From a home oven
to Main Street

Dessert First began the way the best recipes do — at home, in spare hours, for the pure joy of it. More than six years ago, Samantha started baking out of her own kitchen, and what was meant to be a small side project quickly became something the whole community wanted a taste of.

While working a full-time job, she spent her evenings and weekends baking, then traveled across Illinois to farmers markets, vendor fairs, and pop-ups — anywhere people gathered who believed, as we do, that dessert deserves to come first. Year after year, batch after batch, the following grew.

In December 2025, the dream got its own front door: a storefront bakery on Sale Street in downtown Tuscola. We poured the same care into the shop that we pour into our baking — customers tell us walking in feels like stepping into a storybook, and honestly, that's exactly how we hoped it would feel.

How we bake

We use real butter and real vanilla, mix and roll our doughs by hand, and whip the icings the morning they're swirled on. When something sells out, it's because it was baked fresh that day — and there will be more tomorrow.

Thank you for letting us be part of your celebrations, your Saturday mornings, and your everyday sweet moments. Life is short — eat dessert first.