Affiliate Disclosure

Last Updated: October 25, 2025

Hey, Let’s Talk About Affiliate Links (And Why Honesty Matters)

Look, I get it—nobody loves reading disclosure pages. But this one’s important, and I promise to keep it real with you. At Dessert Haven, transparency isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s how I want to run this sweet corner of the internet.

The Short Version (For Those in a Hurry)

Some links on Dessert Haven are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. These commissions help keep the flour-dusted lights on and allow me to keep creating free recipes for you.

Here’s my promise: I only recommend products I genuinely use, trust, and believe will make your baking better. Your trust means everything to me, and I’ll never compromise it for a quick buck.

The Longer (But Still Human) Version

What Are Affiliate Links, Anyway?

When you click on certain links in my posts and make a purchase, the company pays me a small percentage of that sale. Think of it like a “thank you” tip for connecting you with products you might love.

Important: You don’t pay anything extra. The price is exactly the same whether you use my link or go directly to the website yourself.

Where You’ll Find Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links when recommending:

  • Baking tools and equipment (stand mixers, baking pans, measuring tools)
  • Ingredients (specialty flours, chocolate, vanilla extract, decorating supplies)
  • Cookbooks and resources that I’ve actually read and found helpful
  • Kitchen gadgets that genuinely make baking easier

You’ll typically find these links:

  • Within recipe posts (when I mention specific products)
  • In my “Baking Essentials” resource guides
  • In seasonal gift guides or product roundups
  • In comparison or review articles

My Affiliate Partners

Amazon Associates Program

Dessert Haven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

What this means in plain English: When I link to products on Amazon and you make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Amazon pays me, not you—your price stays the same.

Other Affiliate Programs (Current and Future)

From time to time, I may participate in other affiliate programs with companies I trust. These might include:

  • Specialty baking supply retailers
  • Kitchen equipment brands
  • Digital product creators (ebooks, courses)

I’ll always keep this page updated if I join new affiliate programs. Check back occasionally, or just know that if you see a disclosure note on a post, there are affiliate links present.

My Affiliate Philosophy (The Real Deal)

I Only Recommend What I Actually Use

Here’s the thing: I could link to every trendy gadget under the sun and probably make more money. But that’s not how I roll. Every product I recommend with an affiliate link is something I’ve:

  • Used in my own kitchen
  • Tested thoroughly (sometimes to the point of annoyance to my countertops)
  • Found genuinely helpful for home bakers

If I haven’t used it personally, I won’t link to it. Period.

My Honest Opinion Isn’t For Sale

This is huge: Companies don’t pay me to recommend their products. The commissions are purely performance-based—I only earn if you choose to purchase after reading my honest take.

That means:

  • ✅ I’ll tell you when a cheaper alternative works just as well
  • ✅ I’ll mention the downsides or limitations of products
  • ✅ I’ll let you know when something ISN’T worth the money
  • ✅ I’ll share when I’ve had a bad experience or changed my mind

Case in point? I once recommended a particular brand of baking pans, earned commissions from them, then discovered a quality issue after six months. I updated the post immediately, removed the affiliate link, and warned readers. Your trust > temporary income.

Free Products & Sponsored Content

Occasionally, companies send me products to review. When this happens:

  • I’ll always disclose it clearly at the top of the post
  • My opinion remains 100% my own—free product doesn’t mean automatic recommendation
  • I’m not obligated to write positive reviews
  • Negative feedback is fair game if the product doesn’t perform

If a post is sponsored (meaning a company pays me to create content), it will be clearly marked as “Sponsored” or “In Partnership With [Brand]” at the very beginning. Sponsored posts are rare, and I only accept them from brands aligned with Dessert Haven’s values.

