From boxed brownies to ‘double stuffed’ cookies: Irwin resident opens cookie shop in Penn Township

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Sara Sherbondy’s baking never ventured beyond boxed brownies.

While scrolling through her Instagram feed in March 2020, however, Sherbondy noticed a culinary trend that intrigued her: deluxe cookies.

This interest kick-started a period of research and expansion of her baking skills. Before she knew it, Sherbondy was baking and selling creatively designed cookies from her Irwin home.

“It was intriguing, something new,” Sherbondy, 28, said of the “deluxe” cookie concept. “And I like cookies.”

After peaking at 100 cookies ordered in one month, Sherbondy began looking for a kitchen space in June 2021.

“Interest from other people really made me see that this could be something bigger than just baking for friends and family,” Sherbondy said.

This search eventually landed her at a storefront formerly occupied by Rainbow Travel Agency, located at 3350 Route 130 in Harrison City.

Sherbondy said her daughter pointed out the empty building on their way home from her gymnastics practice one day, and it was the perfect fit.

“It ended up being exactly what we needed,” Sherbondy said. “I definitely plan to stay there.”

Under the name Double Stuffed Cookie Co., Sherbondy completed her first orders from the Harrison City location last month.

The first order was for about 500 cookies, and the second — which took place over Memorial Day weekend — was for about 400.

Randie Baker has been purchasing Sherbondy’s cookies since she first started making them, including the cookies and cream, praline, pumpkin and red velvet flavors. Baker, of Greensburg, used to work with Sherbondy’s mom and wanted to support the new business.

Baker said the presentation, combined with the taste, is what separates these cookies from others.

“I don’t think there’s anything in Greensburg like this,” she said. “I think she’s going to do just fine.”

Baker also gave kudos to Sherbondy’s work ethic.

“She’s a hard worker, and she has three kids,” Baker said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help her make it.”

Pete Aiello — owner of Aiello’s Pizzeria in Harrison City, which shares a parking lot with Double Stuffed Cookie Co. — said having a new business in Penn Township “is fantastic for the community.”

A typical cookie is between 8 and 14 ounces and costs $12. Sherbondy said each cookie is about four servings. Because they are refrigerated until pickup, she recommends heating them in the microwave for the most enjoyable consumption experience.

With the exception of some decorating help from her husband, Sherbondy operates Double Stuffed Cookie Co. as a one-woman show. Because of this, she takes a week to bake the cookies and designates a pickup time for all of the orders, which is announced Thursdays via social media. The pickup window falls on the Saturday and Sunday of that week.

When the pickup is announced, Sherbondy unlocks the ordering feature on the store’s website. Here, customers can order from a selection of about five types of cookies, which she changes for each pickup. The ordering feature locks when the order limit — set by Sherbondy — is reached.

So far, best sellers have included the ultimate cookie monster, cake batter dunkaroo, blueberry cheesecake and s’mores cookies.

Sherbondy said it is unique designs and concepts that draw in customers.

“Seeing something new and seeing something that combines many things into one catches people’s interest,” she said.

Details for the next pickup weekend can be found in the Double Stuffed Cookie Co. Facebook group or on the store’s Instagram page, @doublestuffedcookieco.