Eagle Era

Student bakers add flavor to the season by bringing treats to friends and classmates

By Iniya Prabahar

At a time when many students are struggling with finals alone during the holidays, two AHS bakers are running small businesses out of their kitchens. 

Sanna Jajoo (11) has been running her cinnamon roll business for 2 years, but her culinary origins go further back. “I started baking when I was 8,” she said. “My mom bought me a baking kit. It turned out really well, and I kept going.”

Instead of branching into cookies or cakes, she chose a less conventional alternative. “I don’t really see people selling cinnamon rolls. It’s usually cupcakes or cookies, so I wanted to try something different,” Jajoo said. 

December is when her production peaks. Last year, she baked nearly 100 rolls in a single day to keep up with holiday demands. “I planned everything out and had my parents help with packing,” she said. 

Seasonal flavors are a big part of her winter menu—pumpkin spice for fall and hot cocoa rolls for the winter. “People like variety,” she said. “Seasonal specials are great for promotion because it gives them more to choose from.”

To manage school with her small business, Jajoo works ahead. “I try to finish all my schoolwork during the week, so I have time on weekends.”

Through her hard work, she has gained loyal customers. Kavya Bist (11) has been buying from Jajoo since the beginning. “When she started the business, I bought from her to support her as a friend. But it turned out really good, so now I buy it just because I want to,” said Bist. “I also feel better when I eat them because I know they’re healthier and don’t have any preservatives.” 

While Jajoo is a veteran of the holiday rush, Preethi Kannan (10) is experiencing her first true holiday baking season this year.

Kannan’s specialty is cookies. “There’s so much room to be creative with them,” she said. Before Thanksgiving, she released cinnamon roll cookies as a seasonal special. “Seasonal flavors are something I can’t make all year round, so they’re a good way to advertise and bring in more customers.” 

For the second week of December, Kannan’s cookies were decorated with rainbow sprinkles (Photo Credit: Preethi Kannan (10)).

While Jajoo’s business runs based on demand, Kannan works in pre-planned, limited batches with a set amount of cookies each week. Students place orders only after she announces what she’s making. 

“Since I’m still small, I mainly advertise on my spam account, so most of my customers are friends or people in my close circle,” she said. “Eventually, I hope to expand more.”

Kannan follows a clear routine to make it all work. “Every Thursday, I post the flavor for the week and keep orders open for about 24 hours. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, I find time to prep, bake, and decorate,” she said.

Caramel cinnamon rolls were a standout seasonal item for Jajoo last winter (Photo Credit: Sanna Jajoo (11)).

Between Jajoo’s on-demand cinnamon rolls and Kannan’s carefully planned batches of cookies, both students have found how to balance school and their growing passion for baking. In a month defined by late-night studying and the slow countdown to winter break, their baking brings a little sweetness to the season.