Why Fat Dough Exists | The Story Behind Fat Dough
- Daniel
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Why Fat Dough Exists
Fat Dough didn't begin as a business.
And it certainly didn't begin with the idea of selling books or cookies.
It began with pizza.
I have always been a huge fan of pizza.
Growing up, I was fascinated by the pizzas I saw in shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Later, my curiosity grew when I discovered Peter Reinhart's American Pie: The Search for the Perfect Pizza, my very first cookbook.
That book changed something in me.
I remember thinking:
"If I can learn to make pizza at home, maybe I can make more."
Maybe I could create.
Maybe I could learn.
Maybe I could share.
That simple thought became the beginning of Fat Dough.
But the story actually started even earlier.
In 2013, I took a leap and opened my own small eatery.
It was exciting.
It was also one of the hardest things I had ever done.
Running a food business was brutal.
The reality of rental costs, ingredient prices, and supplies, while trying to keep food affordable for customers, was a constant battle.
After six months, I had to close.
It was painful.
It felt like failure.
But looking back now, I realise it wasn't the end.
It was the beginning of something else.
After closing the eatery, I started sharing the recipes I had created on Facebook.
Back then, I had fewer than 10 friends on my account.
There was no audience.
No community.
No plan.
I was simply sharing what I'd made.
One recipe became two.
Two became ten.
People started discovering my food.
They started asking questions.
They started following along.
Slowly, something began to grow.
In 2017, I decided to take Fat Dough further.
I created the website.
I started building my Instagram.
Eventually, YouTube and TikTok became part of the journey too.
What started as a way to share recipes became something much bigger.
But the truth is, Fat Dough was never just about food.
It was also born from a difficult chapter in my life.
After my divorce, I went through a period of depression and uncertainty.
There were moments when I felt lost.
Moments when I needed something to focus on.
Something that gave me purpose.
Cooking became my escape.
Creating became my therapy.
Photography allowed me to capture moments.
Writing allowed me to process thoughts.
And sharing allowed me to connect with people.
Without realising it, Fat Dough was taking shape.
Today, it has grown into a collection of over 580 recipes from around the world, along with articles, videos, Foodnotes, books, and now, freshly baked cookies.
But none of that happened overnight.
I still work a full-time job.
I still leave home early and often don't get back until around 7pm.
Fat Dough has never been my full-time career.
It's my evenings.
My weekends.
My holidays.
It's the hours most people spend resting.
Everything you see here has been built one small step at a time.
One recipe.
One photograph.
One blog post.
One video.
One lesson.
One failure.
Then another.
People sometimes ask why I continue when growth is slow.
The answer is simple.
Because Fat Dough was never built around chasing numbers.
It was built around creating something meaningful.
Something my daughters can one day look back on.
Something that might encourage another creator who feels like they're moving too slowly.
Something that reminds me that even after a long day at work, I can still build something that belongs to me.
Fat Dough isn't just about food.
It's about craftsmanship.
Patience.
Creativity.
And the quiet belief that small, consistent efforts eventually become something worth sharing.
That journey eventually led me to write my first book.
Why I Wrote This Book
I didn’t write this book because I made it.
I wrote it because I almost stopped.
I work a full-time job.
I get home around 7pm.
I don’t film every day.
I don’t cook every night.
Most of my filming and cooking happens on the weekends.
That’s when I batch everything.
On weekdays, after work, I post.
I edit photos.
I write.
Sometimes on the train.
Sometimes late at night when I should be resting.
I use whatever time I have.
Not because it’s convenient.
But because it matters to me.
Not because I have extra time.
But because I don’t want to live my whole life wondering what if.
I’m not building Fat Dough full-time.
I’m building it after hours and weekends, when I’m tired, when I don’t feel like it, when no one is watching.
There were nights I stared at the screen and felt nothing.
No ideas. No motivation. Just… exhausted.
That’s the part nobody talks about.
Not the filming.
Not the posting.
But the quiet moments where you question everything.
This Book Exists Because of That
This is not a book about going viral.
It is a book about staying.
In a world obsessed with speed, algorithms, and overnight success, I wrote this as a reminder that meaningful creation was never meant to be fast.
I’ve spent years building without chasing trends, sponsorships, or applause.
Not because I couldn’t.
But because I didn’t want to lose myself in the process.
What This Book Is About
This book is built on real experiences:
Burnout
Failure
Reinvention
Gratitude
Purpose
It’s about:
Showing up when things don’t work
Building slowly without shortcuts
Choosing integrity over numbers
Because slow growth is not weakness.
It’s sustainability.
And sustainability is the only path that doesn’t break you.
Who This Is For
This book is for people who are:
Working a full-time job but building something on the side
Tired… but not done
Not seeing results yet, but still showing up
Trying to create without losing themselves
If that sounds like you, you’re not behind.
You’re just early in the process. - Quote from GaryVee
Why I Wrote It
I didn’t write this to teach success.
I wrote it because I know how it feels to:
Put in effort and see nothing
Question if it’s worth continuing
Feel like you’re the only one moving this slow
You’re not.
Most people just don’t talk about it.
If This Resonates
If any part of this feels familiar, you might find something in this book.
No hacks.
No shortcuts.
Just clarity, perspective, and a different way to look at the journey.
If this story resonates with you, you can support Fat Dough by purchasing the book.
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