How Affiliate Income Supports Dessert Haven

Let me be transparent about why affiliate links matter to this blog:

What Your Support Enables:

  • Ingredients for recipe testing (flour doesn’t buy itself, and I go through a LOT of butter)
  • Photography equipment to make recipes look as good as they taste
  • Website hosting and maintenance
  • Testing new techniques and ingredients (including the failures you never see)
  • Time to create free, detailed content instead of rushing through posts
  • Investing in better baking education so I can share improved techniques with you

Bottom line: Affiliate commissions help me keep Dessert Haven free, ad-light, and focused on quality recipes rather than clickbait.

Your Choices (Because You’re In Control)

You’re Never Obligated to Use Affiliate Links

Seriously. If you prefer to:

  • Search for products directly on Amazon or other sites
  • Shop at your local stores
  • Find alternative brands

That’s completely fine! I’m just as happy if the recipe helps you, whether or not you use my links. The recipes themselves will always be free and fully accessible.

How to Identify Affiliate Links

I try to make this obvious, but here’s what to look for:

  • Disclosure statements at the beginning of posts containing affiliate links
  • Text like “Shop this product” or “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases”
  • Links may include tracking codes (you’ll see “tag=” in Amazon URLs)

Your Privacy Matters

When you click an affiliate link:

  • Amazon or the retailer knows someone came from Dessert Haven
  • I don’t see your personal information—no names, addresses, or what else you buy
  • Cookies may be used to track purchases (usually valid for 24 hours)
  • You can clear cookies anytime in your browser settings

For more details on data privacy, check out our Privacy Policy.

FTC Compliance Statement

Dessert Haven complies with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. The FTC requires that we disclose whenever there’s a material connection between us and a product or service we recommend.

Translation: I’m legally required to tell you about affiliate relationships—and I’m happy to do it because honesty builds better communities.

Questions About Affiliate Links?

“Do affiliate links influence which recipes you create?”

Nope. Recipes come first, always. I create content based on what I’m excited about, what readers request, and what’s seasonally relevant. If a recipe happens to mention a product I love, and that product has an affiliate program, I’ll link to it. But I never create a recipe just to promote a product.

“What if I have a problem with a product I bought through your link?”

Contact the retailer or manufacturer directly—they handle all customer service, returns, and product issues. I’m not involved in transactions and can’t process returns, but I’m happy to help troubleshoot baking questions!

“Can I trust your recommendations?”

I hope so! My reputation depends on being trustworthy. If I ever recommend something that doesn’t work out for you, please let me know at contact@desserthaven.com. Your feedback helps me improve my recommendations for everyone.

“Do you accept all affiliate partnerships?”

Absolutely not. I regularly turn down offers from:

  • Companies whose products I haven’t personally used
  • Brands that don’t align with Dessert Haven’s values
  • Products I wouldn’t genuinely recommend to a friend

Quality and trust always come before potential income.

Updates to This Disclosure

I’ll update this page whenever:

  • I join new affiliate programs
  • There are changes to existing partnerships
  • FTC guidelines or laws change
  • I want to add clarity based on reader questions

The “Last Updated” date at the top shows when changes were made.

Let’s Keep This Conversation Open

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about affiliate links on Dessert Haven, I genuinely want to hear from you. Email me at contact@desserthaven.com—I read every message and typically respond within 48 hours.

Thank you for supporting Dessert Haven, whether through affiliate purchases, sharing recipes with friends, or simply baking along with me. This community means the world to me, and I promise to always keep it real with you.

Now let’s get back to baking! 🍰

For the Legal Folks:

Dessert Haven (desserthaven.com) is owned and operated by Rebeccah Ellene. This website may contain affiliate links, including but not limited to Amazon.com links. As an Amazon Associate, Rebeccah Ellene earns from qualifying purchases. When you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

All recommendations reflect honest opinions based on personal experience. We only recommend products and services we genuinely believe will benefit our readers. Your trust is our priority.

For privacy-related questions, see our Privacy Policy.
For general terms of use, see our Terms & Conditions.

Contact for Business Inquiries:
Rebeccah Ellene
contact@desserthaven.com