How sweet it is  

Home-based candy biz

   a hit for mom of five

By Crystal Mack | Daily Herald Correspondent

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Daily Herald, Published: 6/25/2008 12:08 AM | Updated: 6/25/2008 8:41 AM

Cyndy Keene has chocolate in her blood.

As the owner of Cyndy's Sweet Treats, a home-based chocolatier business in Crystal Lake, Keene has spent her whole life appreciating and creating delectable desserts.

"My family was always making candy for holidays and special occasions," she said. "As I got older, the traditions were passed down to me."

Keene began noticing her recipes were special as she sampled sweets from other manufacturers. The chocolates she tried at weddings and other social settings did not measure up to what she was making at home.

"I would say to myself, 'I could make something so much better!'"

So in 2002, Cyndy's Sweet Treats was born. Because she was a busy mom with five young children, Keene wanted to keep the business running from home. The family built an 800-square-foot commercial kitchen in their basement and began acquiring sales online.

Although Keene does not have a business background, her past experience in customer service has helped give her clients exactly what they want.

Everything Keene makes is fresh to order and completely customizable, from the type of chocolate the confection is dipped in, to the labels attached to the box. This unique touch has made her treats a big hit at weddings, parties, and corporate functions.

"The personalization is so smart," said Valerie Beck, president of Chicago Chocolate Tours. "It makes her product special for every client, because they get to see the treats in the best possible way."

Beck has used Cyndy's Sweet Treats for several events, including an April private tasting at the House of Blues Foundation Room where Keene's white chocolate banana creams were voted most popular.

Whenever Keene is looking for a new recipe, she just thinks about what she would like.

"I have fine-tuned my sweet tooth over the years," she said. "I fiddle around with flavors until everything is just right."

Her personal favorites include her caramel apple creams and chocolate-covered pretzels. Other popular sellers are her pecan ducks, cordials, and one pound caramel apples offered year round.

No matter what you order, you're sure to receive nothing but the best quality from this one-woman enterprise.

"I have the best job," Keene said. "Every order I make is different, new and special."