TZANEEN – What began as a desire to give her children more opportunities has turned into a family business built on faith, love, and a lesson in financial responsibility.

Clarissa van Zyl and her husband recently took a leap of faith by starting Ons Koekies, a small family-run cookie business inspired by their children.

Sport budget sparks a sweet idea

Van Zyl said the idea developed while she was looking for a way to earn extra income so her children could participate in the sporting activities they wanted to pursue.

“I wanted to do something extra so that my children can take part in all the sports activities their hearts desire, but with today’s prices, the budget won’t allow it,” she said.

After praying about it, Van Zyl repeatedly came across videos featuring oversized cookies. At around the same time, her children began talking about selling cookies, cupcakes and coffee.

The family decided it was time to turn the idea into reality. “The name just came to me because it is for us and our children,” she said.

Stewardship at the kitchen table

But Ons Koekies is about more than earning additional income. As a mother and teacher, Van Zyl hopes to use the business to teach her children about money, hard work, and biblical principles.

“I want to teach my children how to work with money and biblical principles about how to be good stewards of what we are blessed with,” she said.

Little hands, big cookies

The children are already involved, helping prepare and portion cookie dough for freezing and enthusiastically advertising the business wherever they go.

The current menu includes sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and fudge brownie cookies, while the signature big cookie is a marshmallow chocolate chip creation. Van Zyl plans to introduce a new flavour every second month and hinted that toffee may inspire the next addition.

“Our cookies aren’t hard cookies. They all have an almost fudgy texture, soft, chewy and made with love.”

Balancing batches, classes and family

Building the business has brought challenges, including achieving consistency between batches, finding quality ingredients at affordable prices and balancing baking with her teaching career and family responsibilities.

Fortunately, Van Zyl said the venture has become a true family effort, with her husband helping prepare mixes and her mother stepping in when needed. Her father also assists with sourcing ingredients at good prices.

Her first customers were family and friends, followed by colleagues at her husband’s workplace. She now hopes word-of-mouth recommendations will introduce Ons Koekies to a wider community.

Blessings to share

Ultimately, Van Zyl dreams of growing the business enough to create employment opportunities while remaining rooted in its original purpose.

We are only stewards of this gift, and we are blessed so that we can bless others.

“If it grows into a learning opportunity for others and blesses more than just our family, that would be from above. I hope we get to the point where the blessings flow and this business helps more than just us.”