Something sweet in Seneca County

In Seneca County, small-town charm comes fresh from the oven. From decorated cakes to hand-rolled cookies and pastries, local bakeries across the greater Tiffin area serve sweets that are as personal as the communities they call home. Each kitchen has its own rhythms, routines and recipes —all beginning with the early-morning hum of mixers and the scent of cookie dough drifting out the door. From tiered wedding cakes carefully planned for months, a box of cookies made from a family recipe, or even freeze dried candies, these bakeries bring a personal touch to every order. And behind each counter are bakers whose stories are just as rich as the goods they create. Baked by Bells: Sweet precision For Ellen and Don Bell, Baked by Bells is a labor of love that started out as a necessity. "We were looking for ways to make some extra money at the time, and Ellen had learned how to make macarons — something we hadn't seen being sold anywhere else around here," shared Don Bell. He continued, noting that what began in 2021 as a home-base operation has now grown into a fifth-year endeavor that balances creativity with practicality. "My wife, Ellen, handles all of the baking and decorating," he said. "I assist with sales, customer service, and production support — but the recipes and creativity all come from her," added Bell. "It just kills her if someone buys a macaron, opens it right there, and she sees them eat it." Some of the Bells' core products include shortbread cookies, macarons, and royal icing sugar cookies. "We've tried other things, like pie, cheesecake, and cupcakes — but none of those products last very long," said Bell. "So, we began to stick with what we know sticks out." Don Bell said he and Ellen have found a rhythm working together that suits them both. "When we were getting started, I think we were working 12-14 hour days and now we have it down to about 6," he said. "We found what we were each good at, and since then we have been able to grow in our respective roles." Baked by Bells operates primarily from their home kitchen, licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, with an additional small commercial space in downtown Tiffin dedicated to freeze-dried candy. Their products appear at the Tiffin and Findlay farmers' markets and through occasional custom orders for birthdays, baby showers and parties. Don also noted Ellen's aversion to the public side of baking, saying he enjoys handling the people side while she enjoys the baking side. While the business does own a storefront in Downtown Tiffin, it does not currently have regular hours. Plans are to have regular hours — possibly three days a week — when the windows are done and the front room is redecorated. Until then, their careful attention to craft and consistency continues to define Baked by Bells as a quiet but memorable gem in Seneca County's small-town bakery scene. Handshoe Cakes & Cookies: A family affair A few miles from Tiffin, another family-run bakery has been cultivating its own local following for more than two decades. Handshoe Cakes and Cookies, founded by Lisa Handshoe in 1999, is located in Republic. Her journey into baking began out of a desire to stay home with her children while working at a factory. She started by running a small daycare from her home while experimenting with cakes and cookies, learning as she went. "I really didn't know much of anything when I started… I even came home with a cookie sheet instead of a cake pan," Handshoe joked. Over time, she refined her craft, baking everything from decorated cutout cookies to gourmet cupcakes, cheesecakes, and hand-dipped buckeyes. Gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan options are also available, reflecting Lisa's commitment to meeting customer needs. Today, her day-to-day consists of working nearly all day. "Pretty much from the time I get up to the time I go to bed, it definitely consists of long hours," she said. Each day has it's own role, with the beginning of the week containing prep work like making dough and preparing cookie cutters. Tuesdays are for baking the products that are on the shelves for the week, before moving into orders later in the week. Thursday and Fridays are cake days with baking and frosting. Handshoe said none of it would be possible without the support she receives from her family. "In 2020, my husband renovated the garage into a dedicated baking space, and my middle daughter, Brianne, helps me quite a bit with the cookies. My mother assists with dishes, everyone is involved," she said."Inflation has taken away any kind of breathing room that I would've had before —we have had to let staff go in an effort to keep our prices low." Her passion for baking and creativity turned a personal endeavor into a regional favorite, earning her a reputation for both quality and artistry. People have come from all over for specific treats, Handshoe said. The business is also the force behind a local fundraiser which has come to be known as Project Cookies From Home. "One year on the 4th of July, I put a contest on my Facebook asking the community to nominate active duty service members to receive cookies," she said. Originally only planning to send three boxes, she quickly adapted when customers requested more were sent. "When it came time to draw names, I didn't want to do it. These people are all making that sacrifice, it wouldn't be fair," she said. Instead, she covered the cost of the cookies for customers who paid to have them shipped overseas. Through the initiative, Handshoe has sent over 900 boxes of cookies to active duty service members and veterans in the past five years. Additionally, her cookies can be found for sale at the Sweet Spot at Cedar Point, with deliveries handled on Tuesdays. The bakery is open Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are by appointment only. Hours may vary depending on weekly orders and volume. Kendra's Cakes: From home kitchen to storefront Another short drive from Tiffin, Kendra's Cakes has been sweetening Seneca County since its foundation back in 2011. Owner Kendra Foos shared the business originally operated strictly out of the family home, making treats for friends, family, and neighbors. "It's definitely ended up being a lot bigger than we expected it to be," said Foos. "Things were going really well for us just doing everything at home, and we figured we would try to expand a little bit." With the love and support of her customers, she and her husband, Scott, were able to open their storefront in Bascom in October 2022, bringing their creations to a wider audience. Earlier this year, the business was selected by members of the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership as winner of the 2025 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award — celebrating an individual or business that demonstrates vision, initiative, and determination to launch or grow a business within the county. Kendra's Cakes serves a broad range of occasions, from weddings and anniversaries to graduations and holiday celebrations. Customers can place advance custom orders or pick up ready-made treats for walk-ins. "Weddings, anniversaries, graduations, holidays — there is always a time where someone needs a sweet treat," Foos said. When asked what some of her most popular items are, she shared that cookies are always in demand so she must ensure their display case is always stocked. The bakery operates on a steady rhythm: one day is dedicated to baking, the next to processing, and the cycle continues. Several family members help keep the business running smoothly, including Foos' son, Austin, and niece, Lindsay. When it comes to creating custom designs, Foos emphasizes originality. "A lot of people will send designs in, but I won't decorate an exact copy of a cake," she said, likening her approach to that of a tattoo artist respecting the work of other creators.