Each month we profile a different Canadian Food Blogger who is part of the FBC community. This month we meet Bronwyn, a plant-based blogger who loves to bake and cook since she was a child.
Name: Bronwyn Fraser
Blog name: Crumbs & Caramel
Where were you born? Prince Edward Island, Canada
Where are you living now? British Columbia, Canada
Why did you start your blog?
I had a baked goods table at a farmers’ market, and had been sharing my weekly features on social media. I had been curious about starting a blog to document my recipes, but I’d been too busy during the summer with the market. As the season was coming to an end, an account I had been following on Instagram, @BestofVegan, was running a contest for a savory vegan recipe with a photo. I decided to enter with one of the many recipes I had been developing for fun, and much to my surprise and delight, I won! This felt like a serendipitous push to start my own vegan recipe blog, and so I jumped in after the market season came to an end.
How did you decide on your blog name?
I named my blog after my farmers’ market table. I sold layer cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, cinnamon rolls, artisan bread, various other baked goods, and jars of caramel. All of these goods were plant-based, but as “vegan” can be off-putting for some folks who haven’t experimented much without animal products, I didn’t want to scare people away from my offerings. I worked hard to make everything look and taste indistinguishable from traditional baked goods and caramel, and as I had the ingredient lists readily available for anyone asking, I chose not to blatantly advertise as a “vegan” table. Instead, I wanted to summarize what I was selling - crumb based goods (both sweet and savory), and jars of caramel…and so this is how Crumbs & Caramel came to be. As my blog now features recipes beyond the scope of just baked goods and caramel, I do wish I had a different blog name and URL which better describes my recipes. However, I feel committed to the name from a practical and logistics perspective.
What do you blog about?
I blog about plant-based recipes. I’m particularly interested in veganizing classic comfort foods, approachable meals, and embracing the balance between nourishing our bodies with whole foods while not feeling bad for enjoying decadent desserts.
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
My blog started out as a hobby but has grown into my business.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
My recipe for Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches with Caramel Swirls probably encapsulates me the most. I am so passionate about creating food that everyone can enjoy, and not feel like they are compromising on anything by swapping out animal products. And doing this with rich vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and lush caramel all in one recipe might sound like a tall order, but I was so excited to try. There were zero complaints from my family as I went through the recipe testing process on this one, and I’m happy to report it was a success!
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
One of our favorite breakfast recipes at my home is for these Pumpkin Pancakes. I make them year round - they are fluffy and tall, and perfectly spiced. When I wrote the post, I didn’t know a lot about SEO, and so it’s poorly optimized. Needless to say, it’s on my list of posts that need to be updated so I can share it with more of the world.
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
The success of my recipe for Vegan Berry Vanilla Layer Cake surprised me for a couple of reasons. The first being I was really struggling with SEO at the time of writing the post, and the second being I didn’t think I would ever rank well for a keyword like “vegan layer cake”. I really loved the recipe, and was over the moon when, not only did it do well in ‘search’, but that readers were reporting that they loved it, too.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
My biggest challenge as a blogger is pushing past the self-doubt that creates self-limiting boundaries. My University degree and work experience prior to stumbling into blogging, was in Food Science and Nutrition. So, while I have a solid base in recipe development coupled with a genuine passion for food (and sharing it!), I struggle with imposter syndrome concerning the other hats we wear as bloggers. Figuring out things like photography, videography, food styling, post-production/editing, marketing, social media, SEO, website design/maintenance, etc are all things that I had no prior experience in. These elements in blogging are always changing, too, so just as I feel like I might be getting a handle on some aspect of a skill I’ve been practicing, it feels like everything changes again which further tests my ability to overcome self-doubt. This is a challenge tied so tightly to motivation. Managing self-doubt is critical otherwise things just feel too overwhelming, and giving up becomes all too tangible.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a blogger is to just start. This is probably true for many things in life - don’t wait until you feel like you’re totally ready, or you know how to do something perfectly…just start! Had I known SEO existed when I launched my blog, for example, I likely would have been too intimidated to publish my first post. But looking back, I had such genuine excitement to share my recipes and wasn’t being paralyzed by looking at what I didn’t know how to do or to do well…so I jumped right in. This faith in the process is something I need to continuously remind myself of - and the first step of any process is, indeed, starting. This doesn’t apply to just new ventures but to each new day especially when things feel hard. Simply showing up is arguably the most important factor in succeeding.
What has been your biggest success as a blogger so far?
My biggest success as a blogger has been the connections I’ve made with other people. I’m always so excited when readers reach out to me to share that they have tried my recipes which have become staples in their homes, or are now part of family traditions (like my chocolate yule log.) The power of food in how we socialize and connect is amazing, and I feel so honored to be a part of anyone’s life in this way.
Share a couple of your favourite food blogs to read. Why do you like them?
Post Punk Kitchen is a food blog run by cookbook author and restaurateur, Isa Chandra Moskowitz - she was the first to prove to me that vegan food can indeed taste every bit as good as traditional food. I love Erin Ireland for her recipes but especially her updates on her amazing bakery, To Live For, in Vancouver. BC.
What are you working on next for your blog?
I am working on updating some of my older content - recipes posts I’d written before I knew anything about SEO.
What makes your blog unique?
My blog is unique for a combination of reasons - it contains original recipes which are well tested, created with genuine excitement, approachable and delicious without a lick of animal products, and are balanced with something for everyone regardless of dietary preference. With everything from easy one-pot meals (like this Greek Orzo Casserole), to cozy favorites (like this Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup) to a recipe you never thought could be veganized (like Baked Alaska), to healthier treats for the kids’ lunchbox (like these Sweet Potato Brownies), to easy desserts like this Blueberry Almond Tart), I’m excited to share my recipes with you and yours!
How do you cultivate a sense of community around your blog?
I cultivate a sense of community around my blog by responding to my readers’ questions and stories with respect and genuine interest - my readers are, afterall, the community and the reason I share my recipes.
What part of the FBC site do you find most useful?
The FBC Food Bloggers Resource page contains a wealth of helpful and insightful information for aspiring and experienced food bloggers alike.
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Thank you so much for the lovely feature!
Thank you for the lovely feature!