We were lucky to catch up with DARRELL GUNTER recently and have shared our conversation below.

DARRELL, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I made my first dollar from my baking after I won the Men Who Cook event for best desserts in 2015 while I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. I made two tubs of banana pudding to hand out as samples in small cups. Shortly after I was contacted by an American school teacher there asking me too make her some and she would pay me for it. Prior to that I would just make the banana pudding or bake a cake for my military unit potlucks or for Soul Food Sunday’s I would have with friends. I made her half of the tub size I made for the event and charged $25. It was then when I realized that I could make money from these desserts. I felt great getting that first payment for something I loved doing for free.

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

My story began as a young boy in my father’s kitchen in Virginia. I was reared by a single father, Larry, with the help of my grandmother “Lois”. Growing up, I remember my love of being the kitchen creating meals using various groceries found in our cabinets and refrigerator. They were many trials and errors (lol) but through those trials, I found my love for baking. With the help of my grandmother, my first dessert I learned to bake was a boxed lemon cake. As time progressed and my skills sharpened, I graduated to making boxed cheesecakes with cherries or strawberries. My passion for cooking and baking really grew while I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. I was the Marine who would always bring either a lemon pound cake and/or banana pudding to any of my Marine Corps potlucks. Both were big hits. So much so that I was advised to sign up for cooking competitions.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience on social media by using twitter. I follow other bakers and a lot of GREAT CHEFS on that platform! I started posting pictures of different desserts that I would bake along with pictures of dinners I cooked on Sunday’s or throughout the week. The first cake I shipped was a peach cobbler pound cake to a customer in New York. I forgot her name, but she did go on twitter and give me a great review. After that I started shipping more and my business grew from word of mouth of customers posting great comments and videos. I would also pick one random follower each month to send a cake of their choice for free. All I would ask in return is that they post a review and it has helped me tremendously. On 19 May 2021 I decided to start an Instagram Account and a good friend helped me come up with DzCakes22. I began to post my desserts there and it helped me get more customers and orders without having a website. Social media is a GREAT tool if you use it the right way by being kind and respectful to everyone. In Nov 2022 I had the honor and pleasure of baking a Sweet Potato Cheesecake and Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake for the great sports journalist Jemele Hill! Her comments about my desserts also helped me get more orders!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect have been the kind words and love I get back from customers. I recently got a note from a customer saying that he and his family were going through a very tough time! He stated, seeing this cake at his doorstep gave him some much need joy after a long day in the hospital. So being able to touch people with a simple dessert is very rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: it’s coming soon!
• Instagram: DzCakes22
• Twitter: DGunz22