Breana “Bree” Britt of Accokeek began baking at age 5 and started selling her desserts online at 12. Now, at 16, she’s transformed her small storefront on Livingston Road into a full-fledged café in Accokeek, Maryland, as reported by Southern Maryland Newspapers Online.

Breana opened her bakery, Bree’s Sweet Treats, in February 2013 to handle the increasing demand for her cupcakes and cookies. When a vacant space next door to the shop at 15638 Livingston Road became available, Breana and her mother, Charmaine Britt, decided to expand the bakery.

The bakery, which celebrated its grand re-opening on December 13, now features a sitting area and healthy options, such as wraps and sandwiches, which customers can order with their desserts. Breana said these healthy items were added to promote wellness in the community and help customers feel less guilty about indulging in her desserts. “They buy three different sandwiches at a time, and that’s what we wanted,” Breana said. “We wanted them to feel better about buying the food.”

Breana said her great-grandmother and her “church grandmother” taught her how to bake as a child. Her first recipe was a sugar cookie, which she still bakes at her shop. “Baking is an outlet, to the point where if I’m having a bad day and I start working, it clears my mind and I feel so relaxed and so in sync with what I’m doing,” Breana said.

Breana has also invented several recipes, including a red velvet cookie, a strawberry shortcake cupcake and a dessert kebab, which she served when she was 11 at her cousin’s sweet 16 party.

Breana said her late father, Corey Britt, motivated her to turn her passion into a business. Corey Britt suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in the U.S. Army, but he had always aspired to be an entrepreneur.

“He was really dedicated, and I see that same drive in her,” said Charmaine Britt, 38. “I see that same sparkle when she’s talking about the business, that light.”

During the grand re-opening, Bree’s Sweet Treats will sell a special cookie basket with all proceeds going to Rockville-based Fisher House Foundation, which builds temporary homes for families who have loved ones in the hospital.

“My father was an injured soldier, and he suffered brain damage. We feel like there are a lot of other people who have gone through something similar or worse than we can imagine,” Breana said.

Stacy Thomas, the foundation’s partnership development officer, said the basket proceeds would go directly to building Fisher homes, which can accommodate several families.

“It means so much to us to know that they’ve thought of us and they’ve chosen us to be the beneficiary,” Thomas said.