Danielle Sepsy

I’m Danielle Sepsy, chef and founder of The Hungry Gnome, a New York City wholesale and online bakery, host of Food Network’s Best Bake Ever, and author of the New York Times bestseller The Scone Queen Bakes.

My love of baking started on Long Island, where I spent Sundays in the kitchen with my grandmother watching Julia Child. At 13, I tested ten scone recipes on my family, cooking-show style, and the clear winner became the scone behind The Hungry Gnome. The next day I brought fresh scones and business cards to local cafes, and by that afternoon they were calling to say it was the best scone they’d ever had. Fans have since crowned me the “Scone Queen,” but I’m not a one-trick pony. I love sweet and savory bakes that are playful, unique and downright delicious, an approach I call “innovative nostalgia.”

Today The Hungry Gnome bakes more than 12,000 goods a day for over 300 partners nationwide. You’ll find them at iconic New York cafes like Joe Coffee, Birch Coffee and Bluestone Lane, on JetBlue flights, and delivered directly to customers across the country. My catering has been the highlight of events for Bulgari, Sisley Paris Cosmetics, Kleinfeld Bridal and other New York houses of style.

I’m a graduate of Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management and The International Culinary Center. I’ve managed restaurants at The Peninsula, The Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria, and ran a high-end amenity and event center at Park Avenue Tower.

My debut cookbook, The Scone Queen Bakes (Knopf), is inspired by my grandmother and celebrates food as a way to bring people together. I’ve shared my recipes on Good Morning America, TODAY, The Drew Barrymore Show and Tamron Hall, among others. In 2022, I competed in all eight episodes of Dan Levy’s The Big Brunch on HBO Max. I made it to the finals and was named “Fan Favorite” by Thrillist, and Dan called one of my creations “the best thing I have ever put in my mouth!”

In 2025, the Small Business Administration named me Women Business Owner of the Year. Beyond the kitchen, I support the Alzheimer’s Association and Hot Bread Kitchen, and I champion female leadership and an equitable bakery model for my team.

Come bake with me! Watch Best Bake Ever on Food Network, follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @chefdaniellesepsy and the bakery at @thehungrygnome.