Community Highlights: Meet Stephanie Tran of Steph’s Macarons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Tran.

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When the world shut down in March 2020, my first macaron popped out of my oven. Macarons had always been on my baking bucket list because I heard they were challenging to bake. If you know me, I love a good challenge.

They weren’t perfect the first time, so I tried it again. There was something so satisfying about seeing the little feet (ruffled edges) propping up the perfect circular macarons on the baking mat. I was in love! I learned there were endless possibilities for different flavors and shell designs. I wanted to try my hand at all the different combinations but knew I couldn’t possibly eat them all myself. So why not sell them?

The first macarons I sold in July 2020 were matcha ganache flavored and shaped into circles, turtles, and Baby Yodas. I remember straining my wrist by holding the electric hand mixer for 30 minutes straight to whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. I thought to myself, “Never again! I am NOT waiting ’til I get married to be gifted a KitchenAid stand mixer!” I took the plunge to commit to Steph’s Macarons as a true business when hit “purchase.”

Fast forward 1.5 years and thousands of macarons later, I’ve had three pop-up shops and am partnering with local restaurants.

Steph’s Macarons is just my “side hustle.” I’m actually a 4th-year dental student at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. My classmates encouraged me to open a macaron shop next to my dental office. I joke that I want to be known as the dentist who is giving cavities to everyone in town.

In the future, I would like to teach macaron baking classes, open multiple storefronts, and open an online shop to ship across the nation.

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 had two major obstacles.

First, being from Fort Worth and a dental student, branching out into the working San Antonio community was difficult. My main demographic was students, and macarons are a delicacy. Thus, I struggled with pricing. My product is great, and I refused to lower its value just to increase my sales because I know my worth.

Secondly, I had a partner who did not support this passion and hobby of mine. He said, “If you can prove to me that you are not addicted to macarons by not baking for a whole year, then I will never get mad at you again.” Therefore, I went on an 8-month hiatus. My classmates would ask, “How’s the business going?” I’d reply, “I’m just focusing on school right now.”

It was a plausible excuse. I found myself asking him for permission to bake once a month. One day, I finally realized this was unacceptable and let go of this person. My life and business have flourished since then.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in custom macarons in a wide variety of flavors. I’m always asked to make Baby Yoda macarons or to “macaron-ify” my customers’ pets! My flavor profile ranges from basic vanilla to unique ones such as crème brûlée, s’mores, black sesame, and everything bagel. When you bite into my macaron, the flavor is very apparent. You don’t need to search for the flavor. I also love when my customers give me new flavor suggestions.

My background, passion, and creativity set me apart from others. In a short 4 months, I will be a licensed dentist, so macarons will always purely be “just for fun” for me. My patience, precision, and perfectionism that help me succeed as a dentist are reflected in the quality of my macarons from the taste to the packaging.

Food holds a special place in my heart because gifting food, especially handmade, is a primary way we show love and appreciation for others in the Asian culture.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Start a business, and you will find your true support system. They will understand that a macaron is more than just a Krabby Patty-looking cookie. It symbolizes my passion. Those who truly love you will continually encourage you and always believe in your success. If you find that your circle disappears, don’t worry. Your passion will naturally attract good energy and genuine people to you.

Pricing:

• Basic round macarons: 2 for $5 | 6 for $15 | 12 for $30
• Custom set of macarons: starts at $36, includes 6 custom and 6 round macarons
• US Shipping: Flat fee of $12

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Linktr.ee/stephsmacarons
• Phone number: 210-201-4141
• Instagram: instagram.com/stephsmacarons
• Facebook: facebook.com/stephsmacarons
• TikTok: @stephsmacarons

Image Credits
Stephanie Tran