Susansnaps began as a labor of love that were developed during a time of need:
to bring a little joy, to comfort a loved one, to make someone smile.
In fact, spreading smiles is still at the heart of our story.
When life hands you lemons, bake gingersnaps, right? Well, that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but it perfectly sums up what my mom and I did. We knew it was a bit crazy to have a company based solely on gingersnaps, but so is the story of how we got started.
Doesn’t life have a way of presenting challenges when we least expect them? For me, that challenge came a week before my college graduation at 22, when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma—the same cancer that my Aunt Susan, whom I’m named after, died from at just 28. The diagnosis was terrifying, but it became even more intense as my dad and I underwent grueling chemotherapy within the same year, sometimes even sitting side by side during treatments.
Seeing my dad and me battle cancer left my mom, Laura, feeling devastated and helpless. Wanting to show her love and support, she sought out a way to make us smile! She learned that ginger is a natural stomach soother, and knowing that homemade cookies always make things better, she created a recipe for delicious gingersnaps, naming them “Susansnaps” in honor of her sister (my Aunt Susan) and me.
What started as a little endeavor soon blossomed into something much bigger. From our garage-turned-kitchen, my mom and I began baking gingersnaps as a way to share a bit of joy during a tough time. Neighbors, friends, and family fell in love with the cookies, and before we knew it, Susansnaps was born. What began as a heartfelt mom-daughter project quickly grew beyond our expectations, becoming a full-fledged business that was dedicated to spreading cheer.
During chemo and radiation, Mom and I saw countless sad faces and realized how challenging it can be to find the right words or actions to show support. It’s tough to know what to say, what to do, and we got that! That’s when we decided to create Susansnaps—a simple, heartfelt way to say “I care.” Our gingersnap cookies became more than just a treat; they were a comforting gesture and a way to bring a little joy during tough times. Susansnaps was our answer to those moments when words fell short, offering a delicious way to show you care and brighten someone’s day.
Susansnaps is more than just a cookie company; it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, love and connection.
For 22 years, our delicious cookies were sent across the country for cancer care packages, get-well gifts, thinking-of-you moments, holidays, celebrations, corporate gifts and countless occasions when someone simply wanted to let another person know they cared.
The cookies were what we baked. Making people feel cared for was always the heart of Susansnaps.
We created Susansnaps with one mission in mind: to spread joy and comfort during life’s most challenging times. For 22 years, we baked and shared our gingersnaps with love and care, helping people send a smile, offer comfort and let someone know they were thinking of them.
And, that mission will always remain at the heart of the Susansnaps story!
As co-authors of The Cookie Cure, published by Sourcebooks, my mom and I share our story of resilience, love and learning to carry on when life takes an unexpected turn. From the heartache of cancer to the unlikely journey of building Susansnaps, the book is filled with humor, family, faith and the reminder that even in difficult times, you can choose to be unsnappable.
The Cookie Cure received a Booklist STARRED Review and continues the message that inspired Susansnaps from the very beginning: finding joy, strength and meaning even when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Over the years, Susansnaps and our story were featured by ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, The View, TODAY, CBS Evening News, CNN, Southern Living, Good Housekeeping, The Costco Connection and more.
We are incredibly grateful that our story of turning life’s challenges into opportunities to spread comfort and joy resonated with people across the country.
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