After nearly a half-century at Crane Country Day School — and just as many years baking for school celebrations along the way — Debbie Williams has turned a longtime labor of love into a new chapter.
Last June, Williams retired after 49 years at Crane, where she served as director of admissions for 22 years and director of development for 15 years. She got her start teaching first and second grade, where baking was a weekly classroom ritual — and a tool to teach math.
Over the years, she taught children’s cooking classes, mentored students, and prepared desserts for church events. Her most enduring commitment, though, has been providing desserts to Transition House residents once a month for more than 30 years.
Shortly after retiring, Williams launched Santa Barbara Seaside Sweets, a small baking business born from family encouragement and a lifelong love of making people happy through food.
“SB Seaside Sweets has been my way of continuing my love of baking, and it’s allowed me to keep busy during my retirement,” said Williams, who is well known for her boundless energy.
The business’ guiding motto — “happiness is homemade” — comes straight from the women who shaped her.
“My grandmother and mother ran their kitchens with this motto as well,” she said. “Nothing super fancy or intricately decorated, but you could count on freshness and the fact that anything that came from their kitchens was not only homemade, but baked with love, dedication and intention.”
That same philosophy defines SB Seaside Sweets, which offers cookie bars, cookies, scones, cakes, tortes and quick breads.
It is also a family affair: Williams’ husband serves as chief financial officer and manages the website; one son designed the logo and runs the Instagram account from Denver, while his girlfriend creates the business’ signage and display materials; and her other son, who lives in Summerland, helps test recipes and joins her at pop-up events.
Before retirement, her family spent considerable time wondering what she would do next.
“I am not one to sit idle,” Williams admitted.
During the past year and a half, she has participated in more than a dozen pop-ups, including Mosaic Mart on State Street, The Eddy, Loreto Plaza outside Core Sport, and the PEP Touch-a-Truck event.
She recently received her wholesale license, and several of her treats, including Turtle Bars and Blondie Bars, are now sold at Mission City Sandwich Shop on Cliff Drive on the Mesa.
For many in the Crane community, the venture feels less like a surprise than a natural next step. For decades, Williams’ baking helped mark school milestones, celebrations and gatherings. Through SB Seaside Sweets, she is now sharing that same tradition with a wider audience.
Upcoming Pop-Ups
Williams plans to appear at two events ahead of Mother’s Day weekend: Mosaic Makers Hub downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and The Eddy, 137 E. De la Guerra St., from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
Both events will feature fan favorites — including Blondies, Turtle Bars, Death-by-Chocolate and Everything Cookies — alongside two new additions: Brookie Bars (half brownie, half chocolate chip cookie) and Hawaiian Bars (a blondie with coconut, macadamia nuts and coconut glaze).
Exclusive to the two pop-ups, Williams will offer individual mini cakes and small celebration cakes in flavors such as strawberry, carrot, lemon-blueberry, and chocolate macadamia nut torte, available in regular and gluten-free.
Custom orders are also available. For more information, visit sbseasidesweets.com or email sbseasidesweets@gmail.com.
