Christmas calories don’t count

In 2007, because she and Russ enjoyed baking so much, Deb said they decided to have a holiday bake sale in Shannon Square. Bringing “a little bit of everything” from cookies to candies to breads, Deb said they called their new business Sweets and Treats.

“We were at the bake sale for three Saturdays,” Deb said. “I baked my heart out and we sold a ton of goodies.”

The next year, the demand for the Sprys’ treats was back and they decided they had so much fun the previous year that they would bake again. However, Deb said the second year wasn’t as much fun because word about her delicious treats had spread.

“We weren’t prepared for the amount of business we received, but we got through it,” she laughed.

Last year, because Tyler was graduating from college at Iowa State in the middle of December, Spry said it was decided they wouldn’t do their now-annual baking.

“We had some pretty unhappy people,” Deb said. “We felt bad, but with Tyler graduating, there would have been no way we could have fit it in.”

This year, when Russ asked Deb if they were going to bake again, she said she was hesitant, but agreed to do it to make her customers happy.

“I am going to school full time and have a lot of homework,” she explained of her hesitation. “I am crazy busy, yet I do love to bake and decided to do it.”

So, the Sprys set up Sweets and Treats for orders only this year and have taken to Facebook. The requests are multiplying quickly. Luckily, Tyler has recently moved home and is getting his hands full of sugar and flour to help.

“I’ve learned a lot from my mom over the years and I always learn something new when we’re in the kitchen,” he said. “We have a great time joking and commenting on each other’s baking.”

Tyler specializes in miniatures cheesecakes, of which, Sweets and Treats has four different kinds on their order form.

“I love cheesecake and a few years ago in college I decided I’d find a recipe and try to make one,” he recalled. “I went the whole nine yards: made it from scratch, made the crust, used a spring-form pan and water bath and all that. It turned out really great and was super delicious. Now I’ve graduated into minis and they have been a hit.”

Hand-decorated sugar cookies and cake pops — or cake on a stick — are also topping the order forms. In fact, because the sugar cookies are so big and take so much time, Deb said they had to sell out of them.

“I have about 75 dozen sugar cookies to go out the door yet,” Deb said. “I’ll probably end up making over 1,200 of these by the time this season is done.”

Russ — who Deb claims instigated this year’s baking — has spent a lot of time watching football and a lot less time baking.

“We make him do the dishes,” she admitted laughing. “That is helpful because some things need to be hand washed, so he does come in handy there. He does the breads, too.”

Cara Taschuk, Deb’s daughter-in-law, has also been recruited to help.

“Tyler mixes up cookie dough and gets things together and then brings it to Cara’s house and she is baking,” Deb explained. “It is kind of like I have a satellite sweet shop operation going.”

Deb explained that Taschuk also contributes to the cake-pop frenzy. In fact, Taschuk’s husband, Garrett, brought some to the U.S. Customs office, where he works. The popularity of the treat snowballed into dozens of orders from Garrett’s co-workers.

Both Deb and Tyler agree, Sweets and Treats is gearing up to have yet another successful year — and orders can still be made until Dec. 23

“A lot of people probably don’t realize the work that goes into baking all these wonderful treats — and a lot of time which is always on short supply this time of year,” Tyler explained. “I’ll be happy when it’s done, but it’s Christmas — it’s all about being selfless and helping out. The fact that we have the chance to make other people’s holidays a little more delicious is worth it.”

Deb added, “I love to bake and I enjoy sharing my treats with others.”

To make an order from Sweets and Treats, contact Deb, Tyler, or Russ at 283-4192, sprycookies@gmail.com or via Facebook under Sweets and Treats.