A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 93F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..
Tonight
Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
A baby shower French macaron tree made by Mrs. Mel's. Melanie Watkins has an "edible cookie printer" that can print logos and graphics onto her cookies.
Melanie Watkins had a Mrs. Mel's booth at last month's Local Exchange Market at Milton. The next monthly Local Exchange will be June 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at New Heights Church at 1145 N Main St. in Milton.
Melanie Watkins is the entrepreneur behind Mrs. Mel's -- a bakery that specializes in French macarons. She runs it from her Hurricane home.
Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Christain
A baby shower French macaron tree made by Mrs. Mel's. Melanie Watkins has an "edible cookie printer" that can print logos and graphics onto her cookies.
Courtesy photo
Cookies and cream is one of the flavors of Mrs. Mel's French macarons.
Courtesy photo
Melanie Watkins had a Mrs. Mel's booth at last month's Local Exchange Market at Milton. The next monthly Local Exchange will be June 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at New Heights Church at 1145 N Main St. in Milton.
Photo courtesy of Shayla Lucas
Melanie at Mrs. Mel's can also make macarons in flower shapes.
Melanie Watkins runs her bakery out of an industrial-class kitchen she designed in the finished basement of her Hurricane home. She fondly calls it her “cookie cave.†This is where she whips up her magic, turning out thousands of colorful, flavor-packed French macarons.Â
She calls her business Mrs. Mel's. Though she doesn’t have a storefront, Watkins sells her treats through her website (mrsmels.com), Facebook page (Mrs. Mel’s), word of mouth, and local events. She recently appeared at the new Local Exchange Market in Milton and will be at the upcoming West Virginia Coffee Festival.
Macarons are delicate French sandwich cookies prized for their vivid colors and endless flavor combinations. Each one features two light, airy shells – traditionally made with almond flour – joined by a layer of rich filling. With their crisp exterior, soft center, and reputation as one of the most challenging cookies to master, macarons have earned a devoted fan base.
Watkins kept at it. “I researched, did a lot of experiments, and looked for advice anywhere I could find it.â€
For her wedding that summer she gave out small boxes of two-pack macarons as wedding favors for the guests. The response was enthusiastic. “That's really what kicked it off,†she said. “We've been movin' and groovin' ever since.â€
At first, the cookies were just a side hustle. But in March of 2023 she quit her job as a graphic designer to run her business full time.
Along the way, she's honed her technique and given her cookies her personal stamp. “In France, they like them harder and crunchier. But we make them a little softer to match the preferences of people here in West Virginia.â€
Watkins typically bakes four days a week and makes around 1,000 cookies. Her mother, Teressa Minotti, helps by making the filling, and after the baking is done, they spend a day filling all the cookies.
“We have to work in advance for some of our bigger events – like the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival. We take 4,000 to 5,000 cookies there over four days. We start early baking the cookies and put them in the freezer as we work. They freeze really well. Then we take them out and prep them for the festival. I'm up to seven freezers now.â€
In addition to the upcoming West Virginia Coffee Festival on June 28 at Valley Park, Watkins will be at the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair at Ripley July 3-5.
Mrs. Mel's also makes macarons for special occasions. “Our custom orders are growing. We do a lot of baby showers, weddings and birthday parties. I like doing themes and being a part of people's celebrations.â€
To make these events even more special, Watkins has acquired an unusual tool: an edible cookie printer. It's like an inkjet for cookies, only with edible food coloring. “We can print anything – wedding dates, business logos – directly onto our macarons,†she said.
A new product this year are mini-mac cups, basically mini-macarons in a decorative cup. “It's like a little variety pack. These have been super popular, especially at festivals.â€
Watkins grew up in Shrewsbury and graduated from Riverside High School. After college, she worked for West Virginia Executive magazine. She moved around some before landing in the Kanawha Valley, where she lives with her husband and stepson.
“We're happy where we are,†she said. “As for the business, I'm always looking for bigger events to be a part of and getting our name out there.â€
For more information on ordering cookies, contact Watkins by messaging her on Mrs. Mel's Facebook page, or via email at mel@mrsmels.com.
