Emily Jensen: Baking Her Way Back to Herself
What began as a simple act of giving has quietly grown into something much deeper for Emily Jensen—a business rooted not only in sweetness, but in rediscovery.
As the founder of The After School Oven, Emily creates craveable takes on classic cookies, alongside a rotating specialty flavor each month. But beyond the menu, what sets her work apart is the sense of community she’s built. Her customers aren’t just buying cookies—they’re part of the process, invited to vote on new flavors and even step into the role of taste testers. It’s a business that feels personal, warm, and shared.
As the founder of The After School Oven, Emily creates craveable takes on classic cookies, alongside a rotating specialty flavor each month. But beyond the menu, what sets her work apart is the sense of community she’s built. Her customers aren’t just buying cookies—they’re part of the process, invited to vote on new flavors and even step into the role of taste testers. It’s a business that feels personal, warm, and shared.
At its core, though, this journey is about something more intimate. After becoming a stay-at-home mom at 23 and raising three boys, Emily found herself standing at a quiet crossroads as her youngest prepared to start school. The question lingered: what now? For the first time in years, she began searching for who she was beyond motherhood—and in that space, something new began to take shape.
What started as a small holiday effort—baking cookies with her sons to raise money for children in need—quickly turned into something unexpected. A simple post offering “pay what you can” cookies led to overwhelming support, raising hundreds of dollars and sparking something bigger. Requests kept coming. Encouragement followed. And one day, with a mix of curiosity and courage, Emily decided to take the leap.
Since then, her business has grown steadily—fueled by word of mouth, loyal customers, and an outpouring of support she never quite anticipated. What began on a whim has become a source of pride, confidence, and identity.
For Emily Jensen, The After School Oven is more than a business. It’s a reflection of growth, of stepping into something unknown, and of building something that is entirely her own.
Read her full feature in this week's issue of She Shoots Magazine
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