SWEETER THAN HONEY. Beez Neez Cheesecakes and Sweets is off to a quick start, developing a consistent customer base after being in business for less than a year. (Submitted photo)

There’s a buzz surrounding a new bakery in the Chippewa Valley, one that has bees and humans alike licking their lips.

Beez Neez Cheesecakes and Sweets is a new bakery owned and operated by Carrie Kehoe. She is a healthcare worker by day and an avid beekeeper and baker by night. Sitting on a beautiful 20-acre property in Eleva just outside Eau Claire, the business offers made-to-order cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and more tasty goods. Kehoe said she started the business in July 2021 as a way to deliver a unique product to Chippewa Valley foodies in her spare time.

“Bringing decadence and elegance to the local cheesecake market is a big passion of mine,” Kehoe said. “With more and more bakeries shutting down in the area, I think there is a market for this type of product. We are trying to keep our products as local as possible because keeping money in the area is something that is important to us.”

Beez Neez Cheesecakes and Sweets creates treats for weddings, events, and other functions in addition to taking direct orders via its website and social media channels. Kehoe started Beez Neez as a means to transition out of the healthcare industry, as she is looking for a career change after working in the industry for decades.

The bakery sits on a 20-acre property, which prior to last year served primarily as an apiary (a place where bees are kept) for the past five years. Carrie and her husband, Chris, have owned The Wooden Bee together the past few years, a side business where they sell the honey they produce on their property in addition to offering detailed woodworking items. The couple planted 15 acres of wildflowers on their property for their bees, and the honey those bees produce is also used in their cheesecakes and cupcakes. 

Kehoe said the notion of pursuing baking professionally isn’t something that she idealized for an extended period of time, but rather it is just something she’d do to bring smiles to the faces of those around her.

“I’ve always had a love for baking,” Kehoe said. “It’s a de-stressor for me. Doing this helps me bring happiness to other people because people generally love to have a treat from time to time. I never thought I’d open a business because I just wanted to spread a bit of joy through my baking.”

In addition to selling her products at live functions, and made-to-order for customers, Beez Neez cheesecakes are also available at Hy-Vee and Down to Earn in Eau Claire. An assortment of sugar cookies are also sold at Together Farms in Mondovi. 

As of now, Kehoe doesn’t plan on opening a retail store, as she wants to keep her operation scaled down in order to preserve the quality and attention to detail she is currently afforded. However, she does intend to make Beez Neez Cheesecakes and Sweets her full-time role as soon as her customers (and the bees) allow it.

For more information on Beez Neez Cheesecakes and Sweets, visit beezneezwi.com.