Let’s get ready to crumble, Sandhills! Cookie lovers have a new go-to spot in Vass thanks to “Mom Lisa,” Lisa Daniels, who has turned a lifelong passion for baking into a full‑time business.
Daniels, owner of the newly-opened “Mom Lisa’s Cookie Cottage,” started the small bakery after several years of selling her homemade cookies through local shops and special orders.
The storefront is an entirely new venture for Daniels and follows nearly two decades of work at the Cameron Boys Camp. Though a physical shop is a new step, Daniels’ love of baking is not: she’s been baking all her life and shows no signs of stopping.
As a mother, she said she often baked for her children and believed homemade treats were part of family life.
“I’ve always liked to bake, and I’ve been baking since I was a kid,” explained Daniels in an interview with Sandhills Sentinel. “I have children, and I would bake for them, too. I always thought they needed to have fresh cookies, things like that. I thought that’s what mothers are supposed to do.”
What started as a way to earn extra income gradually turned into something bigger. About four years ago, Daniels began approaching local businesses to see if they would carry her cookies. Her first opportunity came through a Sanford coffee shop.
From there, Daniels continued visiting other businesses to offer her baked goods.
At the time, Daniels worked at Cameron Boys Camp and used her days off to bake and fill orders.
“I’d go in on my days off, bake, and deliver my orders,” she said.
The closure of the camp ultimately pushed her to take the next step. Daniels needed a place to bake, and when she found a kitchen space, her landlord required that she open to the public.
“My landlord said that I had to open to the public,” laughed Daniels, referring to her little cookie cottage along S. Alma Street. “I wasn’t against it, but I wasn’t sure how it’d work. It’s been nice. I’ve been meeting a lot of nice people. Families go for walks and bring in their children, who enjoy it.”
Nearby police officers and firefighters have also become customers, as the storefront is located on the same street as both departments.
Daniels’ menu centers on classic comfort treats. She makes cookies, brownies, bars, and cinnamon rolls, along with cookie bars and other rotating baked goods. Despite the variety, chocolate chip cookies remain her top seller.
“I can’t keep them on the shelf,” Daniels joked.
Another popular option is her s’mores cookie. Daniels also enjoys experimenting with new flavors and combinations. Recently, she has been especially fond of desserts made with Biscoff spread, including a Biscoff cookie bar.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s hard to leave it alone.”
Daniels avoids using nuts in most of her recipes but labels items clearly for customers with allergies. She said she also hopes to expand into gluten-free options in the future, including an Oreo cookie brownie.
While many bakeries focus on cakes, Daniels said cookies allow more room for creativity. Instead, she enjoys experimenting with cookie variations, sometimes creating desserts that resemble cake but maintain a cookie texture.
“I can make almost kind of a cookie in a cake form,” she said.
Her lineup changes often as she tests new recipes. Among the creations she is currently developing are a banana pudding (or “nanner pudding”) cookie and a traditional black-and-white cookie inspired by Italian baking.
“I’m always looking for something unusual,” Daniels said. “You just never know what you’re going to find when you come in.”
Outside the kitchen, Daniels describes herself as an animal lover. She has two rescue dogs and says she would adopt more if she could.
As the business grows, Daniels hopes the bakery will become both a long-term venture and part of her future retirement plan.
For now, she said the best part of the job is the reaction from customers.
“I love it,” she said, grinning. “It’s a lot of fun, and it makes me feel good. I found my niche.”
Mom Lisa’s Cookie Cottage is located at 120 South Alma St. in Vass. For more information, visit Mom Lisa’s Gourmet Cookies page on Facebook.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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