When Taylor Glessner (’16) came to Lancaster Bible College as a student in the OneLife Institute (a gap year program for high school graduates), she wasn’t sure what to expect. She certainly didn’t anticipate that at just 21 years old, that she’d become a business owner. But God had other plans.

Now, Glessner is gearing up for the grand opening of Dough & CO., a cookie dough eatery in downtown Lancaster, Pa. That’s right – cookie dough – that will be served like ice cream. “The recipe that I created includes local, fair trade, and organic products,” she explained. “There are no eggs in this recipe, and all of cookie dough is available gluten free. And we do have a vegan recipe as well! It’s one of my personal favorites.”

Dough and CO.’s shop, located on 46 North Prince Street, is holding it’s grand opening on April 6 with a soft opening on March 24 at 11 a.m. The 1,300 square foot space will hold about 50 people and includes an outdoor seating area. As for the main attraction, Glessner says she plans on featuring a seasonal, rotating menu. Her startup flavors include Classic Chocolate Chip (vanilla, dark sugar and chocolate chips), Lancaster Batch (gluten free salted pretzels, chocolate chips, Nutella, Lancaster caramel and Himalayan sea salt), Birthday Cake (vanilla, marshmallows, assorted sprinkles and white chocolate), and S’mores (gluten free graham crackers, chocolate chips, toasted marshmallows and chocolate chunks). If you want to see photos of the mouth-watering dough, check out Dough & CO.’s Instagram feed.

According to the aspiring entrepreneur, her education at LBC and OneLife are a big part of what inspired the project. “Dough & CO was inspired by DO, a cookie dough shop in New York City,” said Glessner. “The task of creating cookie dough was actually given to me by Peter Sullivan, founder of OneLife, as a part of OneLife’s leadership program.” Glessner explained to us how God has been a part of the process from beginning to end. “He’s been in every piece!” she said excitedly. From the business concept, finding a space (featuring a well-timed text from an acquaintance who owns the space she’s now renovating), her own background (her parents own Golden Barrel Baking Products), to finding financial backers, “God’s hand has been in all of it,” she said.

But it’s Glessner’s faith in God, forged during her time at LBC and OneLife, that has kept her grounded throughout it all. “LBC taught me discipline, hard work and how to create a schedule,” she said. “And my time at OneLife really taught me how to walk out my faith in everyday life. It taught me how to live an extra-ordinary, ordinary-life.”