From a few dinosaur-themed cookies in 2017 to becoming a full-time baking entrepreneur, Azlin Flener has built The Bee’s Knees Bakery into one of Owensboro’s most creative and community-minded home bakeries.
“I grew up loving baking, and when I had my daughter in 2014, I started making her birthday cakes and treats,” said Flener, owner and self-described “cookie magician.” “In 2017, I tried out decorated cookies for the first time for her dinosaur-themed party — and they were a hit.”
That moment sparked something bigger. Friends and family started requesting her cookies, and by 2019, Flener obtained her business license and began taking custom orders while still working full-time. Two years later, she took the leap into full-time baking — and hasn’t looked back.
Flener specializes in custom-decorated sugar cookies that she promises “taste as good as they look.” From weddings to baby showers, holidays to birthdays, she can match any theme with a cookie design that’s both edible and artful. She also bakes cakes, cupcakes, gourmet cookies, brownies, and cake cups.
“It can be overwhelming as the sole employee of a bakery, but I always try to remember that busy is a blessing,” she said.
One of her biggest boosts has come from being a vendor at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market, where she’s built new connections and introduced her creations to customers across the region.
She’s also invested in her own 3D printer — a game changer that allows her to make custom cookie cutters in-house.
“This has been incredible for my business,” she said. “Now I can truly create any design without worrying about purchasing and waiting on shipping for custom cutters.”
While Flener has dreams of opening a storefront one day, her next goal is to renovate her garage into a commercial kitchen so she can expand her offerings beyond what a licensed home bakery allows.
Outside the kitchen, Flener is a wife and mother who holds a biology degree from Western Kentucky University. Though she originally planned for a career in research, she found her calling in baking — thanks in part to a childhood spent watching Food Network shows and learning from family members.
“I’m always in the kitchen creating new flavors and testing out recipes,” she said. “Most of what I’ve learned has been through experimentation.”
Her tagline — Sweets That Tell Your Story — reflects her passion for celebrating life’s biggest moments.
“I’ve worked with customers from wedding showers to baby showers, first birthdays, and all the holidays in between,” she said. “It really is an honor to be a small part of someone’s favorite day and celebrations.”
Flener encourages others to follow their dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.
“It’s not always easy, and there is a significant amount of hard work that goes into it, but I truly believe that God gives us our passions for a reason,” she said.
To learn more or place an order, visit thebeeskneesbakeryandgoods.com, or find her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sample her creations at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times