By Kirk Kern
For practical purposes, Meghan Manalang went to college and became a dental hygienist. But the dreamer in her always wanted to make a living baking.
In September 2024, after nearly 10 years in dental hygiene, she decided she could do both.
The Skye Canyon resident launched Sweet Tooth Cookies LV with the goal of sharing her love—and the flavors—of her cookies with the community.
“Opening my own cookie business has always been a quiet dream of mine,” Manalang said. “While I pursued my dental hygiene career and spent nearly 10 years in that field, I put that dream on the back burner. Eventually, I was reminded of my passion for baking and decided it was time to finally turn that dream into reality.”
It all started when her best friend was planning a baby shower. Manalang said her friend had her heart set on dumpling-shaped cookies, so she baked 80 of them.
“From there, it just took off,” she said.
Manalang receives most of her orders online through social media, primarily Instagram. She handles everything herself—from taking orders and baking the cookies to personally delivering them. She also offers catering services.
She has become a regular vendor at the Skye Canyon Farmers Market on Thursday evenings. Her most popular cookie is the Ube Cookies and Cream, an homage to her Filipino-American heritage.
“I wanted to bring a taste of my culture into something everyone could enjoy,” she said. “So I combined ube, a traditional Filipino flavor, with the classic American Cookies and Cream. I’m so proud that this cookie has become my number one—it’s really special to share a little piece of my heritage with others.”
Manalang didn’t take up baking on a whim. She said she helped her mother in the kitchen while growing up in Southern California and worked part-time in a bakery while attending UC Irvine.
“That experience really fueled my passion for baking,” she said.
Another popular offering is her custom logo cookies. Using edible ink, Manalang can print logos, photos, or custom designs directly onto cookies, making them popular for special occasions and business catering. She also hand-pipes frosting for custom designs and characters.
“Each cookie is made with care and creativity to bring a personal touch to every order,” she said.
Manalang, her husband Kevin—also a dental hygienist—and their dog Bruno moved to Skye Canyon three years ago from San Francisco.
“Skye Canyon has been my home for close to three years, and I’m constantly inspired by how our community grows and supports one another,” she said. “It’s so much fun to see everyone come together at events. There’s such a great energy here, and it really feels like home.”
When she’s not baking or working, the couple enjoys walking Bruno, their 7-year-old Yorkie, around the community and tackling DIY home renovation projects together.
“I truly believe people can do whatever they dream of as long as they have good intentions and never give up,” she said.