Culinary legend Barbara Kafka once mused, “Baking is about transformation. Turning flour into cakes, eggs into custard, and ideas into something real.” For Kristin Huss of Rolls on Stable, this resonates in more ways than one. Not only does Huss transform flour (and a few other select ingredients) into her delectable, signature cinnamon rolls, but her business itself was born out of a personal transformation – to live her dreams. The catalyst, of all things, was Covid. Huss recalls, “Due to the pandemic, I became unemployed and had a lot of time to spare. With that hardship, I decided to do my dream job, and that was baking. I was nervous to put myself out there, but my husband has always encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy, and that is when Rolls on Stable was born.”
It takes a certain amount of grit to be faced with such uncertainty and to turn it into an opportunity for transformation. It doesn’t hurt that Huss has a solid support system in her family. She’s been married for nearly twenty-two years and has two wonderful children (son, Karson, and daughter, Kendyl). It also helps that she grew up in the kitchen, learning alongside both of her grandmothers; and along with teaching her everything they knew about baking, they taught her that there’s a certain patience and temperament that goes into it.
“Anything that involves yeast is a labor of love to make,” Huss explains. And this labor of love is well worth it when she sees the joy it brings to the community. Huss specializes in cinnamon rolls (though she also sells sourdough bread), and when asked why she chose that particular pastry as her specialty, it’s a simple answer. They make people happy – and that makes her happy. “I do a lot of porch pick-ups, and it is always so cute to see the little kids’ excitement when they pick up their rolls.”
In turn, that happiness fuels her passion and creativity, as Huss continues to dazzle the community with different flavors and varieties of rolls. “I love to try different flavors, especially around the holidays. I just tried a few new pumpkin cinnamon roll recipes, and after some small changes I think I have perfected them.” In the spring, she has a bestselling lemon blueberry roll. And the mainstays are original, cookies and cream, and caramel pecan. It’s safe to say that she has elevated the Swedish pastry to an art form.
While cinnamon rolls can always be procured from grocery stores and big chain bakery establishments, nothing beats the taste of fresh pastries, made from scratch with quality ingredients by a member of your own community. “Shopping local adds so much character to small towns,” Huss says. “When you buy locally, you are investing in your town’s future, and to me that is important.” And when you’re a customer of Huss, you’re not just patronizing the local community. You’re patronizing an idea – the very American spirit of following one’s dreams.
Although the pandemic was a bleak point in time, it managed to strip away the certainties in life in a way that inspired some people to boldly pursue their dreams. Huss was one of those people. And that deserves to be celebrated. So, the next time you’re in the mood for a swirly sweet treat, pay Rolls on Stable a visit. When it comes to living her dream, she’s on a roll.
Due to the pandemic, I became unemployed and had a lot of time to spare. With that hardship, I decided to do my dream job, and that was baking.