Today we’d like to introduce you to Nawal Al-Nouri.
Hi Nawal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My mom is the master baker in our family, and everyone still fawns over her treats. I grew up watching her work her magic in the kitchen. I’ve loved cooking and baking for as long as I can remember. and seeing people’s reactions to my creations really motivated me to keep innovating. The idea that I could bring joy through something that felt so natural to me felt like a little puzzle piece clicking into place.
When life slowed down during COVID, I finally had time to really refine my baking. I’d like to think that’s when I perfected my OG Salty Chocolate Chip cookie. My neighbors would line up to taste test, and to this day, they still remind me of those early batches. Everyone kept telling me to start selling them, but I didn’t want to lose the joy of baking to the stress of running a business.
A couple of years later, after moving to North County, I realized how much I missed sharing my cookies with friends and neighbors. Sea salt on every cookie was always non-negotiable, so when a friend helped me create a simple logo, The Salty Cookie was born.
Fast forward to today, and I still pinch myself every time someone calls and says, “Is this The Salty Cookie? Can I place an order?” What started as a little COVID project has turned into something so special. I never imagined I’d have the privilege of bringing people this much happiness from a humble, salty-sweet cookie.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would love to say it’s been a smooth road, but my family and I have always been little W-2 worker bees. It’s pretty fascinating how much one can teach themselves when they’re motivated to learn. I’d say my biggest challenge thus far has been scaling– I started out taking single cookie orders and now fulfill 250-cookie corporate orders on some weeks. From the 3.5 qt artisan mixer I began with to my current 20 qt commercial mixer, every upgrade has come with its own mix of benefits and growing pains.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Salty Cookie LLC?
I own The Salty Cookie, LLC — an artisan cookie company with recipes curated by a dietitian (me!) using premium, thoughtfully sourced ingredients you can truly taste. I keep my ingredient lists simple but intentional, focusing on quality over quantity– think Kerrygold butter, King Arthur flour, and other top-tier staples. I’ve always believed the reason most store-bought cookies can’t compete with homemade is because the ingredients just aren’t the same. My goal is to make cookies that taste like something I’d proudly bake and enjoy in my own kitchen.
I offer local pick-up at Karak House Coffee Co. in Sorrento Valley (9254 Scranton Road) and also ship throughout California. Orders can be placed directly at www.thesaltycookie.com. All cookies are made to order and require a 48-hour lead time. I also work with other business and corporations, offering custom-branded, individually sealed cookies that make perfect gifts or event favors.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to JUST. START. I truly had no idea what I was doing when I began (and still feel that way some days). What matters most is having the grit, motivation, and drive to figure things out as you go, and the resilience to get back up when things inevitably don’t go as planned.
Pricing:
- Single Cookie- $5.50
- Half Dozen Bakery Box (up to 2 flavors)- $30
- Dozen Bakery Box (up to 4 flavors)- $55
- Flavors- OG Salty Chocolate Chip, Brown Butter Toffee, Oatmeal Scottie, Dubai Chocolate Pistachio, White Chocolate Biscoff
- Gooey Pumpkin Snickerdoodle- monthly flavor (October). New flavor each month.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesaltycookie.com
- Instagram: @thesaltycookie_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567721300828
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-salty-cookie-san-diego?osq=the+salty+cookie
Image Credits
Karleigh McCabe
