What are the opening hours?

Thursday 11am - 9pm Friday 11am - 9pm Saturday 8am - 9pm

The Dessert Nerd, Bendigo (2026)

24/06/2026

💜 Today’s delivery was for a sweet goodbye.

Not the sad kind.

The “good luck for the future, we’ll miss you and thank you for everything” kind of goodbye.

This Family Favourites Box has been one of the most popular things I’ve made since I first launched it at Christmas. Packed full of slices and cookies in a mix of flavours, there’s usually something for everyone.

And that’s exactly why I love it.

It’s not just for birthdays.

It’s for the thank yous.
The goodbyes.
The new jobs.
The Mother’s Days.
The “thinking of you” moments.

The gatherings that happen around lunchroom tables, kitchen benches and afternoon cuppas.

Because sometimes food isn’t really about the food.

Sometimes it’s about bringing people together.

xo 💜

23/06/2026

Well... this happened 😂🍪

I decided to make someone close to me a birthday cake, but with a difference.

You know me, I don’t really do the whole traditional cake thing. Not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because everyone does it.

So this is what I came up with.

Two giant layers of chocolate chip cookie cake, filled with cookies and cream buttercream and topped with a handful of childhood favourites.

Nothing super fancy.

No fondant.

And definitely not perfect.

BUT it tasted delicious.

I know there are plenty of cakes out there that look amazing and then you take a bite and think... meh.

Not from my kitchen.

For me, desserts are meant to be eaten, shared and enjoyed. If it happens to look pretty too, that’s just a bonus. 💜

Now tell me... would you pick a traditional birthday cake or a Cookie Cake?

P.S. Yes its on a cookie tray, because thats all I had at home that it would fir on. Hehe

22/06/2026

Delivery Day!

Deliveries are done, the sun is out (for now ☀️), and it’s the perfect excuse to grab a little sweet treat for yourself and maybe one for a friend, work colleague or favourite human too.

Because let’s be honest, Mondays can be a bit rough.

Whether it’s a cookie with your coffee, a slice with your afternoon cuppa, or just a little something to make the day feel a bit brighter, sometimes the smallest treats make the biggest difference.

Just a little something to help get you both through Monday.

💜

18/06/2026

The funny thing is, my business isn’t really about desserts.

I mean, yes, I make desserts. Lots of them. Cookies, slices, cakes, brownies and all sorts of sweet treats.

But when I really stop and think about it, what I love most isn’t the food itself.

It’s what happens around the food.

It’s families sitting around a table after dinner.

It’s friends gathering for birthdays and celebrations.

It’s workmates sharing a morning tea.

It’s community groups coming together over coffee and cake.

It’s the conversations, the laughter, the memories and the connection.

I think that’s why I love teaching cooking classes so much too.

Yes, I want people to know how simple cooking can be. That you don’t always need packet mixes, jars and complicated ingredients.

But more than that, I love seeing people gain confidence.

I love seeing someone realise, “I can do this.”

I love seeing skills passed on to kids and grandkids.

I love seeing people gather around a bench and create something together.

Food has always brought people together.

It teaches independence.

It builds confidence.

It creates connection.

The desserts are just the vehicle.

The gathering is the point.

Maybe that’s why you’ll never see me chasing mass production.

What I really want to build is community.

A place where people feel welcome.

A place where people belong.

A place where people can gather around a table, share a meal, share a dessert and remember that life isn’t meant to be lived alone.

The Dessert Nerd was never really about the food.

It was always about the people. 💜

15/06/2026

A few new treats have been making their way into the cabinet at Empire South lately.

This week its Pistachio & Raspberry Cake and Gluten Friendly Banana Cake. Both are available at Empire South, and Pogo Espresso also has some of the Gluten Friendly Banana Cake if you’re quick. 💜

Over the last little while I’ve been mixing things up a bit with the sweets I make for Empire South. Because I supply all of their sweet treats, it gives me a chance to introduce a little more variety rather than sticking to slices all the time.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good slice, but sometimes it’s nice to try something different.

The Pistachio & Raspberry Cake has quickly become a favourite. The nuttiness of the pistachios with the tart raspberries works so well together, and the banana cake is one of those simple classics that never really goes out of style.

As always, flavour comes first. Fancy decorations are lovely, but if it doesn’t taste amazing there’s really no point.

Some people buy nice things and leave them exactly as they are. I buy pistachios and good chocolate and immediately start wondering how I can turn them into cake, cookies or something equally delicious. 😂
💜

08/06/2026

I wasn’t quite sure how to write this post, but I’ll do my best.

Yesterday, we lost an incredible human, Professor Richard Scolyer, to brain cancer.

For those who may not know who he was, Professor Scolyer was one of the world’s leading melanoma researchers and played a huge role in advancing immunotherapy treatment.

For those newer to my page, my husband Marc (Mr OMG BBQ) has battled melanoma for many years. Every couple of years, it seemed to come back. Just over three years ago, he found a lump in his neck which turned out to be his first internal melanoma. A reminder that melanoma isn’t just skin cancer.

Marc was fortunate enough to be part of a worldwide immunotherapy trial. Before surgery, he received treatment designed to teach his immune system to recognise and fight the cancer cells.

This week, Marc heads off for his three-monthly PET scan. It also marks three years since that surgery. Three years of scans, appointments, waiting rooms, and hoping for good news.

