5 places to eat, drink and explore in and around Scripps Ranch from Maya’s Cookies founder

Her love of fitness and good eating habits, along with evolving as a person, has helped Maya Madsen find success.  

Madsen is the founder and CEO of Maya’s Cookies, a gourmet vegan cookie company with locations in Granville and San Marcos and an e-commerce business selling cookies on its website. 

Maya’s Cookies, which started as a pop-up vendor at local farmers markets, is celebrating its 10th birthday this year.

Before opening it, Madsen worked in the fitness industry, first as an aerobics instructor before evolving into a personal trainer, boot camp instructor and step aerobics instructor.

“In high school, I had a P.E. class that was an aerobics class back in 1987, and I fell in love with it,” said Madsen, who grew up in Sacramento and her first job was at a women’s exercise studio.

“It was something that I really enjoyed,” she said. “Looking back as I evolve and got older and learned more, I realize how beneficial fitness is not only for physical health but for mental health as well, and I want to share that with others.”

Being a fitness instructor helped Madsen increase her education in nutrition, and as she learned more about where food comes from and how it’s produced, she slowly ate less and less meat and animal products to eventually become a vegan.

“It just was an evolution over time,” Madsen said. “I then started learning more about the environmental factors of being a plant-based (individual), and that’s when my passion really took off. It was an evolution based on educating myself and looking into the food industry, so it’s not like I just said one day, ‘you know, I think I wanna try to be vegan.’”

This is why Maya’s Cookies are all vegan-based. She could not find vegan cookies that were decadent and satisfied her sweet tooth. She started her own cookie business after teaching herself how to bake and receiving tons of requests from other parents and neighbors at her son’s school events and fundraisers.

Madsen said Maya’s Cookie recipes are 95% her creations. The ideas partly come from her travels. She said one time she visited the Pacific Northwest and came up with espresso and cold brew coffee cookies. Cookie ideas also come from seasonal months, such as the pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookie currently available and trending ideas on social media, as well as a Dubai chocolate cookie that was crafted earlier this year, Madsen said.

Future plans for Maya’s Cookies include a third brick-and-mortar location, possibly in Los Angeles, where Madsen said the company gets a vast amount of online orders.

Also, Madsen said she plans to launch a product line for plant-based items in October. These include egg replaces for baking and cookie mixes to which customers can just add water and vegan butter at home to make their own Maya’s Cookies.

The egg replacer was formulated by Madsen and a food scientist. Madsen said she got the idea after a bird flu outbreak a couple of years ago and the rising cost of eggs.

“I thought customers would be interested in using our proprietary egg replacer that we use in our cookies,” she explained. “So we spent a year testing it all, baking applications: cakes, cookies, pies, pudding, everything you use eggs for baking. And it’s basically a dry pantry stable product.”

When Madsen is not planning and executing new business ideas for Maya’s Cookies, she spends time with her family and friends in Scripps Ranch, where she has lived for almost 30 years. 

“It is warm and friendly, and it’s small enough where you know your neighbors, but big enough where there are many neighborhoods (activities) in the community,” she said. “It’s just a great place to raise a family. We have a lake close by, and we have the military presence right next to us and the Miramar Air Show, that’s always fun.”

Here are Madsen’s five places to recommend for dining and exploring in Scripps Ranch.

Q: Where is your favorite dining option?

A: Loving Hut. The 100% vegan restaurant is a hidden gem. Everything on the menu is crafted with the highest quality, and the portions are huge. The menu includes specialties from Asia, Mexico and American favorites such as burgers.  The dessert menu is also extensive, including cakes and shakes. This has been my go-to spot for years, and the owners are amazing people.

Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?

A: O’Brien’s Bakery. It is on the easternmost part of Scripps Ranch, maybe even Poway, and hidden in an industrial park, but it is worth the drive for their delicious breads and pastries. The sourdough bread is delicious, fresh, high-quality and you can smell it in the air when you start to pull up there.

Q: Where is your favorite open space?

A: Everyone in Scripps Ranch knows about the beauty and recreation of Lake Miramar, but I have a small secret spot for enjoying the view of the ocean, sunsets and the hot air balloons. It is a small overlook area on Trail Crest Drive, complete with a small grassy area and benches.  This spot is perfect for relaxing and reflecting on the serenity all around.

Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?

A: The best piece of artwork in Scripps Ranch, in my opinion, is actually the living Eucalyptus Grove south of Pomerado Road. These orchards were devastated in the 2003 Cedar Fire, but have since grown back to their full glory. They are a sight for the senses with the aroma of Eucalyptus and the beauty of the tall trees. We are lacking public art in Scripps Ranch to be honest, so that’s why I mentioned the surroundings of the Eucalyptus Grove.

Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?

A: Newtopia Cyder. They have great ciders, fun monthly activities like game nights and paint and sip nights. The marketing team there really tries to make it an experience in something to do in Scripps Ranch and you see a lot of people there enjoying time together with friends, unwinding after work. They also have a farmers market in their parking lot every Thursday. It’s just a fun vibe.