It all started with this.
My church was hosting a Valentines Day event. They asked if I could help with dessert, to which I said, “YES! Of COURSE!! I’d love to!”
See, one of my favorite things about baking is being able to share. To help. To give back in some small way. Plus its nice to make stuff that people will actually eat. (I try to avoid giving my kids sugar, and hubby and I can only eat so much… so sometimes we have to toss stuff in the ole trasher-oo)
They gave me this napkin and said go to it!
Allllllrighty. (channeling Ave Ventura)
I started sketching and planning weeks in advance… breaking down the cookies to exact numbers.
I did each design (there were eight designs) in phases to make it a little easier. Eight designs on twenty cookies each.
I think this one is my favorite. I have a thing for plaid. I want to see it everywhere.
Kinda like the napkin right?
ACV=Alliance Church of the Valley
Lots and lots and lots of cookies.
These were the biggest project, as I did twenty cookies of each color. So. Eighty total. And with an average of eight hearts on each cookie… thats like, uh, alot of hearts.
And dont even get me started on the number of lines.
(ok, so I had to figure it out. Its roughly 640 hearts, cause I know some cookies had more then eight hearts on them)
Do you have a favorite?
Now.
I have one more surprise for you… and its a doozie.
There was another beautiful lady helping out with the desserts that night… and I gotta tell you… she was the STAR of the show. I am in awe of her talent and creativity!
She made… get this… RED VELVET CHEESECAKE.
I never even knew such a thing existed!! Its like a Valentines Day miracle!
She made FIFTEEN of them.
I get tired just thinking about that.
Just look at this amazing dessert.
*drooling*
Just look at that thick, decadent, chocolate crust.
Amazing!
Sarah (the young lady who made all 15 of those suckers) is a baker by profession, and just started her first job decorating cakes for a local bakery. I would say they are lucky to have her!
(I dont have Sarahs recipe for the cheesecake, but she mentioned it is like a chocolate cheesecake with red food coloring.)
RECIPES
That cheesecake is gorgeous and amazing. I am with you on sharing – that is probably the reason I love to cook/back the most. I love sharing with others, especially those I know. I’d rather do that than buy gifts.
And seriously, those cookies are breathtaking. How do you find the time (AND PATIENCE!!) to do such amazing, gorgeous, tedious cookies? And so many of them?? And they all look so uniform and perfect! You must be a perfectionist, my friend. 🙂
Yum-o!
I just have one question, how do you not just eat every single cookie? I think I ate every cookie from the batch we made this weekend…your recipe is sooo delightful!
And gorgeous by the way! I would love to see a tutorial from you on the intricate decorating. You amaze me.
Wow, what beautiful cookies Amanda!!! I LOVE all the delicate details and that cheesecake looks so yummy 🙂
I LOVE your giving heart and how willing you are to share your gifts with others! It’s beautiful! Um, and so are your cookies, hello!?!?!?! Seriously. I think I’d have a hard time eating them. And that would last about 8 seconds, then I’d totally go to town 😉 lol! I don’t even know if I could pick a favorite! The multi-mini hearts were adorable, but I also love the plaid and the 3 hearts that look like the napkin! Great job!! I’m seriously going to start thinking about what I will do for my son’s 4th birthday, cause I totally would love to hire you for the cookies and/or cake!
Amanda, those cookies are stunning. Seriously. How do you make them so pretty? I mean, I have intentions on doing mine pretty, but I get interrupted by the kids so often that I give up and just hurry things along. Do your kids not pester you and try to touch and eat the cookies as you make them? What is your secret? Inquiring minds wanna know. 🙂
I think that my favorite this time around is the plaid … super fun! 🙂 Very nice work as always Amanda!
Oh my goodness…. Seriously, i want to copy one of those photos and make it my wallpaper! They are beautiful… when are you going to open a store front??
WOW!!!! Amazing!!!!! You did such a great job!!! Gorgeous!
I am in awe! Your cookies are SO amazing and gorgeous! Good job!!
Geez, these are some beautiful decorations. I love the plaid and the white with heart outlines.