Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Mack.
Hi Charlene, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From the very beginning, baking has held a special place in my heart. My story starts in my Aunt Lee’s kitchen, a warm, flour-dusted place filled with the smell of sugar and vanilla. I was just a little girl then, standing on a stool beside her, eager to hand her the next ingredient or stir the bowl, even if my arms got tired. She was patient, loving, and full of wisdom, teaching me that baking was not just about recipes but about putting care and love into everything you do.
My Aunt Lee nicknamed me “Granny” when I was young because I moved a little slower than most kids due to my asthma, and as she liked to say, I had an old soul. The name stuck and became part of who I am. Years later, when I decided to start my business, naming it Granny’s Sweets was my way of honoring her and the lessons she passed down to me.
Granny’s Sweets is also part of my healing journey. During one of the darkest times of my life, while enduring an abusive marriage and trying to find peace again, baking became my refuge. When everything else felt chaotic, the kitchen gave me calm. Measuring, mixing, and creating became therapy. Each cake I baked reminded me that even after pain and brokenness, something beautiful could rise.
What began as a form of healing grew into a purpose. I started selling my homemade desserts at local pop-up events, meeting people who connected to my story through the sweetness I served. Over time, that dream expanded into owning my very own Granny’s Sweets Dessert Truck, a place where I can share not just desserts but comfort, love, and joy with every slice.
Today, Granny’s Sweets stands for more than cake. It is a celebration of resilience, faith, and the power of love to transform. Every dessert carries a bit of my story, living up to our tagline: “Lovin’ from the Oven.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting a business while rebuilding my life after leaving an abusive marriage came with its share of challenges. I had to learn how to start over from scratch emotionally, financially, and mentally, all while showing up every day to build something meaningful.
There were moments of exhaustion, self-doubt, and discouragement, especially trying to balance a full-time job with running a growing business. I’ve faced setbacks like equipment issues, slow sales seasons, and the natural ups and downs that come with entrepreneurship.
Through every challenge, I’ve learned resilience and faith. What truly helped me keep going was finding a supportive community of people who believe in collaboration over competition. Connecting with Tongue Slappers BBQ Smokehouse and doing events with their company, NC Throwdown, opened so many doors for me. Their events gave me the exposure I needed, and I met other food truck owners who became like family. We encourage one another, share resources, and help each other grow.
Those relationships reminded me that success isn’t just about sales. It’s about connection, integrity, and lifting others up along the way. Every time someone tells me my desserts “taste like love,” I’m reminded that every struggle was worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the owner and baker behind Granny’s Sweets, a Southern-inspired dessert brand and dessert truck known for made-from-scratch cakes, pies, and sweet treats, each baked with love and a touch of nostalgia. My mission is to bring comfort, joy, and connection through desserts that taste like home.
At Granny’s Sweets, I wear every hat. I’m the baker, recipe developer, cake decorator, social media manager, and sometimes even the delivery driver. Each dessert starts with me in the kitchen, whipping batters from scratch, layering cakes, and perfecting every flavor to meet “Granny’s Sweets standards.” From preparing for weekend events to handling orders and managing the dessert truck, I’m hands-on in every part of the process. It’s hard work, but it’s work I love.
Granny’s Sweets is best known for its moist and flavorful cakes, including Red Velvet, Banana Pudding, Strawberry Crunch, and Butter Pecan. Recently, my Blue Velvet Oreo Cake went viral and quickly became a customer favorite. Each dessert is made with care, using quality ingredients and recipes that honor Southern tradition while offering that unforgettable, melt-in-your-mouth taste.
What truly sets Granny’s Sweets apart is the heart behind the brand. Baking isn’t just my business; it’s my purpose and part of my healing journey. Every cake carries a story of resilience, faith, and love. Whether I’m serving desserts from the Granny’s Sweets Dessert Truck or connecting with customers at community events, my goal is always the same, to make people feel seen, appreciated, and uplifted, one slice at a time.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in business is that growth takes time, and consistency will always take you further than perfection. When I first started Granny’s Sweets, I wanted everything to be flawless, every cake perfect, every event a success, every detail just right. Over time, I realized that building a business is a journey, and some of the best lessons come from the moments that don’t go according to plan.
I’ve learned that authenticity is everything. People can buy dessert anywhere, but what keeps them coming back is the feeling they get when they visit my dessert truck. I never want anyone to feel like just another customer. I want them to feel seen, welcomed, and part of the Granny’s Sweets family. That personal connection has built relationships and loyalty that go far beyond the desserts themselves.
On a personal level, I’ve learned to give myself grace. Running a business as a one-woman operation means wearing every hat, from baker and decorator to marketer and driver. Some days are exhausting, but every challenge has strengthened my faith and reminded me of my purpose. Every cake I bake and every smile I see reaffirms that success isn’t about how fast you grow, but how true you stay to your mission and your heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.grannysweets.com
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/grannyssweets1
