As a child and young adult, I have very fond memories of my mother making mandel bread. We use our great grandma’s recipe, one that she brought with her when she fled her country to come to the United States. It has been passed down in my family for generations, and we are proud to bake “Mamma’s Mandels” with the same love, care, and same basic recipe that she did.

My mother took the traditional "mandelbrodt" and added other ingredients such as chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, walnuts and raisins, and made this treat into something even better than the original. I loved it so much (especially the chocolate chip) that I would sneak pieces from the freezer and eat it frozen! My mom caught on quickly and tried to hide it, but I always found it!

When I went to graduate school I decided to make this as a treat for myself and my roommate. I got the recipe from my mom and learned the secrets to baking it just right. It only took a few practices, before I found that everyone loved Mandel Bread. I became the "mandel bread" person amongst my friends and from then on, made it for special occasions, gifts etc. After several years of thinking that it would be great to share this treat with everyone, I spoke to my sisters and husband and they encouraged me to turn my baking into a business.

The rest is history! Mamma's Mandel began baking in 2008 and has been going strong ever since! Our traditional recipe for mandel bread has evolved to include contemporary ingredients, flavors and coatings. We still make the traditional mandel bread flavors such as Almond and Walnut Raisin. But we are proud of our other fun flavors such as cranberry almond with white chocolate drizzle, chocolate chip, butterscotch, coconut chocolate chip, cherry chocolate chip and apricot white chocolate chip. If you are wondering who is the lady in the picture? That's my mom Joan (AKA Mamma), at the age of 17.