In Tyson’s Galleria, nestled next to upscale department stores, is “Danielle’s Desserts.”

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Inside it’s down home and down to earth.

The owner is Danielle Poux. She said she creates desserts that help people feel that they’re back home, sitting in their mother’s kitchen.

Their best sellers include the coconut cake, key lime pie and bread pudding. She uses all fresh ingredients and her own recipes.

The reward for Danielle Poux is the sometimes over-the-top reactions from her customers.

“There's nothing I love more than to see people take a bite and say ‘oh my god this is just like what my grandmother used to make!’” she said. “And we hear that all the time, we've even had a few people burst into tears!"

Last year, Poux left her six-figure job in human relations to follow her dream of opening a bake shop.

She learned technique from her mother and now hopes to leave Danielle’s Desserts as a legacy for her daughter and grandson.

She has just one day off since opening last April and works 15 hours a day. Poux’s in her mid-50s and said she knew the high stress, high energy undertaking had to happen now or never.

“The economy was not in the best shape but I thought I have to try this,” she said. “If I don't do it now I just won't have the energy later.”

She hopes to one day open a Danielle’s Desserts in Maryland and Virginia too. Danielle Poux said she never misses her old job – she just sometimes misses having weekends off.