Urban Cookies and OllieCake is a family-owned and operated bake shop specializing in organic cookies and cupcakes

Our Philosophy

Gourmet
We bake extraordinary cookies and cupcakes with the freshest and highest quality ingredients from select purveyors who uphold our standards.

Organic & Local
On average, we use 75% organic ingredients in our baking. In addition, we source local ingredients whenever possible such as eggs, dairy, nuts, honey and more. Better for you, better for the environment. Learn more about organic!

People
We feel our success is a combination of our valuable team and our loyal customers.

Community
We believe in social responsibility. We work towards creating less waste in our production, use recyclable packaging, and support our community with financial pledges, volunteer time and sharing the goodness of cookies with local charities.

How We Began

Husband and wife team, Brady and Shaun Breese are nearly natives of Phoenix. They attended Arizona State University, graduated in 1998, and married in 2001. In 2005, over a Sunday morning breakfast, they hatched an idea that combined Brady’s cooking talent with Shaun’s marketing background – the centerpiece was the Urban Cookie, a dark chocolate walnut cookie that Shaun made for friends and family for years. After six months of research, their dream became a reality Nov. 1, 2005, in the kitchen of Florence Crittenton, a local non-profit organization. With simplicity and quality as the cornerstones of the business, the couple took their idea to the next level with unique, funky gift packaging and gourmet organic ingredients. The couple’s strong belief in social responsibility also was incorporated into the company.

THEN …
Brady and Shaun

AND NOW …
Shaun and Brady and Ollie
Shaun, Oliver and Brady Breese

Community Work

Urban Cookies' commitment to its community started on day one when its owners created a trade agreement with the non-profit that gave them their start – free use of their kitchen in exchange for teaching some of their at-risk teen girls to bake and run a business. To this day, Urban Cookies continues to support Florence Crittenton's mission with cash donations and in-kind cookie and gift donations for fundraisers.

Throughout the years, Urban Cookies has provided additional job training and mentorship to clients from organizations such as Good Will of Central Arizona and Southwest Autism Resource and Research Center. In addition, it provides internship experiences to culinary institute students from across the Valley, allowing them the rare opportunity to learn directly from a small business owner.

May Charity Event

In 2010, Urban Cookies, in partnership with Shamrock Farms launched its Milk & Cookies community project. Fulfilling its mission to make people feel good, Urban Cookies' goal was simply to bring the joy and comfort of milk and cookies to children and families in need.

Visiting organizations such as Phoenix Children's Hospital, Child Crisis Nursery and Florence Crittenton, Urban Cookies' Milk & Cookies project touched more than 500 kids and families in the Valley.

For 2011, Urban Cookies has pledged its year-long support to Kitchen on the Street, a local start-up non-profit dedicated to turning hunger into hope by providing meals to school kids on the weekends when they would otherwise go hungry. Its annual support includes cash donations, volunteer time, marketing support and hosting food drives throughout the year.

Kitchen on the Street

Meet Our Team

Brady

Co-Founder & Creative Wizard

Brady Breese

Started Urban Cookies with his wife Shaun in 2005. A self-taught baker, he creates all of the company’s recipes and oversees quality control.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Chocolate Cupcake

Shaun

Co-Founder & Marketing Guru

Shaun Breese

Started Urban Cookies with her husband Brady in 2005. Oversees business development, operations, marketing and community relations for the company.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookie

Dan

The Front Man

Dan Looney

Officially Urban Cookies’ first team member, Dan joined us in 2009. He now oversees retail operations from the counter, to customer service to gift fulfillment.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Pineapple Coconut Cookie

Sal

Bake Shop King

Sal Garcia

Sal came to Urban Cookies in 2010 from the Le Cordon Bleu Scottsdale Culinary Institute. He serves as the lead baker overseeing pastries for our bake shop and our wholesale partners.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Brown Velvet Cupcake

Ann

Finance Queen Bee

Ann Claudio

With us from the VERY beginning is Shaun’s mom, Ann. Without her, there would be no Urban Cookies … literally. She is our finance and IT guru, as well as our long-time business consultant.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Strawberry Cupcake

Kerianne Kerianne Hayes

Kerianne joined us in 2011 from the Art Institute of Phoenix’s Culinary/Baking program. She supports our bakery operations and is lovingly referred to as “cupcake girl.”

