Houston – In Missouri City, Michael Horne of Sweet Tooth Cheesecakes is known for his larger-than-life cheesecakes inspired by beloved desserts like banana pudding, tres leches, and strawberry shortcake. But for Michael and his wife, Tawana, baking began as a side hustle. Tawana works in business management, and Michael is a full-time pharmacy technician.
Their journey started in 2017, when months of trial and error (and honest critiques from Tawana) led Michael to develop one perfect cheesecake recipe, a balance of flavor and texture that changed everything. Word of mouth spread quickly, and soon the Hornes were baking for customers across Houston, including the late Mayor Sylvester Turner and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
When the pandemic hit, their orders surged. They expanded to delivery services like DoorDash, picked up awards, and eventually had to turn their home into a storefront and build a new place to live!
Today, Sweet Tooth Cheesecakes is a thriving business with Michael in the kitchen, and Tawana behind the scenes taking care of the marketing, finances, and operations. The couple’s recipe for success comes down to creativity, quality, and presentation. Michael is meticulous about flavor combinations, from his signature five-layer cheesecake to customer-inspired hits like Red Velvet Oreo. Tawana insists on picture-perfect presentation, knowing that “you eat with your eyes first.”
In Studio B, the Hornes taught us how to create their signature crust using their special ingredient, gingersnaps. Michael says to adjust the measurements depending on how many sweet teeth you’re feeding!
Their collaboration is proof that it’s never too late to take a chance on something you love.