Sisters Sell Sweet ‘Bits of Sunshine’

A kosher baking business has been on the rise, making large batches of challah, custom cakes and cookies, and gift boxes for bar mitzvah hosts – and even running cake-decorating classes. Founded and run by two teen sisters, Batya and Gavi Silverman, Bits of Sunshine was a way to take something they already loved and pursue it further.

“From a very early age, I have always enjoyed watching, ‘Kids Baking Championship.’ I was determined to be able to bake as well as those kids on the TV,” said Batya Silverman, the older sister. “I am also very lucky because my parents both have always kept me very involved with cooking and baking. I have very clear memories of baking brownies with my mother. From cracking the eggs to licking the spoon, I fell in love with baking.”

“Rabbi Robbins, who used to own Chai Peking, used to give me free food as a reward for learning Hebrew milim when I was in third grade,” said Gavi Silverman. “I would make challah for him as a thank you and he really liked it. That gave me the idea that people would maybe buy my challah.”

After selling their baked goods casually for fun, the pair’s parents, concerned about the prices for Jewish sleepaway camp, thought it might be a good idea to make the business official.

“My mother is the one who thought of the name Bits of Sunshine because it combines both of our nicknames: ‘Bits’ because I was very itsy bitsy small when I was younger, and ‘Sunshine’ for Gavi,” said Batya Silverman. “We like to think that a bit of dessert can be a sunshine to your day.”

From the start, it was a family affair. Their mom was originally in charge of management and social media (though has since passed most of these responsibilities on to Batya), and both sisters thank their dad’s relentless efforts in cleaning all the pareve dishes after every cooking session – although he insists he’s just the grocery man. No part of the family is left out.

“If you ask my adorable 11-year-old brother what his job is, he would proudly say he’s the official taste tester,” said Batya Silverman. “And he’s definitely right. When we make anything new, we have to run it by him first before we sell it.”

It continues to remain something both sisters thoroughly enjoy.

“I would say my favorite part of baking is the sense of calmness that I get. It’s strange but I really do feel more calm when in the kitchen,” said Batya Silverman, noting also how much joy their food brings to others around them. “I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face just from baking them a cupcake.”

As for the future of the business, she has reasonable expectations, but high hopes.

“I think all we can hope for is that we can continue to grow in making delicious challah and desserts for our community,” Batya Silverman said. “Opening a real bakery store has always been a dream of mine, but we’ll have to see where the future brings our small business.”

For order forms and more dessert pictures, visit https://linktr.ee/bitsofsunshine. All goods are kosher pareve, and most can be made to accommodate other dietary restrictions upon special request. They are made fresh on a weekly basis, so make sure to place orders at least a week before.