Meet Marilyn Segundo | Founder & Head Baker of Joy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marilyn Segundo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marilyn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Yellow Apron Baking Co. started the moment I realized a few things were true: I LOVE baking with my whole heart, folks love a treat made with love, and most families don’t have the time, or desire, to make quality treats from scratch anymore. I grew up in a home where food was a love language, and I wanted to bring that feeling back – comfort, nostalgia, and the little moment of joy you get from something made from scratch with care.

Starting my own business felt like a natural way to share that. I want to create a space where people can slow down, treat themselves, and gift something that genuinely means something. Yellow Apron Baking Co. became a way of mixing my creativity with community. We show up with flavors that feel familiar but elevated, and giving busy moms, aunts, grandmas, and besties a shortcut to homemade magic without the stress.

At the end of the day, my thought process was simple. If I can put more joy, connection, and really good cookies into the world, why wouldn’t I?

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Yellow Apron Baking Co. is my love letter to the people who crave comfort, connection, and really good cookies without the stress of making them. What sets us apart is the heart behind what we do. Every recipe starts with nostalgia, a little whimsy, and deeply rooted in quality and community. When someone bites into one of our cookies, I want them to feel taken care of and like they’ve just been wrapped in a warm hug.

I’m most proud of how this little dream has grown – from baking in my home kitchen to partnering with local businesses, showing up at farmers markets, and taking the next step soon. It’s been a journey built on grit, early mornings, and a whole lot of butter. And while it may not have been easy, it has been amazing.

Growing a business while serving customers, building a life as husband and wife (we just celebrated our first anniversary!), and making time to take care of myself is all a balancing act that doesn’t always look Instagram-ready. But every challenge taught me to keep showing up, stay flexible, trust my gut, and to surround myself with people who believe in my vision even on the days when I’m running on caffeine and chaos.

What I’d love the world to know about Yellow Apron Baking Co. is this – we’re more than desserts. We’re about celebrating the small moments, gifting something meaningful, supporting other local makers, and creating sweets that taste like childhood. We’re for the folks who deserve something special without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

My story is simple. I built Yellow Apron Baking Co. to give people the kind of joy I grew up. And every cookie, bar, ad cake we make is a little piece of that story shared with the community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Easy!

The first night would be dinner at La Casita Mexican Restaurant. Yes, our bakery corner can be found inside this local gem, but everyone should experience a meal here. Family owned & operated since 1976, La Casita makes you feel like family. Classic, homemade Tex-Mex, the BEST margaritas in town, and a little something sweet from Yellow Apron? Yes, please.

The next morning would be breakfast at Water Oak Cafe in Webster. The food is phenomenal, the ambiance is beautiful, and the vibes are golden.

We’d drive into La Porte to visit Books by the Bay for a bit of book shopping (always have to support our local book shops!). We’d spend the afternoon shopping at the various boutiques and antique shops (Whimsy Boutique, And Sew it Begins, Babes by the Bay Boutique, The Bonny Bluebird Cooperative), and grabbing an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up from Sweet Pea Coffee Co.

Dinner would be at Rocko’s Dive Bar in Pearland. The food is delicious, we could enjoy a cool drink, and spend time with locals.

We’d head to Galveston for a day on the Strand. Coffee from Conex Coffee Company, breakfast at Sunflower Bakery & Cafe, more books at Then & Now Bookshop, dessert from Hey! Mikey Ice Cream or Milk & Honey Baking Company. It’d be a slow day of wandering around the shops, people watching, and relaxation. We’d have to grab a few pieces of chocolate from La King’s Confectionary. Dinner would have to be at Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza.

Pier 6 in San Leon, Wrap n Roll in Pearland, Taqueria Estilo Maria in Pearland, Damn Fine Fried Pies in Seabrook, and Ninfa’s on Navigation are a few of the food spots I’d have to introduce them to.

I’ll assume they’re here through the weekend so we’d have to hit up the markets. Old Pearland Farmers Market and Rice Village Farmers Market are two of our favorites.

A walk through Stevenson Park in Friendswood to relax one evening. And since we’re in Friendswood, we’d have to visit Friendswood Scoop Shop for some delicious ice cream.

A drive into Houston to visit Blue Willow Bookshop, and Murder by the Book.

I guess the week would be all about books, good food, and supporting small business. That sounds like a pretty sweet week to me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! My shoutout goes to my parents and to my husband, Louis.

My parents were the first people to teach me that food is love. It’s not just about the ingredients, it’s about care, connection, and creating a moment of joy for someone else. Every time I step into my kitchen, I’m carrying pieces of what they taught me. No one ever left Mom’s kitchen hungry and they’d leave with a little more joy in their heart. She was pure magic, that woman, and I’m just trying to continue that legacy with my bakes.

And Louis, well, he’s become the heartbeat of this dream. He’s my sounding board, my taste tester, my calm in the chaos (well, we take turns creating the chaos and being the calm), and the person who reminds why I started if things ever get tough. He believes in me and in Yellow Apron Baking Co. as much as I do, sometimes maybe even a little bit more, and that kind of love changes the way you chase your dreams.

If Yellow Apron Baking Co. is built on anything, it’s built on love, support, and the encouragement they pour into me. I’m just the baker – they’re the reason I get to do it.

Website: https://www.yellowapronbakingcotx.com

Instagram: @yellowapronbakingco

Facebook: @yellowapronbakingco

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thehappychaotic

Image Credits
Create a Moment Photography

Marilyn Segundo