Cannabis enthusiasts and foodies alike rejoice! Today, we bring you an inspiring tale from the world of infused baked goods. At the heart of this delicious revolution is Julia Vondrasek, the creative force behind Bak’d Goods.
This exclusive interview explores her passion, innovation, and drive to bring joy through hemp-derived THC-infused delicacies. Read on to discover her story, challenges, and why Bak’d Goods is capturing the hearts (and taste buds) of many.
A Culinary Journey Rooted in Tradition
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in this field?
Julia Vondrasek:
“My name is Julia Vondrasek and I’m originally from New Orleans before moving to Fort Worth in 1996. Food and flavor have always been an important part of our lives and I learned to cook watching my chef father create dinners for us.
My love of cooking and creating came from this. My main reason for starting this business, honestly, was so that I could be my own boss and work with my husband.
I’ve worked for non-profits doing social work before becoming a teacher in Keller ISD. My husband works in IT. We’ve been married for 30 years and just wanted to be with each other as opposed to seeing each other after work and exhausted.”
From Advocacy to Creation
What inspired you to start creating hemp-derived THC-infused baked goods under the brand “Bak’d”?
Julia Vondrasek:
“I have always been an advocate of cannabis going back to the early 1980s, and with the passing of the 2018 Federal Hemp Farm Bill, I started to research what CBD could do for my anxiety and joint pain. I was shocked at how much THC/CBD improved my quality of life.
I love learning about terpenes and what they are, the fact that they are present in all living things and are responsible for all smells. Terpenes give you various experiences and it is why there are so many strains of cannabis.
Each strain has just different enough terpenes that you can feel sleepy or creative depending on which you use. To me, that is fascinating! No big pharma drugs, grown hydroponically indoors, without pesticides. This just seems a better option for everyone.
I don’t smoke, so edibles became my only option. The problem with edibles is that most of them do not taste good, can leave residue on your tongue, or the distillate is only sprayed on top of the edible and is not fully infused.
To me, it was like eating nasty-tasting medicine. I love baking, so I figured, why not try to infuse into what I bake and see what happens? What happened was something wonderful!”
The Story Behind the Name “Bak’d”
Can you share the story behind the name “Bak’d” and what it represents for your business?
Julia Vondrasek:
“When I began to infuse, I started off purchasing and then decarboxylating the hemp flower in a toaster oven in my backyard. It smells bad! I would then use a small crock pot to infuse the now-ready flower into butter or oils.
It is stinky and not fun to do with large amounts! Luckily, once we obtained our manufacturing license, we switched to distillates and haven’t looked back. I began making various baked products such as muffins, toffee, and mini bundt cakes and discovered that friends loved the flavors and the total lack of harsh cannabis taste!
You cannot be afraid to try new flavor profiles or make a variation of a recipe you found. Like Julia Childs who was fearless or Bob Ross and his happy accidents. You never know what you can make unless you try; and the mistakes are usually delicious.
I sold my baked edibles for two years here in North Fort Worth to a local CBD store (Emerald Organics) before deciding to share my love of infused baking with everyone and forming my company, Bak’d Goods.
The name Bak’d Goods comes from my college days at Loyola University, where we called smoking cannabis ‘getting baked.’ I think most people know that the word baked is a euphemism for ‘being stoned.’ The play on words fits the cannabis industry well.
This industry is about playfulness, enjoyment, relief, and being able to laugh at the utter seriousness of life itself. It is the one industry where everyone’s goal is for the client to enjoy, just enjoy, the products they purchase. I feel like I’m bringing a little happy moment to each person who buys a muffin.
The only downside to having the company name Bak’d Goods, with the cannabis leaf, is peoples’ outdated views regarding the industry. Lots of us remember the movie ‘Reefer Madness’ or ‘The Devil’s Lettuce.’ It was so misleading and detrimental to a plant whose total properties are STILL being discovered.
There has always been a lot of stigma surrounding any use of cannabis, and even with legalization at the federal level, there is still plenty of judgment by those who remember.
I personally hope cannabis is here to stay as it has brought me and plenty of other Texans relief in a much safer, more natural way.”
Overcoming Challenges with Creativity
What are some of the challenges you faced when developing your popular products like Mint Cookies and Fruity Pebble Rice Krispie Treats?
Julia Vondrasek:
“The cannabis edible industry has been just absolutely glutted with THC/CBD gummies. If you don’t smoke or you like to consume your cannabis orally, you have limited options and variety. Gummies, brownies, and candies are what most CBD stores carry.
So as a business, you are constantly looking for new ideas, tastes, flavors that is different from what anyone else is doing. The challenges of making and creating new products is 3-fold. Make a product that tastes good, it hides the bitter cannabis flavor and is shelf-stable.
By having to taste what I make constantly I end up with unintended funny stories. After your 4th or 5th peppermint pattie tasting, I’m down and out for the count sometimes! I’ve learned to use anyone, anywhere, if they are willing to be my guinea pig and taste test for me!
