Danielle Sepsy

Chef Danielle Sepsy is the founder and creative force behind The Hungry Gnome, a beloved wholesale bakery based in New York City. Danielle’s passion for baking started at just 13 years old, when she launched a home business selling scones to friends, neighbors, and local cafés. Today, she’s earned her crown as the Scone Queen, with fans declaring her creations “the BEST scones in the universe.”

But Danielle’s culinary talent goes far beyond scones. Her sweet and savory creations are playful, nostalgic, and flavor-packed, with a cult following across NYC. Her baked goods are stocked in hundreds of the city’s top cafés and markets—including Joe Coffee and Birch Coffee and even 10,000 feet in the sky on select Jet Blue flights. Danielle and her team produce over 250,000 baked goods each month, so when it comes to sugar and butter, they know their stuff!

Danielle is a graduate of Penn State University’s School of Hospitality Management and The International Culinary Center’s Professional Culinary Arts Program. She’s held leadership roles at some of New York’s most prestigious hotels, including The Peninsula, The Plaza, and the iconic Waldorf Astoria, and served as General Manager of a luxury amenity and event space at Park Avenue Tower.

Danielle has been featured in national media including Good Morning America, Today Show, Tamron Hall, Inside Edition, Anderson Cooper Live, PIX11, Good Day New York, Cheddar News, and Food Network.

Her breakout moment came on HBO Max’s The Big Brunch with Dan Levy, where she starred in all eight episodes and became a finalist. Danielle won over viewers—and Dan himself, who raved her food was “the best thing I have ever put in my mouth!” She was named “Fan Favorite” by Thrillist, and her following grew overnight.

Today, Danielle shares her love of baking with over 350,000 loyal fans across Instagram, TikTok and beyond. Her debut cookbook, The Scone Queen Bakes, invites readers into her kitchen with signature bakery recipes, treasured Italian-American family favorites, and nostalgic sweets inspired by her late grandmother, Rosemarie. It’s a celebration of comfort, creativity, and confections straight from the heart.