Meet Lilliana Bilger of Lili Dulce Artisan Treats

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilliana Bilger.

Hi Lilliana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Lilliana Bilger, the heart behind Lili Dulce. I make sweet alfajores, but really… my work is about love, hope, and family.
I’m from Costa Rica, and I’m a proud mother of two wonderful boys, Marcel and Sebastian, and this is my story.
Lili Dulce didn’t start as a business. It started with me, just a mom trying to help her son.
In March 2020, during the pandemic, I had to pause my regular job, and my boys were home full-time since their schools were closed. My younger son, Marcel, who was just 12 years old at the time, spent many hours playing video games. As a mom, I wanted to find something different for him, something that would keep him busy, creative, and happy.
One day, Marcel told me he wanted to learn how to cook. A friend introduced me to Alberto, an Argentine pastry chef with over 30 years of experience, who lost his job because of the pandemic. With his help, Marcel and I began baking lessons together, and I decided to learn something I’d always wanted to make: alfajores, the soft, delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche that my boys loved so much.
One afternoon, Marcel told me he no longer wanted to bake. That’s when I realized I had achieved my original goal; he had stepped away from the video games. By then, though, something new had already taken shape. I had a business… and a bigger purpose was calling me.
With the support of friends and family, I decided to continue, but with a new mission: to help single mothers.
Because I know the struggles of raising a family alone, I wanted Lili Dulce to be more than just a cookie company. Our alfajores are not only delicious, soft cookies filled with dulce de leche. They also represent hope, opportunity, and empowerment.
Through our growth, we are committed to creating meaningful jobs for single mothers, giving them work opportunities, support, and hope, so they can have the chance to rewrite their stories and build brighter futures for themselves and their children.
Today, I’m also a leader in the Divorce Support Group at my church, where I help other women find healing and strength through faith. Additionally, I serve as an ambassador for the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, supporting and connecting with other Hispanic entrepreneurs who are pursuing their dreams.
Marcel is a senior in high school — no more video games! YEAH
He spends his time playing golf, surfing with friends (and his girlfriend), and studying for his EMT certification, because he dreams of becoming a firefighter. He’s also a cadet in Newport Beach, living with purpose and direction.
Sebastian, my older son, has been my helper from the very beginning. He was by my side at every event, always ready to lend a hand. As soon as he started driving, he began delivering cookies to our clients. Following in my footsteps, he’s now an entrepreneur himself — running his own clothing brand called Wolf. He’s in college, loves soccer, surfing, and spending time with family and friends. I’m so proud of my boys.
Lili Dulce helped us stay strong as a family — to keep our faith, to help others, to dream big, and to always trust God, who has been with us since day one.
Every bite tells a story, the story of a mother who wanted to help her son and ended up creating something much greater: a project filled with faith, sweetness, and hope.
Because sometimes, even something small — like a cookie —
can make a big difference.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. At first, everything felt easy because we were just doing it for fun — no pressure, just love and family time. However, once I realized that Lili Dulce was becoming a real business, things became more challenging. I didn’t know where to start or what to do. That’s when a friend told me about the Small Business Administration, and I reached out for help. I received a lot of help from OCSBA, who guided me through the process of applying for all the necessary permits, assisted me with marketing, and provided support. Their help made a big difference in growing Lili Dulce and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward.
Additionally, Alberto, our mentor, has played a significant role in this journey. He not only taught us how to make delicious alfajores but also showed us the importance of using high-quality ingredients, staying organized, and believing in our work. Even though there were challenges and moments of doubt, with the right help and faith, we kept moving forward. Ema has been a pillar of strength, walking beside me on this journey since the very beginning. She’s always eager to learn and never hesitates to lend a hand, no matter the hour or the day. Her faith that God will open doors for us keeps me grounded, and her words of encouragement lift me when things get tough.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Lili Dulce, we specialize in handcrafted alfajores filled with rich dulce de leche, made with love and care. What began in my kitchen with my son as a fun family activity has grown into a heartfelt business rooted in tradition, family, and faith. Every cookie is made with high-quality ingredients and the same love we would give to something made for our own family.

We are known for our soft, melt-in-your-mouth alfajores that bring a taste of home and connection. What sets us apart is the story behind every cookie — it’s made with purpose, passion, and the dream of a mom who wanted to create something meaningful and full of hope.

We are proud to be part of remarkable celebrations and collaborations, including being a culinary partner at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where we shared our alfajores during the Hispanic Showcase celebration.

We’ve also had the joy of being part of Amazon’s Hispanic Heritage celebration, as well as weddings, baby showers, birthdays, celebration of life, and many other meaningful moments in people’s lives. Knowing that people enjoy our products at these wonderful events makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Each event reminds us that Lili Dulce is more than a cookie; it’s a story of connection, love, and purpose.

Through our growth, we are committed to creating meaningful jobs for single mothers, offering them opportunities, support, and hope — helping them rewrite their stories and build brighter futures for themselves and their children.

At Lili Dulce, this is more than a business — it’s a mission from the heart, spreading love, faith, and sweetness one cookie at a time.

How do you think about luck?
For me, it’s never been about luck — it’s all been God. When I paused my job during the pandemic, it felt like bad luck, but now I see it was part of His plan. That moment pushed me to start baking with my son, and that’s how Lili Dulce was born.

What I thought was a hard time became a blessing. God kept opening doors — sending the right people, like the SBDC team, to help me, and giving me opportunities to be part of big events like the Newport Beach Film Festival and the Hispanic celebration for Amazon.

Every step, good or bad, has been guided by Him. I’ve learned to trust, to keep working hard, and to believe that when you put God first, everything falls into place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lilidulce.com
• Instagram: @lilidulcetreats

Image Credits
God
Ema Stanton
Alberto Ramos
James Lowes
Natalie Murphy
Greg Bell
OC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Administration