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake: Peanut Butter Cookie

  Amanda Hepler

Amanda recently joined us from a bakery in Tucson and leads production of our wholesale pastries.

Favorite Cookie/Cupcake:

Where to Find Us

You likely know that we sell our gourmet cookies and cupcakes at our bake shop – but did you know that we have an entire line of wholesale pastries that are available all around town? Find our gourmet morning muffins, scones, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, flourless chocolate cake and dessert bars at the following locations: Catering Pastries
Luci’s Healthy Marketplace
1590 E. Bethany Home Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85014
Whole Foods Market Chandler
2955 W. Ray Rd.
Chandler, AZ 85224
Whole Foods Market Paradise Valley
10810 N. Tatum Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85028
Press Coffee
City North
5410 E. High St. 115
Phoenix, AZ 85054
Whole Foods Market Tempe
5120 S. Rural Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85282
Whole Foods Market Raintree
8688 E. Raintree Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Press Coffee
Scottsdale Quarter
15279 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Whole Foods Market Scottsdale
7111 E. Mayo Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85054
Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants
7 locations valley-wide

Upcoming Cupcake Wars Events

Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Valley Young Professionals Event
Hear from a panel of local entrepreneurs including Urban Cookies’ owner Shaun Breese, about how they’ve created successful small businesses.
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Location: ASU SkySong
1475 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Time: 7:30am – 9am

Cupcake Wars Encore
See our team of bakers compete once again in Food Network’s Cupcake Wars during an encore presentation. Then, make your way to our bakery to try each of the four winning cupcakes – only available Wed., Nov. 9 – Sat., Nov. 12
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011
Time: check with your cable provider for times

 

Local First Fall Festival
Visit more than 60 booths representing local vendors and eateries from across the Valley including Urban Cookies and support the “Buy Local” movement.
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Location: Duck and Decanter parking lot
1651 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Time: 10am – 4pm
Whole Foods Market – Paradise Valley
Local Vendor Day
Did You Know… Urban Cookies also bakes muffins, scones, brownies and dessert bars? That’s right, but only to its wholesale partners across the Valley. Visit Urban Cookies’ table at Whole Foods Local Vendor Day to taste our amazing treats you’ve never had before!
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011
Location: Whole Foods Market –Paradise Valley
10810 N Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85028
Time: 11am – 2pm
Coffee, Cookies & Crafts 5
A celebration of independent art and craft. Great holiday shopping with 30 local vendors selling unique handmade items. A pop-up lounge serves free coffee and cookies.
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011
Location: Bragg’s Pie Factor
1301 W. Grand Ave., Downtown Phoenix
Time: Noon – 5pm
The Science of Baking Presentation
Hosted by: our very own Brady Breese
A delicious peek at the science behind baking. Learn about reactions between ingredients, the importance of precise measurement, what really happens in the oven, and explore the kitchen chemistry involved when Urban Cookies creates unique flavors such as the Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese cupcake.  Hear about flavor flops and successes, and how we took home top prize in the Food Network’s third season of Cupcake Wars!
Date: Friday, December 2
Location: Arizona Science Center
600 E Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85004
Time: 7pm
Crafeteria
Hosted by local Frances and Smeeks, this annual winter event kicks off the busy holiday shopping season and encourages “Buying Local” from artisan crafters. Visit Urban Cookies’ booth for a sweet treat!
Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
Location: Frances and Smeeks parking lot
14 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013
Time: 6 – 10pm
 

 

Press & Awards

Winners Food Network’s Cupcake Wars – 2011
Winners Cupcake Love-In “Most Outrageous Cupcake” – 2011
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Impact Award Nominee – 2011
Phoenix New Times – Best of Phoenix – 2009
APS' AAAME Business Mentorship Program – Class 12 – 2009
Rachael Ray Show – Snack of the Day – 2009
Lexus Hybrid Living – Retail Partner – 2008
Sundance Film Festival – Greenroom Partner – 2008
Phoenix Magazine – Best of the Valley – 2007
HGTV – Best Place to Start a Business – 2007
Phoenix New Times – Best of Phoenix – 2007

New Times Best of Phoenix 2009 Phoenix Best of The Valley Cover

Associations
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Local First Arizona

 

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