Tell me more about GHB…
Goldenhour Bakeshop is a home bakery located in Ferndale, Michigan that specializes in small cakes, pies, and pastries. GHB uses high quality ingredients and aims to source local when possible. While we do use dairy and wheat in most of our products, you will always be able to find a couple vegan and gluten-free friendly offerings as well. We want to foster an inclusive community here and we hope you feel welcome at Goldenhour Bakeshop!
Hey hi hellooo
My name is Claire Bean, baker and owner of Goldenhour Bakeshop. It’s me who will be taking your order and baking for you! My husband, Chas, is a huge help with dishes and last minute ingredient runs! I have a mountain of support from my family and friends and if you are reading this— thank you for always supporting this baking obsession of mine.
Every baker seems to have a similar story of how their love of baking was passed down from family members, and I do, in fact, have a similar story! My mother is an incredible cook and I grew up being spoiled by her amazing dishes. She was always trying new recipes (and still is) in the kitchen continually wowing us with her magic. Beyond cooking, she is an amazing baker; pies, cheesecakes, cookies, you name it. Her and my Aunt Dede and Uncle Gordie have a coffee cake competition each year, where they each bake their mom’s Scottish tea log recipe and vote whose is the best! I look forward to those tea logs every year and I plan on serving them at the bakeshop in my grandma’s memory.
It was probably around 7th grade when I took over any excuse to make dessert for my family. My parents would often find me quite literally baking up a storm in their kitchen; flour, pots and pans strewn about. I’m thankful for them allowing me to monopolize the kitchen for 4+ hours at a time making cakes for my friends birthdays, or just because.
My passion for baking led me to study Baking and Pastry Arts at Schoolcraft College and Food Science at Michigan State University. I recently left my job as a food product developer at Garden Fresh Gourmet to take some time and figure out what is next for me in life while I continue to bake here.
It always brings me immense joy serving people baked goods and I’m lucky to have found this creative outlet. People often think bakers are the generous ones but to be honest, it’s really my customers that I get to bake for who are being generous. I hope you each know how thankful I am for giving me a reason to bake something for you, no matter how small the occasion. When the world feels dark, never underestimate the power of a warm cookie, especially shared with a loved one <3
Fun fact too, I have a knack for remembering people’s favorite desserts:
My husband, Chas- anything drenched and/or dripping with CHOCOLATE
My dad - german chocolate cake, pecan pie, pineapple upside down cake, heath bars, I think he has a bigger sweet tooth than me!
My mom- strawberry cheesecake and lemon meringue pie
My sister Erin- key lime pie, ginger molasses cookies, and lemon poppyseed muffins
My brother Stephen - a warm chocolate chip cookie, key lime pie, reese’s
My sister Whitney - mint chocolate chip ice cream? Whitney- I think I have that right!? She pretty much loves anything I bake though!;)
I’ll stop there but quiz me next time you see me and if I don’t know I will remember it forever!
Well I hope you feel like you know me a bit better, but if I do ever get a chance to bake for you, feel free to get to know me more in person too!
xo Claire