Our Des Moines: Jacqueline Brock started Bitt of Sugar bakery during infertility battle

Jacqueline Brock stood in her wood cabinet-covered West Des Moines kitchen.

She rolled up the long sleeves of her light blue denim J.Crew shirt. Then, she rolled out heart-shaped sugar cookie dough for her husband, James. Brock owns Bitt of Sugar, a cottage sugar cookie bakery she started in the midst in April 2021 as the world came to grips with a pandemic — and she came to grip pain.

Brock, now 37, was in the middle of a searing infertility struggle that only some women seem to know.

Bitt of Sugar | Jacqueline Brock on Instagram: "Happy infertility awareness week! * I wish I could say I'm a 'success story', but I'm not (yet). I've been struggling with infertility for over 6 years. My husband and I are not only part of the 1 in 8 who struggle, but we are also part of the 1 in 4 who have had a miscarriage. I know that it can been seen as 'taboo' to talk about it, but that's part of the reason why I do. * When I first started going through my journey, I felt so alone. No one in my immediate circle had gone through fertility issues, so no one knew what to say to me and I didn't know what to say to others. I was ashamed of my body for not being able to do the one magical thing a woman's body can do. Infertility quickly became a thief of joy, hope, opportunities, and just life in general. We missed weddings, vacations, holiday gatherings, etc. b/c we had to save money for our treatments, we had to be safe and healthy during Covid. I stopped going to anything baby related bc it hurt my heart too much. It was hard - it IS hard, but we keep moving forward. * I thought I lost hope, until we got pregnant for the first time last year. It was the most incredible 11 weeks of my life. Most people would think that having a miscarriage is the worst experience they've ever had, and I won't disagree. It was horrible. However, knowing that we could get pregnant brought me so much hope! I hold on to that hope every day bc I know something wonderful is coming for us. * Being vulnerable and sharing your story is hard, but I invite you to share your infertility story this week. You never know who you can help. * #NIAW #findyourvoice #voicesofinfertility #fertilityoutloud #nationalinfertilityawarenessweek #NIAW2023 #1in4 #1in8 #ivf #ivfwarrior #sugarcookies #sugarcookiesofinstagram #cookiesofinstagram #cookies #royalicing #royalicingcookies #foodphotography #homebaker #cottagebakery #dsmcookier #dsmsugarcookies #smallbusinessiowa #smallbusinessdsm #desmoinessmallbusiness #shoplocaldesmoines #desmoines #desmoinesiowa #cookier #bittofsugar"

In 2016, the Brocks wed in a ceremony at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. They started trying to conceive in 2017.

After infertility struggles, they ended up at a fertility clinic in 2019 and later tried two rounds of IVF, but there was no success and the couple landed at a different clinic in 2021. In 2022, they lost their first child.

"It wasn't IVF that got us pregnant, but I did lose the baby at like 11 weeks, which was horrible, and we actually found out that we lost it at a routine visit," Brock said. "So, it's not like anything happens ... we'd already seen our baby's heartbeat, we went back a couple of weeks later and then the heartbeat was just gone."

More: Childhood best friends Mallory Gritsch and Bri Buzick open Holland Bridal Shoppe in Pella

Creating custom orders for customers across the metro has brought her joy carved and cut out from the fears of missing out on motherhood.

"Something about baking and putting your energy in your hands and your love into something and then obviously getting to taste it afterward is a great thing," Brock said. "But it has helped me to you know find some peace of mind find you know, being able to process things like when I have a bad day."

More: Our Des Moines: How Northern Vessel founder T.J. Rude staged a coffee company comeback

Bitt of Sugar features lifelike custom-decorated designs atop sugar cookies. During the NCAA Women's Championship, Brock created cookies that had Caitlin Clark-themed jerseys and round basketball shapes. A Hershey kiss and "hugs and kisses" cookies were crafted for Valentine's Day.

Brock's sugar cookies have a soft bite with no chalk, less crunch and more chew.

Bitt of Sugar | Jacqueline Brock on Instagram: "Whether you're a Hawkeye or a Cyclone, it's a good day to be an Iowan! So excited to watch the @iowawbb team in the NCAA College Women's Basketball CHAMPIONSHIP today! @caitlinclark22 is an amazing basketball player and I love the way she puts her team first in all of her interviews! Let's go @theiowahawkeyes !!! * #sugarcookies #sugarcookiesofinstagram #cookiesofinstagram #cookies #royalicing #royalicingcookies #foodphotography #homebaker #cottagebakery #sugarcookiedecorating #sugarcookieinspo #dsmcookier #iowasugarcookies #iowacookier #dsmsugarcookies #smallbisiness #smallbusinessiowa #smallbusinessdsm #desmoinessmallbusiness #shoplocaldesmoines #desmoines #desmoinesiowa #cookiedecorating #cookier #bittofsugar #iowahawkeyes #iowawomensbasketball #ncaabasketball #uofiowa #iowa"

Brock preps her cookies by making the dough mix, which takes about 10 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of rolling out dough. Then, she bakes them at 350 degrees for 15 to 30 more minutes before two to five hours of decorating.

"I will say that it's a labor of love and it takes time, but I think honestly, if anyone put the time and effort into like something that they love, you're going to make it beautiful," she said.

Bitt of Sugar is booked until the end of May but orders will open back up on June 1.

Brock, who works full time at a nonprofit organization, dreams of opening her own bakery in West Des Moines one day and donating a portion of sales to families struggling with infertility. The bakery's name is borrowed from her maiden name, Bittner. She first met James during elementary school at St. Pius X Catholic Church school in Urbandale.

Brock's cookies are made with six simple staples: eggs, salt, sugar, flour, butter and vanilla.

But her recipe — and heart — has one secret ingredient: hope. As they start their journey from scratch, her and James are still trying.

"When I was little, I was the girl who always played with dolls. I was the first one to babysit. I'm a caregiver, so I've always just wanted to be a mom and be able to care for something and give all your love and attention."

Where to find Bitt of Sugar

Contact: bittofsugar.com; facebook.com/bittofsugar

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register and avid sugar cookie fan. Please send tips about any of your favorite people or places to jstahl@gannett.com or Instagram.

Our Des Moines

Our Des Moines is a weekly feature on an interesting person, place or happening in the Des Moines metro, the kind of gems that make central Iowa a special place. Have an idea for this series? Contact sstapleton@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bitt of Sugar bakery started after owner's infertility bakery