Former Indianapolis Colt Tackles the Baking Game With Bondo’s Cookies
Writer / Renee Larr
Photographer / Robby Berry
Deyshawn Bond knows a thing or two about football. The former Indianapolis Colts guard played football at Warren Central High School and the University of Cincinnati, and then in the National Football League. People might not expect him to know a thing or two about baking.
In January of 2020, Bond and his wife Ashley had a family event to attend. Bond wanted to take something made rather than purchased, so he tried his hand at baking cookies. Bond followed a recipe, but the cookies didnt turn out as planned and didnt make it to the family event. However, much like in football, practice made perfect.
I decided to figure out why they were such a failure, so I just kept trying, Bond says. Finally, in April I felt I had done enough testing that I could take them to my co-workers for them to try. They didnt look the best but my co-workers loved them. They kept asking me to bring in more.
In 2021 Bond decided to take his baking hobby and turn it into a full-blown side hustle. Bondos Cookies was born. At the University of Cincinnati, his teammates and coaches called him Bondo.
I thought naming the business Bondos Cookies fit perfectly, Bond says. Then I created the slogan Lets Bond Together, which made perfect sense for me. I try daily to make people feel welcomed and bring people together.
Bondos Cookies offers seven classic cookie flavors in addition to a rotating monthly flavor. Flavors include chocolate chip, peanut butter, white chocolate macadamia, snickerdoodle, M&M, double chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin.
Customers can place their orders online Monday through Thursday for pickup at two different locations on Fridays. One location is Indys Kitchen, the commercial kitchen that Bond uses to bake the cookies. Bond recently partnered with Southern Roots Gift Co. in Franklin Township to help expand the business to a new area of Indianapolis.
The most consistent time I can get into the kitchen to bake is between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Thursday and Friday mornings, Bond says. I still work 40 hours a week at my full-time job too. I can usually get about 20 to 22 dozen cookies baked in that time frame.
Bonds cookies are unique in a few different ways. You wont find overly iced cookies or crazy flavor combinations. Bond wanted to stick with traditional flavors. He wants to let the taste of each cookie speak for itself. He also packages each cookie in its own wrapping within each box. Flavors can be mixed for larger quantities.
I wrap each cookie individually so that no one can reach in the box and touch all the cookies, Bond says. Its more sanitary that way. I also dont pass that cost on to my customers.
Bond hopes to sell his cookies at farmers markets and events in the warmer months, where people can Bond together. For more information, visit bondoscookies.com.
