Westchester bakery faces threats for selling presidential cookies (mostly from one side)
(This story was updated to add photos and a video.)
Homestyle Bakery in Peekskill has been making cookies with the faces of political candidates on them for years, starting with George Pataki back when he was running for mayor of Peekskill in 1995 and again when he ran for governor.
Since then, the family-owned bakery, in business for more than 50 years, has made butter cookies hand cut and printed with the faces of every presidential candidate ‒ without incident. This year, however, they have received hateful threats for selling those showcasing Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Co-owner Laura Timmons said it's been crazy, not to mention upsetting. Most of the threats ‒ which call the bakery disgusting and horrible and have called for a boycott of the bakery ‒ have come from the anti-Trump camp, Timmons said. A lot of nasty back and forth vitriol went up on a neighborhood Facebook page that has since been taken down.
"In all our years, we've never experienced this type of backlash," she said. "My family and I have always been politically neutral; we've never picked or chosen a side ‒ it's just good business not to."
Threats, and support, offered via social media
The posts got so heated that Timmons said the bakery felt the need to post a message on Facebook saying their family, employees, and friends hold different beliefs without spreading hate or making threats.
"Over the past few days, we’ve received hateful messages, posts, and phone calls about one candidate's photos," read the post. "We have made these cookies in the past, and we will not stop now. Anyone who threatens our employees or family members because they believe we should only print a specific type of cookie will be reported to the police. We do not condone hate or violence. Homestyle Desserts will continue to represent a diverse and welcoming environment for all people from all walks of life."
That post elicited a response from the owner of Taste of Trini in New Windsor, New York, who said a customer told her they'll stop coming to her restaurant if she doesn't support the candidate who they're supporting.
Another wrote: "Cookies are now controversial?"
Homestyle Bakery, which has also done specialty cookies for sports teams and celebrities, makes an equal amount of Trump and Harris cookies, which they started selling earlier this month. Timmons said they normally don't sell the presidential sweets until later in October, but they had a customer request for a special order and started earlier.
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"I never in my life imagined this," she said. "In all our years, we've made cookies that represent all parties and never had this kind of reaction."
Others rally around Homestyle Bakery
The good news? The community has rallied behind them, showing support by coming in and buying cookies and other goodies since hearing via social media about the hatred directed at the bakery.
"It's America," she said. "Everyone has a right to freedom of speech. We're not favoring anyone. We never have. We're just doing what we always do.
"It's just a cookie."
Their Trump and Harris cookies, by the way, have been selling in equal amounts. Each cookie costs $3 and will be sold, as they always have been, until just past the election. It should be noted, too, that they ship cookies nationwide.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.