And for the first time in more than ten years, he reached the two-year mark without melanoma returning.

We never met Professor Scolyer, but his work became part of our story.

There are no words to explain how grateful I am for the researchers, doctors, nurses, scientists and trial participants who make advances like this possible.

But today, my thoughts are especially with Professor Scolyer and his family.

Because of his work, families like ours were given hope when we needed it most, and we could be looking at a very different story if it wasn’t for people like him.

For that, I will be forever grateful.

Rest in peace, Professor Scolyer.

Thinking of his family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched at this incredibly difficult time. ❤️

XO

05/06/2026

Just some of the sweet treats that have headed out the door this week. 💜

Pistachio Loaded Cookies, Lemon Meringue Loaded Cookies, Red Ripperz Grape Blondies (which honestly taste like Hubba Bubba 😂) and Golden Gaytime Blondies all packed up and delivered, ready for the long weekend.

While lots of people are enjoying a few days off, my deliveries next week will be spread across Monday and Tuesday depending on which cafes are open, so there won’t be much of a long weekend happening here.

That said, I’m actually looking forward to a slightly slower pace.

I’ll be spending the weekend cooking, recipe testing, writing, and working on some of the many ideas constantly floating around in my head. If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know that’s one of my favourite places to be.

There are always recipes to tweak, flavours to test, and random ideas to turn into desserts. Some work brilliantly, some don’t, but that’s all part of the fun.

Thank you to everyone who supports my little business, whether that’s buying a treat, grabbing a coffee from one of the cafes I supply, commenting on a post, or simply following along with the organised chaos. ❤️

Whatever you’re up to this long weekend, I hope it’s filled with good food, good people, and a chance to slow down for a little while.
Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the extra day.

Renee 💜

03/06/2026

The internet seems to have discovered dot cakes and they’re suddenly everywhere. 😂

Meanwhile I’m over here going...

“Ummm... that’s just fairy bread?”

I’ve been making fairy bread-inspired treats for years. Loaded cookies, Fairy Bread Hedgehog, Fairy Bread Yo-Yos and probably a few other sprinkle-covered creations I’ve forgotten about.

The funniest part is that when you explain fairy bread to people from overseas, they look at you like you’ve completely lost the plot.

“So it’s white bread, butter and 100s & 1000s?”

Yes.

“That’s it?”

Also yes. 😂

The thing I love most is how something so simple can bring back so many memories.

Birthday parties.
School celebrations.
Sticky fingers.
The excitement of seeing a plate of fairy bread appear.

Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved turning nostalgic treats into desserts.

Also, I literally had fairy bread as my birthday cake last year, so I think fairy bread might actually be a personality trait now. 😂💜

But it’s got me thinking...

What else could I turn into fairy bread? 🤔🌈

Because I think The Dessert Nerd may have found another rabbit hole. 🤣💜

💜

03/06/2026

Dessert jaffles were officially on the menu tonight! 💜

And yes, I know it’s late.

But between work, kids, deliveries and my second job as a taxi driver for teenagers, dinner sometimes happens whenever we can all stop moving for five minutes. 🤣

Tonight’s taste-testing lineup was:

🍫 S’mores Jaffle — Nutella and marshmallows

🍌 Banoffee Jaffle — caramel, banana and chocolate

🍎 Apple Pie Jaffle — tinned apple pie filling with a sprinkle of cinnamon added by me, tucked inside fruit toast (or raisin bread, depending on what you call it 😂)

Now for the important part...

The surprise winner was the Banoffee Jaffle! 🏆

Even the child who normally refuses to eat banana went back for more, which I was definitely not expecting. 🤯😂

The best thing about jaffles is they don’t need to be fancy. Sometimes the simplest things end up being the most fun.

Now I need to know...

What dessert would you turn into a jaffle? 🤔

Because I think The Dessert Nerd has just gone down a rabbit hole. 🤣💜

P.S. I bought the jaffle maker for baked beans and cheese. Somehow we’ve ended up making dessert jaffles instead. That feels very on-brand for me. 🤣💜

02/06/2026

Some days are for reliving childhood memories... and maybe introducing the kids to them too. 😂💜

I’ve been craving good old-fashioned jaffles for weeks, but I didn’t have a jaffle maker. Then today I spotted one and thought, why not?

Last week I was talking to a friend about jaffles and she said, “Do you remember the blue tins?” Umm... yes! 😂
So naturally I had to track some down.

Now, I’ll be honest, the kids won’t touch baked beans and canned spaghetti is a hard no in this house. To me it’s just soggy bread in tomato sauce. Sorry, not sorry. 🤣

And before anyone asks, yes, I absolutely remember Agro. The kids, however, have no idea who he is, which makes me feel approximately 147 years old. 😳😂

So now I need your help...
What’s your favourite jaffle filling?
Are you Team Baked Beans?
Team Spaghetti?
Cheese and ham?
Leftover roast dinner?

Or should I go full Dessert Nerd and start experimenting with dessert jaffles? 🤔
Because honestly, a warm apple pie jaffle or a peanut butter and chocolate one sounds pretty amazing right now. 🙃

Tell me your favourite in the comments. I feel like there are some forgotten gems out there waiting to make a comeback. 💜

The Dessert Nerd

24/06/2026

23/06/2026

22/06/2026

18/06/2026

15/06/2026

08/06/2026

05/06/2026

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category