Meet Karli Scorpio | Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karli Scorpio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karli, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease two and a half years ago, and since then I have not been able to find gluten free baked goods, especially cookies, that were both gourmet and actually tasted great! There was always something missing, and I shared this sentiment with many others in the GF community. At the time, I had taken a major interest in bodybuilding and wanted to give other gluten free bodybuilders the same post-show treat experience everyone else got to indulge in. Feeling inspired, I began to experiment and after about 6 months I developed my first cookie recipe, the Grim Reaper.
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Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My primary focus when starting Iron Crumble Cookie Co was to create unforgettable gluten free treats with unconventional flavor combos that ignite a flame within those who consume them. I am so thrilled not only to offer those in the celiac/gluten free community treats that are delicious and safe, but also to spark nostalgia and bring joy with something I love.

Gluten free baking is an art as much as it is a science. I spent nearly 6 months learning the science of baking, testing recipes, and experimenting with reactions of different ingredients before I had just ONE recipe I was confident in. Things got very scientific in my kitchen, with a fully detailed journal and records that outlined what went wrong/right and the proposed solutions (thank you B.S. in Bio for that skill). After I dialed in my first recipe, I was able to create other flavors and get super creative. My partner (love that guy) encouraged me to sell them, and the response to them has been incredibly positive.

The greatest challenge was learning how to create a fully gluten free kitchen free of any chances of potential cross contact. I read every label, research every ingredient, and ensure that everything is vetted to the highest of my ability. It was a major learning curve for myself even before I started baking for others. I’m so thankful to have a safe kitchen not only for those I bake for, but for myself as well.

I think the world should know that Iron Crumble Cookie Co is a cookie company that celebrates community and sharing amongst everyone. And while these cookies come from a fully gluten free home kitchen and are meant to set all of our gluten-fearing hearts at ease, they’re meant to be enjoyed by all humans from all walks of life. Whether you’re just stepping off a bodybuilding stage or you’re celebrating a friend, Iron Crumble cookies are for YOU.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While I’m based in Rhode Island, I also lived in Massachusetts for a time, and these New England states in general have so many quirky and fun places to visit! Square Cafe in Hingham has some of the most insane food I have ever tasted, and they take their gluten free requests seriously. We would have to stop in at Cafe Ava in Cranston, a specialty Latin coffee shop that serves the best cafecito in the area! And of course have to make a whole day trip out of visiting Newport to surf some of our favorite beaches. The locals are all so kind, and the restaurants in their downtown area are colorful and delish. All of these places boast lively atmospheres with the best energies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The crew over at Black Bear Coffee Shop in Cloudcroft, NM are the most incredible human beings in this world. They’re a celiac family as well, and they’re also the closest thing I had to family when I lived in their little mountain village. They taught me what it means to not just sell a product, but an experience, and they have taken the art of craft coffee to the next level simply by the energy they cultivate in their shop. Both Nathan and Crystal (the owners) have inspired me in so many ways not only as an entrepreneur but as a human being as well. Also their love story and how they weave that into the magic of the shop is just breathtaking.

Website: ironcrumble.com

Instagram: @ironcrumble

Facebook: Iron Crumble