AUSTIN SHELLY

A South Georgia native, Austin is no stranger to good food and lots of butter! She has loved baking since she was old enough to read the back of a chocolate chip bag (and yes, she had an Easy-Bake Oven). After finishing school in her home state, she found her way to Charlottesville to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics.

Ten years later, her sweet tooth got the best of her. It was time to trade in her white coat for a baking apron. Austin’s love affair with macarons began during a maternity leave binge of the "The Great British Bake Off". She started baking these finicky cookies, and despite the challenge, they quickly became her favorite thing to make.

In early 2022, she hosted a bake sale to raise money for the crisis in Ukraine. The joy it brought her ultimately led to the creation of Ivy Cookie Company, formerly Desserts Over Board. That same year, she began selling her homemade desserts at local farmers markets.

Outside of baking, Austin loves spending time with her husband and three little boys, running, reading, and popping corks!