Friends to whom she had given her Oatmeal Surprise cookies as Christmas gifts convinced Willis that her recipe was good enough to sell. Taking them at their word, she began to peddle the cookies to local small businesses.

After experiencing moderate success, she went on to eventually develop eight additional winning cookie formulas, as well as sweet potato pie, peach, apple and cherry cobbler, and banana pudding recipes. She took her culinary show on the road to fairs and festivals throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, and later established a thriving Internet-based outlet. Willis has transitioned from baking her delicious cookies and pies in her apartment kitchen to production in rented bakery space in Campbell, CA. "I hope to be more famous than Amos," said the baking professional, referring to the originator of Famous Amos Cookies.