her efforts, she aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and promote safer choices among her peers, ensuring that no one else has to experience a similar tragedy.
She partnered with MADD Canada in 2020 to launch a line of quarantine and graduation t-shirts in memory of her brother, lost in August 2019. Each shirt donates $10 to MADD Canada's programs, raising awareness about impaired driving—a cause close to her heart. Through this initiative, she aims to inspire responsible choices and promote road safety.
"My younger brother, who was and still is very near and dear to my heart was killed by a drunk driver. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him or weep over him. He was a very pivotal person in my life and continues to be so. I refuse to let his death be in vain and I am determined to ensure another family does not go through the pain my family and I continue to live through."
Carla will continue to raise awareness and advocate tirelessly to ensure that other families do not have to endure the same devastating experiences that her family had to go through. Her passion and commitment to this cause are unwavering, and she is determined to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Carla's MADD campaign, which focuses on preventing the tragedies of impaired driving, can be supported year-round, allowing everyone the opportunity to contribute to this vital mission.
In the Press
Carla’s Cookie Box has been frequently featured across many different media platforms.
Click the media links below to see some of our features.
