Editor's note: This article has been updated to include additional details about Penny Royal Bakery's Valentine's Day class.

From Taylor Swift-themed cookies to Valentine’s Day cookies, owner and cookie artist Penny Lane has created a one-man-band in Austin’s baking scene with her sugar cookie decorating business, Penny Royal Bakery.

How we got here

Lane has worked as a nurse in the Austin area for 17 years and was looking for a mental outlet during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. She said she started her baking journey by creating cookie sets for friends and neighbors before ultimately deciding to create the home business.

“It was like therapy for me," Lane said. “You just let go of everything you're worrying about and get lost in the creation.”
The business decorates cookies by theme including back to school cookies, Mother's Day cookies and more. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
The business decorates cookies by theme including back to school cookies, Mother's Day cookies and more. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
What they offer


While the business originally started out selling custom cookie orders, Lane added cookie classes to its services to help build a community. Cookie orders are currently sold for special occasions including Mother’s Day, back to school and more, as stated on the business’ website.

The bakery hosts cookie classes throughout the year so individuals can learn how to decorate sugar cookies themselves in themed, instructed class settings or by booking a private class. Classes are held at Erin Condren at The Domain and cookie orders can be picked up at The Turquoise Peacock Boutique in Leander.
Classes take place at Erin Condren at The Domain and typically happen once a month. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
Classes take place at Erin Condren at The Domain and typically happen once a month. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
“The classes have just fit really well with the mission of bringing connection and joy with cookies because it gives people something to do to come together,” Lane said.

The business highlights its GIVEAPENNY mission of helping others by adding an extra cookie to an order so customers can give a cookie to anybody they think needs it and by giving away cookies to a person or organization once a month.
As part of its GIVEAPENNY mission, the bakery gave cookies to the Austin Breast Cancer Resource Center. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
As part of its GIVEAPENNY mission, the bakery gave cookies to the Austin Breast Cancer Resource Center. (Courtesy Penny Royal Bakery)
The impact

Lane said her favorite parts of owning the business are seeing the community built through the cookies at classes and seeing the memories people commemorate with the cookies.


“People send me pictures of the person they gave them to smiling,” Lane said. “It gives me life to just see them out in the world and see what they're doing.”

The business will host a Valentine’s Day cookie decorating class on Saturday, Feb. 8 with one class for all ages for $59 and a second class for adults which will include mimosas for $65. Those interested can check out the website for updates on information and tickets.