I’m Dr. Jennie, the creator behind Just Da Crumbs Sweets.
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I lead a nonprofit that began in five South Carolina counties and now helps build the infrastructure to address heirs’ property across the nation. It’s meaningful work, but after making decisions all day, I needed a place to set my mind down. I found it in baking.

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Three things drew me in. I loved seeing the results come out of the oven. My competitive side wanted my cake to match the recipe photo. And best of all, someone else had already written the directions.

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Bring the ingredients to room temperature? Okay. Take everything out and relax for a while.

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Sweet Results, Willing Taste Testers

I shared desserts at the office, church functions, and family celebrations. When I took a break from baking, coworkers would say, “Ms. Jennie must not be stressed. We haven’t had any of her desserts in a long time.”

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Were they stressing me out so I would bring dessert? Hmm.

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At church, I heard, “Sister Jennie, you should be selling these cakes.” At family gatherings: “Jennie, did you bring that cake you made last time?” Sometimes I wondered whether they wanted to see me or my desserts. I’m choosing to believe both.

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Cream cheese pound cakes became my sweet spot (pun intended). Eventually, I took everyone’s encouragement seriously, and Just Da Crumbs Sweets became a business.

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“Can You Make This in Cookie Form?”

A church sister asked that question after I shared a pound cake recipe.

“I don’t know,” I said, “but I’ll try.”

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My first attempt disappointed me. Rather than throw the cookies away, I left them for my godson before going out of town.

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When we saw each other about a week later, he said, “Jennie, that cookie was bussin’!” For us old folk, that means really good.

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“It didn’t taste too cookie-like to me,” I said.

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He said it reminded him of pound cake. Then: “A pound cake cookie.”

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He was right. And that’s how JDC’s Pound Cake Cookies were born: a slice of cake in a cookie.

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From My Table to Yours

I hope every cake or cookie brings back memories of sitting around a table, telling stories, and enjoying good company, and inspires new memories of your own.

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And yes, we still fight over the crumbs.

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From my table to yours.

— Dr. Jennie