Today we are celebrating Sarah Silverman as our Entrepreneur of the Day! Sarah founded Funny Face Bakery.
In the heart of New York City, where culinary innovation meets pop culture, Funny Face Bakery stands out as a whimsical haven for cookie enthusiasts. Founded by Sarah Silverman, a former art student who traded her college canvases for cookie sheets, this bakery has transformed the simple act of baking into an art form that resonates with humor, nostalgia, and creativity.
Sarah’s journey began in 2016 when she opened Cupcake Market, a modest bakery in the East Village known for their swiss meringue buttercream cupcakes. Inspired by the political climate of the time, she crafted sugar cookies adorned with the faces of presidential candidates, which quickly became a sensation. Recognizing the potential of her unique creations, Silverman rebranded her venture in 2019 as Funny Face Bakery, focusing on hand-painted cookies that capture the essence of celebrities, memes, and pop culture icons. Sarah started the bakery as a way to bring humor, artistry, and a little joy into people’s everyday lives.
Each cookie at Funny Face Bakery is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. A team of skilled “cookie artists,” many of whom are graduates from local art schools, hand-paint each treat using royal icing. The process involves sketching the design, applying a base coat, and then adding intricate details. A single cookie can take up to 30 minutes to complete! This dedication ensures that every cookie is not just a dessert but a piece of edible art.
Funny Face Bakery has carved a niche by intertwining its offerings with current events and pop culture. From cookies featuring the likes of Kim Kardashian and Harry Styles to those inspired by viral memes, the bakery ensures its treats are always timely and relevant. Notably, their “Freewheelin’ Heartthrob” cookie, depicting Timothée Chalamet, garnered attention ahead of this year’s Oscars, further cementing the bakery’s reputation for capturing cultural moments in confectionery form.
While the face cookies are a significant draw, Funny Face Bakery’s Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie has earned acclaim in its own right. Praised for its crunchy exterior and molten center, this cookie was crowned the best chocolate chip cookie in New York City by Allrecipes, surpassing offerings from renowned establishments like Levain Bakery
For those looking to personalize their treats, Funny Face Bakery offers custom portrait cookies. Customers can submit photographs, and the bakery’s artists will recreate the images on cookies, capturing details down to eye color and facial features. These custom orders have become popular for events ranging from birthdays to corporate gatherings . Moreover, with nationwide shipping and same-day delivery options in NYC, the bakery ensures its delightful creations are accessible to a broad audience.
Stepping into Funny Face Bakery is akin to entering a pastel-colored dream. With grape-colored walls, heart-shaped decor, and a floor-length selfie mirror encouraging patrons to “Make a funny face!”, the ambiance complements the playful nature of the products. With locations in NoHo and Seaport, their immersive designs have made Funny Face Bakery a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists.
When asked what advice Sarah has for any women who want to start their own business, she said, “Surround yourself with the right people.you want a team who inspires you! Learn how to bootstrap and be resourceful; starting scrappy forces you to be creative and intentional with every decision. Prioritize your mental and emotional health—burnout helps no one and taking a break can help you come up with your best ideas! When you feel stuck, tap into what brought you joy as a kid, those instincts have a way of resurfacing in the best ways. The things that lit you up early on often hold the key to your most authentic ideas. And most importantly, keep evolving. If you’re not growing, you’re not changing, and innovation is what keeps the momentum alive.”
Funny Face Bakery exemplifies how culinary arts can intersect with humor, pop culture, and personal expression. Under Sarah Silverman’s visionary leadership, what began as a small hole-in-the-wall has grown into a destination brand that feels like a sweet escape—fun, personal, and unapologetically original. Whether you’re biting into a celebrity’s likeness or savoring the city’s best chocolate chip cookie, Funny Face Bakery promises a sweet escape from the ordinary.
