Our Story: Two Friends, One Kitchen, and a Whole Lot of Sugar
Hi! We’re Calie and Dara, the duo behind The Tortured Sugar Department.
We’ve been friends since we were kids, and somehow, life decided to keep syncing us up in the most uncanny ways. We both married Erics (well, technically one Eric and one Erik). We both have one son and two daughters — all nearly the same ages. And yes, we both have one-syllable middle names starting with J. (Jo & Joy)
But the real heart of this project started in Dara’s kitchen.
When her firstborn son, Liam, was diagnosed with a severe egg and tree nut allergy, she didn’t want him to miss out on birthday cakes, brownies, or any of life’s sweetest traditions. So she got to work — experimenting, failing, and tweaking until she developed egg-free and nut-free recipes that taste every bit as good as the originals (and sometimes better).
Meanwhile, Calie was deep in the world of blogging and storytelling through her platform, Milwaukee With Kids. When we realized we could combine our talents — Dara’s baking magic and Calie’s knack for sharing stories — The Tortured Sugar Department was born.
And about the name?
Let’s be honest — there’s nothing more torturous than watching everyone else enjoy dessert you can’t have. Add in the challenge of recreating those treats without eggs or nuts, and, well… welcome to The Tortured Sugar Department. (Yes, we’re also Swifties.)
Here, you’ll find egg-free and nut-free recipes for everything from chewy brownies to beautiful cupcakes, whimsical sugar cookies, and everyday treats that everyone can enjoy — allergies or not. We’re all about simple ingredients, joyful baking, and making sure no one ever feels left out of dessert.
We’re so excited you’re here! Take a peek around, and join us as we bake our way through life’s little (and big) celebrations.
💜 Follow along on Instagram @thetorturedsugardept for colorful inspiration.