We recently connected with Jynell Hamilton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jynell, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
My first client came from one of my Late mother’s coworkers. At the time I had just finished culinary school- little did I know my mom had made up business flyers with pictures of my work on them, and handed them out to her coworkers. It was a huge surprise getting random phone calls requesting orders- I had no idea my mom had done this sweet gesture.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
About Me & How I Got Started
Hi, my name is Jynell Hamilton, and I’m the owner and head baker behind Your Pastry Pal, a vegan and gluten-free bakery based in Long Island, NY. Baking has been a lifelong passion of mine — one that started as a creative outlet and a form of therapy. I graduated from The Culinary Academy of Long Island in 2010 with a degree in Professional Baking and Pastry Arts, and in 2013, I turned my passion into a family business that honors my mother’s original vision of spreading joy through homemade desserts that everyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary restrictions.
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About My Business & What We Offer
Your Pastry Pal specializes in vegan and gluten-free desserts that are both nostalgic and innovative — from jumbo cookies and mini cakes to banana puddings, pies, and seasonal treats. Every recipe is crafted with care using high-quality, plant-based ingredients, and we also offer gluten-free options for those with allergies or sensitivities. Our goal is to make desserts that taste so good, you’d never believe they’re vegan or gluten-free.
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Our Mission & What Sets Us Apart
What truly sets Your Pastry Pal apart is the heart behind our brand. We’re more than just a bakery — we’re about creating inclusive, feel-good desserts that bring people together. Each item is made in small batches, with love, creativity, and attention to detail. We operate as a pop-up and market-based bakery, bringing our desserts directly to the community through farmers markets, festivals, and local events. That face-to-face connection with customers — seeing their reactions, hearing their stories — is the best part of what we do..
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of how far Your Pastry Pal has come as a minority woman-owned small business that’s grown from home baking to becoming a regular at some of Long Island’s biggest markets and festivals. I’m also proud of the relationships built along the way — from loyal customers who’ve supported us since day one to the new faces we meet every weekend who fall in love with our desserts.
What I Want People to Know
At Your Pastry Pal, our mission is simple: to make everyone feel included at the dessert table. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or simply love great-tasting sweets, there’s a treat here for you. We’re constantly evolving, exploring new recipes, and working toward expanding our reach — including a branded food truck in the near future — so we can share our passion for inclusive desserts with even more people.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Our audience has grown naturally over time through consistency, authenticity, and community connection. From the very beginning, I made it a priority to share where we’ll be each weekend — whether it’s a farmers market, festival, or pop-up — so our followers always know where to find us. Those simple, regular updates helped people plan their visits, and over time, it created a loyal community that shows up rain or shine to grab their favorite treats.
I also love giving followers a peek behind the scenes — from early morning baking to packaging orders and setting up our booth. Showing the real work, passion, and joy behind every dessert has helped people connect with the heart of Your Pastry Pal, not just the product.
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Advice for Those Just Starting Out
If you’re just starting to build your social media presence, my biggest advice is to be consistent and be yourself. You don’t have to post perfect content — people connect with real moments. Share your process, your story, and your passion for what you do. Post regularly about where you’ll be, what’s new, and how people can support you.
And don’t be afraid to engage — respond to comments, thank your customers, tag your markets, and celebrate your wins, big or small. Over time, that consistency and connection build trust, and trust builds your audience.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One story that really reflects my resilience is the chapter where I had to juggle being a full-time single mom, working my regular job, and still waking up before sunrise, Helping with homework, taking my son to Football or Swim practice, or staying up past midnight — to bake for markets and pop-ups. There were weekends when I was running on very little sleep, still packing the car at 5am, still rolling up to farmers markets with a smile, and still choosing to show up fully for every customer, even when life felt heavy.
There were seasons where sales were up and then suddenly slow, where ingredients went up in cost, where permits, equipment, and funding felt overwhelming. I remember moments almost talking myself out of it — in fact I did for a short while, feeling like maybe I should pause or shrink my vision. But then I’d have someone taste a dessert and say, “I haven’t had something like this in years because of my allergies — thank you”… and that reminder kept me going.
Your Pastry Pal started as a passion and became a purpose — and I refused to let challenges stop me. Even when we didn’t have a Commerical kitchen to bake out of, even when managing everything felt like a lot, I kept showing up, kept building, kept learning, and kept believing that what I’m doing matters.
Today, seeing people lined up at markets, watching folks drive across Long Island for our desserts, and knowing all of this grew from faith, late nights, and pure determination… that’s resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.yourpastrypal.com
- Instagram: @yourpastrypal_llc
- Facebook: @Yourpastrypal
- Other: TikTok: @Yourpastrypal_llc