I usually make a batch without infusing, if it’s a new recipe or creation, so that I can get a wider opinion. Eventually though, I will have to taste something and hilarity usually ensues!”
Ensuring Quality and Consistency
How do you ensure the quality and consistency of your THC-infused products?
Julia Vondrasek:
“Baking truly is a science and must be treated like it. Weighing everything is how I ensure the accuracy of dosing and flavoring. I basically deconstruct what the muffin is made up of and what makes it stay together (gluten), and recreate it each time.
I make everything fresh and do not use any artificial colorings or flavorings. There are so many chemicals and unknowns in what we eat that I wanted to make something that was exactly what I wanted and nothing else.
I do notice that a lot of cannabis products have additives or preservatives and dump in just everything (HHC, Delta 8, 9, 10, THC-V, THC-O, THC-P), hoping it works. I use only hemp-derived Delta 9 and CBD distillates only, ever! I source my botanically-derived terpenes from True Terpenes in Oregon.
The shelf life for baked products is very short thus I make small batches daily so that everything is as fresh as possible. All of our products are 3rd party lab tested for potency as well as safety.”
Customer Feedback and Popular Products
What feedback have you received from customers about your Mini Blueberry Muffins and Orange Slice gummies?
Julia Vondrasek:
“The blueberry muffins were my first foray into baking with cannabis. The results were shocking. THC in a muffin? And it tastes good? How? Can you make more, please? These comments gave me the confidence to try other muffins like cranberry-orange zest or pumpkin spice for Fall.
The comments I first got on the orange slices were exactly what I was hoping for, to be honest. Everyone it seems has had at least 1 orange slice in childhood and this little piece of candy has everyone saying the same thing: ‘tastes like the ones I used to eat when I was little!’.
So far, all feedback has been positive and supportive. These flavors bring back those memories and are a fun way to consume cannabis. Since the advent of the internet, it has become way easier to copycat a favorite food or treat, and I have taken full advantage of this.
For me, taste should transport you to an old memory maybe or make you feel comforted on a cold, rainy day. In my family, we live to eat.”
The Art and Science of Infusion
Can you describe the basic process of infusing THC into your baked goods and gummies?
Julia Vondrasek:
“There is a lot of math involved in dosing accurately each time. I usually double-check as I go so that the weights and amounts are on point.
I’m most afraid of making someone sick by overdosing on an edible. I really do think about this scenario: first-time user trying a cookie, and it has a way higher strength because I was inaccurate with my measurements. They end up hating cannabis and never try it again. All because of inaccurate dosing.
Scientificedibles.com is a great, free resource for at-home infusions. It does the math for you, so you will know how many mg you are infusing and what the strength of the edibles will be. Great tool! The process of infusing is very straightforward with distillate.
Just like adding a spice or flavor to what you are cooking, you add the distillate that’s been infused into a fat or alcohol source. THC loves fat and will become part of it when placed together.
Pure alcohol, like Everclear, is also another way to make a tincture for when you are creating something with little to no fat source, like gummies. The alcohol burns off as it cooks, leaving only the Delta 9.”
What The Future Holds
What future products or innovations are you excited about for Bak’d?
Julia Vondrasek:
“Creating new products to enjoy is the best part of this job. The sky is the limit. How does infused peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sound? This is just one of the products I am working on right now.
Ice cream should be a no-brainer when it comes to cannabis but surprisingly, it has been very slow to start. I think this is going to be a big hit for summer of 2025. Other products I’m working on is our 2nd annual Advent calendar for the 12 days of Christmas, and our own Valentine’s Day heart full of infused truffles. Think chocolate espresso. Also infused cotton candy, caramel apples and peppermint bark.
I noticed last year during the holidays that people tend to stock up on edibles and infused drinks to help them cope/handle/deal with all the family gatherings and anxiety that comes from Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc. So, I made up an all-new “Holiday Survival Kit,” which has a variety of candies, baked goods, treats, and a drink. Everything in the kit is made with varying amounts of THC Delta 9 to suit any occasion (5 mg-150mg).
The latest innovation I’m excited to try is nano-technology infusions. You use less Delta 9, and the cannabis effects are felt faster. In other words, 8 mg of Delta 9 THC would feel like 15 mg. This is great news for people with tolerances or someone who just uses a higher dose.”
Begin Your Flavorful Journey with Bak’d
Julia Vondrasek’s story is a testament to the power of creativity, dedication, and passion in revolutionizing an industry. At Bak’d Goods, every muffin, cookie, and gummy is crafted with care and accuracy, leading to an exceptional experience for cannabis enthusiasts and foodies alike. Bak’d Goods offers a unique and delightful way to enjoy the potential benefits of cannabis.
Interested in exploring more about infused baking? Connect with Julia and the Bak’d Goods community by trying some of her delicious treats and Danu Wellness in Bedford, Texas. You’ll embark on a flavorful adventure that promises both enjoyment and a sense of natural wellness!