The Gluten-Free Goddess

For Athena, baking has always been more than just a hobby.

Before becoming a full-time mom and cottage baker, she spent her days as a kindergarten teacher. But whether she was in the classroom or at home, baking remained a creative outlet and a source of joy.

“I’ve always loved baking as a way to express my creativity, relieve stress, and as an excuse to enjoy a freshly baked cookie,” Athena says. “In my opinion, there are few things in this world that taste better than a warm cookie straight from the oven.”

Today, Athena is the owner and baker behind The Gluten Free Goddess, a Minnesota-based cottage bakery specializing in handcrafted gluten-free cookies. She’s also a full-time mom to her one-year-old son and wife to her high school sweetheart, with whom she’ll celebrate 12 years together this year.

But The Gluten Free Goddess wasn’t born from a business plan—it started with a personal challenge.

In 2021, Athena discovered she had a gluten allergy and began the process of changing her diet for her health. Like many people navigating a gluten-free lifestyle, she found herself searching for baked goods that didn’t feel like a compromise.

After plenty of experimentation in the kitchen, she developed recipes that exceeded her expectations.

“After some trial and error in the kitchen, I crafted what I believe are the best gluten-free cookies around,” she says.

Friends and family agreed.

For years, the people closest to Athena encouraged her to turn her passion into a business. In February 2026, she finally decided to take the leap and launch her own cottage bakery from home.

“It has been the perfect way to stay connected to my creative side during motherhood while sharing my passion for gluten-free sweets with others,” Athena says.

What sets The Gluten Free Goddess apart is a simple mission: creating gluten-free treats that never feel like you’re settling for less.

Athena’s cookies are soft, flavorful, indulgent, and crafted with the belief that dietary restrictions shouldn’t mean sacrificing quality or taste. Every batch is baked with care from her home kitchen and designed to bring a little joy to customers who may have struggled to find gluten-free desserts they truly love.

“I absolutely love serving the gluten-free community,” Athena says. “My mission is to create gluten-free treats that never feel like you’re settling for less.”

As The Gluten Free Goddess continues to grow, Athena remains focused on the same things that inspired her from the beginning: family, creativity, and sharing exceptional cookies with her community.

And if you ask her, her cookies are exactly what the name suggests:

“My gluten-free cookies are truly fit for a goddess.” 🍪✨