WASHINGTON — Most teenagers spend their free time engrossed in social media and selfies, but 16-year-old Bree Britt isn鈥檛 like most teenagers.
Every day at 3:50 p.m., Bree gets off the school bus at a small strip of storefronts on Livingston Road in Accokeek, Maryland. And under a white awning that reads 鈥淏ree鈥檚 Sweet Treats,鈥� the teen transforms from high school student to business owner.
鈥淒epending on how busy the day is and what we have to do for the next day, I鈥檒l be here,鈥� Bree says while sitting at a table in the caf茅 section of her store.
The St. Mary鈥檚 Ryken High School student opened in 2013 after launching a successful online baking business when she was 12. But Bree鈥檚 journey into crafting confections began long before she reached double digits.
鈥淏y the time I was 5, going on 6, I was fully active in the kitchen with both of my grandmothers,鈥� Bree says.聽 Baking was meant to be a distraction for Bree, whose father suffered from a traumatic brain injury while serving in the Army, and was in a vegetative state when she was young.
鈥淎nd when my grandfather came home, he was our taste tester. 鈥� He loved it. After a hard day of work, he came home to some good food and treats,鈥� she says.
At first, Bree鈥檚 lessons in the kitchen were mostly instruction, but as she progressed, her grandmothers let Bree take the lead.
鈥淚 kept on baking throughout the years, as time went on, and it was kind of my hobby, especially during middle school,鈥� says Bree, who, in addition to cooking for her grandfather, began delivering sweets to office parties for her aunts and uncles.
Bree realized she wanted to take her talents to the next level after being tasked with making dessert for her cousin鈥檚 Sweet 16 party.
鈥淚t was a very creative moment for me; I didn鈥檛 want to do something that was ordinary, like regular cake. I wanted to do something that would wow people,鈥� she says.
Bree took her job very seriously. 鈥淎t the time, I had a little safe and I put the recipe in there and I drew plans for it and had every description in it.鈥�
For the party, she constructed 50 cake skewers with an accompanying homemade dipping sauce. By the end of the night, every last crumb was gone. That鈥檚 when Bree decided to sit down and talk to her mom about baking professionally.
鈥淚 told her, 鈥業 like doing this. I really do. And it really makes me happy, and I would love to turn this into something more.鈥欌��
Bree鈥檚 mom, Charmaine, admits she was a little skeptical of her daughter鈥檚 ideas at first, but eventually offered her support. 鈥淚t took some convincing, and so to compromise, I told her she could start online first and we鈥檒l find her somewhere to bake and I鈥檒l deliver,鈥� she says.
Bree proved she could maintain her honor-roll grades, all while mixing the dough — and bringing it in. Bree鈥檚 Sweet Treats opened its current storefront, and just last month expanded to include a caf茅 menu and seating area.
Back in the kitchen, Bree whips up a variety of cupcakes, cakes, cake pops, cookies, brownies, pies and sweet breads — but only after she finishes her schoolwork.
鈥淚 usually tend to get most of my homework done first, and then go work, because my grades are very important to me,鈥� she says.
When she鈥檚 at school and studying, her mom runs the bakery, along with some help from Bree鈥檚 grandmother and great-grandmother.
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly become a family business,” Charmaine says. “We have four generations that actually have input as to what goes on here.”
Bree even puts her little brother to work when it comes to cleaning up, and tries to teach her sister, 6, as much as she can when it comes to baking.
During the summer months, Bree takes on a more demanding role: She gives mom a break and steps in to run the business.
鈥淪he鈥檚 had her hand in every aspect of the business, and it鈥檚 been great,鈥� Charmaine says.
Bree has won over the stomachs of sugar-crazed locals, but her business has also attracted the attention of several colleges and universities, anxious to meet the ambitious teen. And Bree has her eyes on the interested schools, as well. She knows what she wants in the future, and that鈥檚 to be a veterinarian.
鈥淚 know that鈥檚 a left turn from where I am right now, but I honestly have wanted this for a long time, and nothing鈥檚 really changed my mind,鈥� she says.
That鈥檚 not to say she鈥檚 going to throw in the apron and abandon baking. Bree鈥檚 looking into culinary school programs for this summer, and says she may even try to revive her online business while she鈥檚 away at college.
Local fans of the bakery don鈥檛 need to worry: Charmaine plans to keep the Accokeek location open even in her daughter鈥檚 absence to help Bree fulfill the dream of her father, who passed away in 2013.
鈥淗e always said that he was going to be a millionaire by 40, and I am trying to make his dream come true,鈥� Bree says. 鈥淗e is a big part of the bakery as well — all of our family is, our supporters 鈥� and our customers are like our family. This is the Bree鈥檚 Sweet Treats family.鈥�
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