Picture a bath bomb, except you’re dropping the delicate orb into a cup of mini marshmallows and hot, steaming milk. The sphere dissolves and you take a sip of what’s become hot chocolate.
Cocoa bombs are one of Ashley Boscutti’s favorite items to prepare, as part of her cottage industry bakery, Bella Ann’s Sweets. Before her recent move to Nipomo, Boscutti was nearly a lifelong Lompoc resident, minus “a 10-month stint to Massachusetts when I was 10 years old,” she said.
The decision to relocate came from Boscutti and her husband’s longtime dream of “living the country life” and finding the perfect property to not only live on, but to grow their own food as well.
“The transition from Lompoc to Nipomo was effortless,” Boscutti said. “I am enjoying the space and beauty of Nipomo as well as the wonderful people I am meeting every day.”
Regular customers of Bella Ann’s Sweets (which Boscutti founded in 2012) can rejoice in the fact that Boscutti’s new home kitchen in Nipomo is fully equipped for her to continue baking her signature sweet and savory treats, from French macarons to soft pretzels.
Boscutti named the bakery after her daughter, Isabella Ann, as the business came to fruition shortly after she was born. Although she had loved baking as a hobby since childhood, Boscutti didn’t think about it as a potential career until this time period.
“As I had more time staying at home with my first child, Isabella, I was able to be creative and explore new recipes,” said Boscutti, whose baking hobby evolved into a cottage-licensed business.
While she offers delivery options for large orders to most Central Coast residents—all of San Luis Obispo County and parts of Santa Barbara County—Boscutti also frequently takes her baked treats to local farmers’ markets, festivals, and other special events. The historic Madonna Inn in SLO and the Filipino Community Center of Santa Maria Valley are among some of the most recent venues where Boscutti has hosted pop-up displays for her business.
In mid-October, a box of Boscutti’s baked goods was included in a silent auction at Kennedy Fitness in Arroyo Grande. More than 50 local vendors participated in the fundraiser, which included other food items as well as handcrafted jewelry, pottery, clothing, paintings, and other giftable items. Proceeds of the event benefited the family of Kristin Smart.
“I wanted to be part of the healing and show my support for the family and the community,” said Boscutti, whose package included four hot cocoa bombs and four holiday-themed disposable mugs, bundled together in a festive gift box.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, Boscutti is gearing up for holiday orders. Over the years, one of her most popular seasonal items has been her decorate-your-own-cookie kit.
“I have a theme for each holiday. For example, for Thanksgiving, my cookie shapes are leaves, turkeys, and acorns, and the colors are green, orange, brown, and yellow,” Boscutti said. “Sprinkles or special toppings are included.”
Boscutti’s hot cocoa bombs can be equally festive, if not more so. Around Halloween time, Bella Ann’s Sweets offered a colorful selection of cocoa bombs decorated to resemble pumpkins and mummy faces. Boscutti said one of the reasons she enjoys making cocoa bombs so much is because the different design possibilities feel “endless.”
Sometimes, as a reward after finishing a large order, she’ll munch on some of her savory bakes—her jalapeño and cheese soft pretzels were highly coveted during a recent pop-up event at Willow Pumpkin Patch in Nipomo.
“I find myself nibbling on the soft pretzels,” Boscutti said, “they just comfort me when I work hard in the kitchen.”
These pretzels are making Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood thirsty. Send comments to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2021.