Hey friend, I'm Marley!
I'm Marley, creator of Baked Abundance, a food blog sharing both traditional and allergen-friendly baking recipes. If you hadn't noticed, baking is my jam!
I'm also a food photographer and content creator for food brands, small businesses, restaurants and bloggers. My goal is to create beautiful, effective content that helps brands reach their marketing goals.
Learn more about my story and Baked Abundance below!
My Story
2016-2019
Looking back, I wonder why I didn't start a food blog sooner! In college, I had a personal blog where I shared a mix of lifestyle and eco-friendly content. I was a Marketing student and always craved a creative hobby. I actually started sharing some recipes on my old blog and Instagram for fun. During this time, I had no knowledge of SEO, running a website or what a food blog truly entails.
Fun fact #1: I actually worked part-time in a bakery during college and loved it! I still dream about the smell of freshly baked bread and jumbo muffins.
Fun fact #2: I met my best friend & love of my life during my senior year of college. Evan and I now live together and he taste-tests all of the recipes you see on my site. We both love to cook dinner together and he kindly helps wash the dishes when I'm done testing recipes for the blog. Thanks, Evan!
2020
After college, I worked on other projects alongside my full-time job in Marketing & Information Technology. In 2020, I actually started a small business on Etsy a few months into the pandemic selling digital art, stickers, earrings and prints. This was a fun way to connect with others during an isolating time.
As a recent college grad, I found enjoyment and creativity in making meals for myself now that I had access to a kitchen again. I made fun meal prep ideas to take into the office and tried lots of new recipes and new foods. I grew up as a very picky eater and making new recipes has encouraged me to try new foods!
During the pandemic, I baked and cooked A LOT. I was still sharing recipes on my personal Instagram but didn't think about creating a food blog right away.
2021
Finally, in August 2021, I created my website and started sharing recipes online! A month after creating my site, I ended up switching careers and landed a full-time job with an SEO agency. I quickly learned what keyword research was and the importance of good SEO for a successful website. Working in SEO has been a huge eye-opener for me and this switch couldn't have happened at a better time!
At the end of 2021, my best friend Rachel helped me take personal branding photos. Her mid-century modern style is such a vibe! Rachel has also created a few recipe videos for me to share on Instagram. She is the best!
2022-Present
It took me a while to learn how to run a food blog and I'm still learning new things every day! My goal in 2022 was to land my first paid partnership and after a lot of work and effort, I landed a brand deal at the end of April. This was all I wanted for my birthday haha! (Where are my fellow Taurus people at?)
2022 was a huge year of learning and growth. I created content for amazing brands like Navitas Organics, Diamond Nuts and Local Hive Honey. I continued to work on my food blog and improve my food photography and styling.
After an exciting first year in the food and creator industry, I gave my site a much-needed refresh in early 2023. Investing in yourself can feel scary, but it is so worth it and I feel proud of how far I've come so far. Thank you for being here and supporting my business. I appreciate each and every one of you!
Advice for creators:
If you are thinking about starting a business or side hustle, do it! Believe in yourself and start today. You never know where you'll be in a few years after taking that first step. I have made genuine connections and real friends with other food bloggers and creators since starting my blog. I can't imagine not knowing these wonderful people! Let me be your inspiration and cheerleader for your next big project. You got this!
What Will You Find on Baked Abundance?
I share a mix of traditional and allergen-friendly recipes that you can easily make at home. I find that there is always a need for allergen-friendly recipes like gluten-free desserts to share with family members or eggless cookies when you run out of eggs! That's why I share some gluten-free, dairy-free or even vegan recipes so everyone can find something they can enjoy.
I personally do not have any dietary restrictions and most of the time I make traditional bakes with all of the sugar, butter and flour. However, I do enjoy healthier options that use natural sweeteners like pure maple syrup. Sometimes, it feels good to enjoy a delicious muffin and know it is also nutritious.
Some of my favorite recipes are those made with ingredients you already have at home. Think rolled oats, fruit, nuts and chocolate chips. Wondering what you should keep stocked in your pantry so you’re always ready to bake?! Check out my baking staples checklist.
All bakers are welcome here. So if you’re just starting out, you’re a messy baker like me, or you’re an avid foodie, come join me! Have a recipe request? Sign up for my email newsletter and respond to an email with your recipe ideas.
Must-Try Recipes If You're New Here!
More About Marley & The Blog
When I’m not cooking in the kitchen, shooting food photos for clients, or working on new recipes for Baked Abundance, you can find me relaxing at home with my boyfriend Evan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We love going on bike rides, eating tacos and making a Moscow Mule on the weekends.
Some of my favorite things include: yoga, bikes rides, reading, puzzles, margaritas, music, dark chocolate, matcha lattes, walking outside and the beach!
What do we have in common?! Connect with me on Instagram or sign up for my newsletter!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have ever created a business, you know choosing the name can be a challenge! However, I landed on the name Baked Abundance because I felt it captured what baking is all about. Desserts and baked goods make life feel extra special and abundant. I want to capture the joy and happy memories that food brings all of us.
If you are new to baking, I recommend starting out with any of my muffin or cookie recipes! These lemon cookies are a breeze to make and you don't have to chill the cookie dough. Win win!
For experienced bakers, I would recommend any of my cake or cupcake recipes. My chocolate bundt cake is so moist and delicious.
Yes! I do take suggestions. If you have a recipe idea you would like to see on Baked Abundance, please respond to one of my emails. You can also DM me on Instagram or respond to one of my Instagram stories.
Suggestions may not always make it to the blog, but I appreciate your input and try my best to offer recipes you are looking for.
You can leave a review on a desktop or mobile device. There is a simple form underneath each recipe card that allows you to leave a 5-star rating and review. I love hearing your feedback and which recipes you love so please leave a review!
Yes, you can print out any of my recipes. Simply choose to print out the recipe from the recipe card that is featured at the bottom of the recipe posts. You can use the "Jump to recipe" button to easily jump down to the recipe card and print from there.
I am always adding new recipes to the site and this includes some allergen-friendly options. My favorite allergen-friendly recipe is my eggless chocolate chip cookies. This is actually the most popular recipe on my site!
Come Bake With Me!
Want to know what I've been baking, learning, and loving lately?! Subscribe to my email list to be the first to know about new recipes, baking tips and more. Get exclusive offers, recommendations and recipes before I share them anywhere else. I'd love to connect and hear from you as well!
Want To Work Together?
Do you need help with food photography or coaching advice regarding your food blog? I can help! Fill out this contact form and I will get back to you.
Do you need professional content creation for your food brand? Here is a link to my portfolio where you can view my work and get in touch with me. I look forward to learning more about your brand's content needs. Cheers!