During the early morning hours when most of Holt is still asleep, Amber Fofana is already hard at work, hands deep in sourdough with the scent of fresh-baked goods filling her kitchen. For the owner of Fofana Creations, these marathon 16-18 hour baking sessions every Friday are a labor of love – one that reconnects her to cherished family memories and serves the community she’s grown to love.
Fofana’s journey with baking began in her aunt’s kitchen. “I started baking at a young age,” she recalls. “I spent the majority of my formative years with my aunt who was an avid baker and cook.” That treasured relationship shaped not only her culinary skills but her life. “One of the first things I remember baking is a Texas Sheet Cake. Fofana says her aunt inspired her to begin baking. “We had a very strong bond.”
When her aunt passed away, Fofana stopped baking altogether. By the time she was ready to go to college, Amber decided to study baking and pastry arts, hoping to reignite her lost passion, but even that didn’t help. As the years went by and her interest in baking dwindled, it would take a global pandemic and a chance encounter with an online recipe for Fofana to find that passion once again. “I started baking cookies after I saw a recipe online during COVID, a smookie,” she explains. “Then I started experimenting with different kinds of smookie, which led to me selling to friends.” What began as a creative outlet during lockdown quickly transformed into a thriving business.
Now a regular fixture at the Holt Farmer’s Market for almost a year, Fofana Creations offers a range of baked goods, all made from scratch. Her best-selling items? “The original sourdough loaf or soft pretzel bites,” though her personal favorite is her innovative “Brownie Flight.”
The process is demanding but meditative. “Breadmaking helps me turn off my brain,” she says, describing the lengthy preparation that begins at 6 a.m. the day before each market. “Even though I’m exhausted Saturday morning, as soon as that first customer walks up it’s like a complete 180 for me,” Fofana says with a smile. “Okay, let’s do this.” She also operates a roadside stand “only when she’s able to,” balancing the demands of her growing business.
Having grown up just outside of Holt, Fofana feels a deep connection to the community. She credits the Holt Farmer’s Market with helping her business “explode” and single-handedly changing its trajectory. “Chuck is amazing, ” she says of the market manager. “He has a great personality and has helped me with my business.” Since becoming a vendor at the farmer’s market, Amber has picked up more than just business experience. “More than gaining business, it’s gaining fellowship,” she says.
Fofana also praises the market for its collaborative spirit, giving a lot of thanks to the community of Holt and offering special appreciation for fellow vendors like Flavor and Grace and Gaia Greens. “It feels like a big family and there’s no competition.”
When not baking, Fofana can be found enjoying Buddy’s restaurant nachos, grabbing coffee at the local Biggby, or supporting fellow Farmer’s Market vendor Rivertree Coffee with their decaf blend.
Looking ahead, Fofana has ambitious plans. She’s considering a rebrand and has dreams of opening her own storefront in the future, bringing her love of baking to an even wider audience and community she calls home.
To find our more about Fofana Creations and how to buy her delicious treats, follow her Facebook page or find out when she’ll be working at the Holt Farmers Market.