My name is Emily Uhlman and here is my story…
I am a 17-year-old baker, baking under the Cottage Law of Maryland. All my life I have loved to bake. I watched Food Network baking shows and took special interest in Duff Goldman from the Baltimore based Charm City Cakes. I would bake on holidays and for my friends for birthdays or special event. Once the pandemic hit, we were sent home from school immediately and I found baking was something that I continued to enjoy and kept me busy. By the end of May, we knew that going back to school was not happening and my parents tried to find me an internship with local bakeries for the summer. Unfortunately, they found that I was too young as insurance could not cover a 14-year-old in professional kitchens. After putting internship requests out on social media, a gentleman reached out to me for his wife’s birthday. It was my M&M antigravity cake. And that was when my business took off.
At the end of May 2020, my parents surprised me by registering my name with the state of Maryland. I was officially Butterworks Bakery USA. They gave me $150 to buy ingredients and materials. I was able to pay them back within 3 weeks. By July, my business and social media followers grew so fast that the local media took notice. I was featured in the Carroll County Times and then interviewed by Baltimore TV Stations – WJZ, WBAL, and FOX 45. By the holiday season, I was working 7 days a week completing individual orders. All this while studying as a full-time high school student.
One of my biggest moments was when The Kelly Clarkson Show invited me to Hollywood to tell my story on her show. While being interviewed she surprised me with a visit from Chef Duff Goldman and I had the opportunity to be his Sous Chef while doing a demonstration with Kelly Clarkson, Ms. Pat and Duff. What an amazing experience!
Recently, I won a $1000.00 grant from Hey, Westminster to launch “Cupcakes for Caregivers” . This program was created in an effort to give back to the community by baking cupcakes for local fire departments, police stations, hospitals and nursery homes. I have teamed up with my social media followers and members of the community. I do the baking and then seek members of the community to deliver them. I want this program to start a community of people doing a good deed for our local caregivers.
I am unsure of my future however; I know I love to bake. Currently, I am studying at Carroll County Technical School for the Baking program in my Junior and Senior years of high school. In the summer of 2023, I will be traveling to Italy to participate in a pre-college program with the University of Florence. After high school, I am considering additional instruction in Italy. I would love to own my own store one day. I bake cakes, cupcakes, hot chocolate bomz and more.
I want to thank all my friends, family and supporters. You are helping to make my dreams come true.