We recently connected with Denette Braud and have shared our conversation below.

Denette, appreciate you joining us today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.

Yes, it’s important to give back; We donate a percentage of sales each quarter through our Funnel Cakes for a Cause initiative. Each quarter, we feature a special funnel cake and donate partial proceeds from three months of its sales to support a local nonprofit. We typically choose smaller organizations that align with our values…children, homelessness, hunger, and the military.

Giving back is at the heart of our business, and this program allows us to sweeten lives one funnel cake at a time, turning indulgence into impact.

Denette, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m Denette Braud, the founder and owner of Braud’s Funnel Cake Café, Nevada’s first and only award-winning, woman-owned, minority-owned funnel cake café. What began as a small 10×10 pop-up tent with just three funnel cake flavors has grown into a beloved dessert destination for locals and tourists alike. Following, a mobile concession trailer, a brick and mortar and a mission-driven brand that’s making waves in Las Vegas and beyond.

I didn’t come from a long line of bakers or restaurateurs, I came from a place of entrepreneurship, determination and vision. My business was born in 2006 after realizing funnel cakes were not easy to find in Las Vegas, so I like to say we found a need and filled it.

This business is built with heart, hustle, and a commitment to bringing joy to others. From surviving the 2008 recession and the 2020 worldwide pandemic to weathering extreme heat in an outdoor mall and economic slowdowns, we’ve learned how to pivot, persevere, and pour love into everything we serve.

At Braud’s, we’ve taken a carnival favorite to a gourmet experience, offering over 18 sweet and savory creations from powdered sugar and strawberries to our signature peach cobbler, banana split, cookies & cream, chicken finger funnel cake, bacon, s’mores and more! We also serve ice cream waffle bowls, soda and coffee floats, and a variety of beverages.
Whether you stop by our shop, visit our food trailer at an event, or book us for catering, we’re here to make sure every experience is as memorable as it is mouthwatering.

We’ve had the honor of catering for high-level clients such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium, the owners of Station Casinos, and we’re proud to have had a partnership with Wynn Resorts, where our funnel cakes have been featured in their world-class buffet. Braud’s has also been featured on TV, radio, and in print.

Over the years, our work has been recognized with some amazing honors, including:
* Urban Chamber Business of the Year
* SBA Microenterprise Business of the Year
* Voted “Best in Your City” and “Dessert Champions” at Great American Foodie Fest

As for me personally, I’m so grateful and honored to have been named one of Vegas Magazine’s Readers’ Choice “Top 100 Women of Influence”, and received the prestigious “Women in Business” Award, and Real Vegas Magazine “Women who Wow”, all are reminders that this journey has been about more than just funnel cakes. It’s about representation, inspiration, and impact.

What truly sets us apart is our variety, quality, customer service and our heart. Through our Funnel Cakes for a Cause program, we donate a percentage of quarterly sales from a featured funnel cake to nonprofits focused on children, homelessness, hunger, and the military. Giving back isn’t a side project, it’s woven into who we are.

What I’m most proud of is turning a fun treat into a powerful brand that creates jobs, builds community, and inspires others.
Braud’s isn’t just dessert. It’s a celebration, a legacy, and joy in every bite.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

From Weekend Tent to Award-Winning Funnel Cake Café

What started as a simple weekend side hustle to capitalize on a local event has grown into a full-fledged gourmet dessert brand that’s captured the hearts of both locals and tourists alike.
For the first six years, my family and I ran Braud’s Funnel Cake Café as a part-time gig, offering a few funnel cake flavors under a pop-up tent at local festivals…all while juggling full-time jobs. After seeing the potential and hearing customers ask for more, I took a leap of faith and left my long-time job in radio to focus on the business full-time. That’s when everything started to take off.

We scaled from a tent to a custom-built, self-contained food concession trailer, which allowed us to generate additional revenue through catering private parties, corporate events, and large festivals. Eventually, we opened our brick-and-mortar location in Town Square on Las Vegas Boulevard, giving customers a chance to enjoy funnel cakes daily, not just when there was a festival in town.

Along the way, we expanded our menu to feature over 18+ sweet and savory funnel cake creations, plus ice cream waffle bowls, soda & coffee floats, and more. From classic powdered sugar to our bold signature combinations like peach cobbler, chicken finger, and crazy caramel chocolate crunch, we’ve turned a nostalgic fair favorite into a next-level gourmet experience.

We’ve hit some incredible milestones along the way, including:
* Partnering with Wynn Resorts, where our funnel cakes were featured in their world-famous buffet,
* Catering for top clients like Pepsi-Cola, Zappos, Boyd Gaming, Target, Marshalls Corp, Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium, and owners of Station Casinos to name a few…
* Being featured on TV, radio, and in print media,
* Earning numerous awards and honors for our product and entrepreneurship.

Braud’s is more than just a dessert shop… It’s a celebration of resilience, creativity, community, culture and fun. We create jobs, spark memories, give back through our Funnel Cakes for a Cause program, and inspire others to dream big.
So, no matter how you enjoy Braud’s… in-store, at an event, or for the first time ever… you’re part of something bigger and helping us make a difference, one delicious funnel cake at a time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Braud’s wasn’t built overnight, we forged through challenge after challenge, fueled by faith, family, and a determination to keep going.

We’ve weathered every kind of storm, from the 2008 recession to the 2020 pandemic, and even extreme heat waves that nearly halted our business. Each time, we found a way to pivot, persevere, and pour back into our community because resilience isn’t just part of our story, it’s our story.

During the 2020 pandemic, when everything shut down, we didn’t have a storefront, just our concession trailer. I reached out to management companies to see if we could park somewhere — anywhere — to keep serving. No one replied.
Finally, I reached out to my friend Trina over at Gritz Café, offering her a percentage of our sales in exchange for letting us park in her’s and Expertise Cosmetology parking lot. business. They welcomed us with open arms — and wouldn’t accept a dime. Then Dawn Houlf of EXIT Realty Number One did the same. Their generosity reminded us that, community comes together in time of need.

Others stepped in too, like Michael L. Edwards from U.S. Bank and Sandra from Plushed Ultra Stylist, who both donated money out of the kindness of their hearts to help keep us afloat. Their kindness allowed us to pay it forward with free funnel cake giveaways to families to spread some joy and remind people they weren’t alone.

And just recently, in 2024, we faced another blow with three and a half months of intense heat at our outdoor mall location. It was brutal…with no foot traffic and revenue at a low, I had to think fast. I reached out to past clients and offered special catering deals, and once again, our community came through.

We’ve come a long way, and I’ve learned to see every setback as a setup for something greater. Each challenge taught me how to pivot with purpose… staying creative, staying strong, and never losing sight of our commitment to giving back. That’s what makes our mission even sweeter. Because at the end of the day, we’re not just serving funnel cakes, we’re serving joy, hope, and community, one delicious dessert at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.braudsfunnelcakecafe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnelcakecafe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefunnelcakecafe
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denette/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@braudsfunnelcakecafe3518
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brauds-funnel-cake-cafe-las-vegas