Behind the Sweetness

Meet the Baker

I run my cottage bakery right out of my home kitchen in East Bend, NC, where everything I make is from scratch, made with care, and meant to feel like home.

I started baking during a tough season in my life—what began as a simple comfort quickly turned into a full-blown passion. Over time, word spread, the oven stayed hot, and Sweet Sunflower Bakery was born.

Now I spend my days crafting custom cakes, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and breads for the sweetest moments in people’s lives—whether it’s a wedding, a baby shower, or just someone treating themselves on a Tuesday. My favorite part? Getting to create something meaningful for someone else, whether it’s a showstopper celebration cake or a simple batch of banana bread.

When I’m not elbow-deep in buttercream, I’m usually planning my next pop-up table, sketching out cookie ideas, or daydreaming about future flavors. Baking isn’t just my job—it’s how I share joy.

This bakery is more than a business to me. It’s a piece of my heart, wrapped in parchment paper and tied with twine. I’m so glad you’re here!

Hey there—I’m Brooke Hardy, the face (and flour-covered hands) behind Sweet Sunflower Bakery.

Brooke

To me, baking is more than mixing ingredients—it’s a way of showing love, sharing joy, and bringing people together. Every cookie, every swirl of buttercream, every cake topper is done by hand, made to feel personal and special. I believe desserts should do more than look pretty…
They should make you feel at home.

Artist Meets Baker

homemade

Goodness this sweet don’t come from a box.

My true loves

01.

Freshly Baked Cookies

02.

A quiet evening in the kitchen


03.

Frosting the final swirl on a cake


this or that

Buttercream

Whipped

Cookies

Morning Bake

Night Bake

Cupcakes

if you asked my customers...

“She bakes with her whole heart.”
“No one decorates a cupcake like Brooke.”
“That loaf bread should be illegal; it's so good.”

From classic cupcakes to made-to-order cakes, take a peek at what’s baking today.

Let’s get you something sweet.