S.I. Live New Business in Focus Feature

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While working a full-time job, Meghan Thompson baked cookies at night and on weekends for special events for friends and family.

"Many of my friends would ask me how I decorate cookies. 'How do you get the icing so smooth?' 'How do you get that detail on there?' 'How long does each one take?' These were the questions I would hear all of the time," recalled the New Brighton resident.

One night she gathered some family members together to teach them what Thompson had learned over the years.

"That 'class' went well and I asked friends of mine if they would be interested in having a 'girls night in' with cookies and wine," said Thompson.

After posting pictures on social media, Thompson was flooded with inquiries from many others who wanted to have a night out learning how to decorate cookies.

"Since many people don't have the space in their home to have tables set up, I decided to reach out to places in the neighborhood to host the events," she said.

Before she knew it, Thompson was getting multiple requests for cookie decorating parties.

That's when By the Batch Inc. was born.

ALL IN THE NAME

Thompson put a lot of thought into the name of the business.

"I wanted it to have meaning, and be something I was proud to tell everyone. One of the most important things to me is to make each batch of dough individually," she said.

"By the Batch came about because of that. When I have a large class, I will make five (or more) batches of dough so I am sure it all will taste just as I want it to. Everything I bake is made 'by the batch'," added Thompson.

BY THE BATCH CLASSES

While they take place in a casual setting, the classes teach the basics of cookie decorating. To make it most enjoyable, Thompson arrives with the cookies already cut and baked, and the icing ready to use, she said.

"I give a brief description of the tools that we use in the class and the methods we will be using, that way people who may want to decorate at home will have some more knowledge of it," she said.

"Many who attend the class are just there to have fun and try something new. At the end of the class, each attendee takes home six cookies, which they have decorated, in a box -- if they can resist eating any before they leave," Thompson added.

And there's no experience necessary; people of all ages can join a class.

"I love teaching and seeing how excited people get when the designs come out better than they had expected. It is fun to see people get creative with some of the cookies. I also love coming up with new designs and themes for classes," Thompson added.