Jean Parker and Rachel Smith, best known as the stars of Food Network Canada’s The Baker Sisters, have appeared as baking experts on the Marilyn Denis Show, ET Canada and are seasoned judges at the Midland Butter Tart Festival as well as other sweet show-downs across the province. 

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Jean and Rachel know first hand that baking is an act of love. Not having much money growing up, their single mom began by using baking as a means to fill their lunch boxes. “I was always amazed how mom could turn a little flour into something magical” Jean recounts. Their mother eventually turned her scrumptious baking into a way to earn money for the family by opening a butter tart company in their small town. 

 

It wasn’t till Jean and Rachel became mothers themselves, the pair cofounded Maple Key Tart Co., a boutique butter tart company that operated in Toronto and Prince Edward County. They began with their mom’s recipe and infused it with their own flavour and style to come up with Maple Key Tart Co.’s award winning signature butter tart.

 

Since opening their business, the pair have appeared at several events celebrating women in business and female empowerment. “Connecting to people through baking has become our way of life. You wanna talk problems? Pull up a croissant and let’s talk!” Rachel laughs. 

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The pair are authors of  "Baking Wonderland"  (Penguin Random House 2023). This kids baking cookbook is filled with the sisters' best recipes of cookies, cupcakes, donuts and cakes as well as ooey-gooey recipes of fillings, frostings, glazes and toppings! The flavours are all designed to play with each other, and the sisters encourage their young reader to mix and match them all, building their ultimate dessert.  Its colourful pages are filled with photography as well as illustration and heaps of knowledge and easy-to-understand instructions about baking. “We want to give our young baker a place to create and play with their food!” the girls laugh.     

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To find more you can follow them on Instagram @jeanandrachel