Ying Nance, the owner of Chubby Baker, an Asian American dessert shop, never expected to be a baker. Originally from Thailand, Nance was unfamiliar with American doughnuts until she tasted them for the first time. “I think I can do better,” she recalled telling her mother-in-law, even though she had no experience with frying doughnuts or baking. This moment sparked a journey that would lead to Chubby Baker’s growth into a successful dessert business with three locations in Utah.
Chubby Baker’s signature doughnuts are soft, lightly sweetened, and often feature Asian-inspired flavors that surprise American palates. The shop’s menu has expanded over time, offering a variety of desserts beyond doughnuts. Nance’s newest location, a flagship store in Sandy, is not only the main kitchen but also serves as a space to experiment with new recipes, including seasonal treats for the holidays.
From a Trip to the U.S. to a Thriving Dessert Business
The idea for Chubby Baker began during an unexpected turn of events. Nance’s original plan was to visit the U.S. in early 2020 and return to Thailand, but when COVID-19 hit, she was unable to go home. Instead of returning to Thailand, Nance extended her visa and ended up staying in the U.S. for longer than expected. In 2021, she applied for a green card, but while waiting for approval, she couldn’t work a typical job.
This delay led Nance to experiment with baking in her mother-in-law’s kitchen. She turned to YouTube to learn the skills she needed to make doughnuts and other baked goods, testing recipes she found online and adjusting them to her taste. During a two-week quarantine in August 2020, Nance and her mother-in-law perfected their doughnut recipes.
The Birth of a Unique Doughnut
Nance wanted to create doughnuts that were different from typical American versions. She drew inspiration from her Thai roots, crafting a coconut cream doughnut using fresh young coconut from Thailand. This doughnut became the first product she sold under the Chubby Baker name.
To spread the word, Nance began delivering doughnuts to local food influencers. As these influencers posted about her creations on social media, word spread quickly. By September 2020, she was fulfilling online orders and delivering doughnuts around the Salt Lake Valley, despite being new to the area and still learning to drive.
Expansion and New Offerings
In January 2021, Nance saw a “for lease” sign on a building in Salt Lake City and decided to open her first brick-and-mortar location. After signing a lease in February and completing the build-out, Chubby Baker opened in October. Nance opened two more locations in Utah: one in Orem in 2023 and the latest in Sandy in June 2024.
Nance emphasized that she never planned to open a dessert shop, let alone become a baker. “Before I married my husband, I told him, ‘Don’t expect me to cook,'” she said. Today, she focuses on making everything by hand, from the doughnuts to the glazes and fillings, using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Chubby Baker’s core doughnut flavors include coconut cream, ube (a sweet purple yam from the Philippines), passion fruit cream cheese, “hot” guava (spiced with Thai chili powder and Tajin), and Ferrero Rocher. Later additions to the menu include unfilled ring doughnuts, such as brown butter and blueberry lavender, as well as the strawberry and cream doughnut, which has become one of her best sellers.
In addition to doughnuts, Nance also bakes cakes, including gooey chocolate, ube, banana pudding bomb, and strawberry and cream. A standout is the Chubby Tiger cake, a chocolate cake layered with Biscoff sauce, banana, and cream.
Nance has also introduced “croffles”—a mix of croissants and waffles—available in flavors like strawberry and cream, Biscoff, Nutella banana, and ham and cheese. A special treat exclusive to the Sandy location is bingsu ice, a shaved ice dessert topped with cake, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce.
New Flavors for the Holiday Season
For the upcoming holiday season, Nance is adding a variety of festive treats to the menu. One of the most anticipated items is a sticky date pudding doughnut topped with caramel sauce and pecans. “It’s one of my favorite doughnuts I’ve ever made,” Nance said, noting that it’s a recipe she’s been perfecting for years. Other holiday items will include a gooey chocolate cake with marmalade in the middle, an eggnog latte, and an eggnog doughnut with a crème brûlée crust.
Looking ahead, Nance plans to test new products, such as cake doughnuts and apple fritters, in December. “Now that we are moved into this kitchen, we are ready to explore more,” she said.
Chubby Baker’s continued success can be attributed to Nance’s dedication to creativity and her ability to blend Thai flavors with traditional American desserts. Inspired by the food scene in Bangkok and the culinary world on Instagram, Nance constantly experiments with new ideas to keep her menu fresh and exciting.
With the opening of the Sandy flagship location and the holiday menu on the way, Chubby Baker continues to innovate and delight customers with its unique, hand-crafted desserts.
Related Topics: