When Kelly Jacobs first mixed up a batch of cookies, she had no idea she was about to whip up a brand new career. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a full-fledged passion for cookie art. They’re almost too stunning to eat. But trust us, you’ll want to.
Today, Kelly Jacobs is the go-to cookie queen for every occasion imaginable. Her royal icing creations are nothing short of edible masterpieces … each cookie a tiny canvas. Kelly’s always had a thing for cooking and baking (total foodie alert), but it wasn’t until she became a mom that her passion for decorated cookies really took off. In the back of her mind, she knew she wanted to be the kind of mom who makes the prettiest, Pinterest-worthy cookies for her little ones.
Even when she used to be a preschool teacher, she’d always notice the edible works of art her students would bring in for birthdays. Intrigued, Kelly and her mother-in-law decided to try their hand at decorating some for Easter three years ago. They signed up for a workshop. Little did Kelly know she was about to discover her true calling. That day she fell hook, line and sinker for the world of pretty cookies. A couple of days, a sprinkle of practice, and one Facebook page later, Pretty Baked Cookie Creations was born.
At first, Kelly had no plans to start a business … just sharing her work on Facebook for the sake of sharing. But, as these things often do, it snowballed. Within four months, she was making more from her cookies than from her teaching job.
So she took the leap, traded in her teacher’s board for a baker’s apron, and hasn’t looked back since. What started as a fun hobby for friends and family quickly spiralled into something much bigger … like, ‘I need a bigger oven’ bigger.
‘To be honest, I never considered this as a career path. Even though I’ve always been the creative and DIY type, I’ve always gone with the safe, most practical option. So, I studied law after school, then spent eight years as a preschool teacher. But fate had other plans for me … a pretty delicious fate if you ask me.’
Fast forward a few years, and Pretty Baked Cookie Creations grew into a full-on family affair. Business boomed so quickly that her husband Greg hung up his own work boots to join Kelly in the kitchen as head baker. Now, she can focus on what she loves most … perfecting the art of the cookie, while spending more time with Greg and their two little girls, five-year-old Alexia and one-year-old Novaleigh. Talk about sweet!
In fact, her motto is ‘Make the world a better place one cookie at a time.’ And she’s doing just that, with hundreds of meticulously crafted cookies leaving her kitchen each week.
‘Don’t think our creations are just about looks … I also like to think we’ve got a knack for balancing beauty with budget. I love making sure that customers’ events are extra special without them having to break the bank.
‘For me, baking definitely displays a level of care, consideration and appreciation for the person being baked for. And, because I’m a person who enjoys gift- giving and acts of service, it’s safe to assume that baking is my love language. Nothing makes me happier than good feedback from clients and hearing how much their guests raved about the cookies.’
For Kelly, the must-have qualities of any good baker are patience, practice and persistence. Because nobody becomes a cookie master overnight. But, (lucky for us) she’s not stopping at cookies. She’s got dreams of adding other sweet treats like cakes and macarons to her repertoire, and maybe even hosting online tutorials for other cookie enthusiasts. For now, though, her bespoke iced biscuits and occasional royal icing workshops are the talk of the town.
Many would argue you’re not a full-fledged baker if you haven’t got some kind of unique baking ritual. Well, we’ve heard a little birdie say that Kelly’s creative process wouldn’t be complete without a dose of true crime. That’s right … she decorates her cookies while listening to podcasts about solving mysteries. And when she’s not in private eye mode, she’s diving into the magical audiobook world of Harry Potter.
When she’s not in the kitchen, Kelly’s all about family time. She’s got a wild sense of humour and loves nothing more than spending the day exploring new places with her kids or cracking jokes with Greg. Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and life isn’t always easy, Kelly admits, but she’s finding her rhythm. And when she needs to recharge, you’ll find her building puzzles, getting lost in diamond dot art, or soaking in a much-deserved long bath.
For Kelly it’s simple. Be your authentic self and don’t sweat what others think. Your tribe is out there, just waiting to find you. And in the meantime, just do what you love to do. In Kelly’s case … spreading joy one beautifully decorated cookie at a time.
Details: Follow @Pretty Baked Cookie Creations on Facebook and @prettybakedcookiecreations on Insta.
Kelly’s fave five-ingredient sugar cookie recipe
This one’s so simple and foolproof, you can whip up this cookie recipe anytime. Sweet, buttery, and delicious!
You’ll need: 125g unsalted butter; 125g castor sugar; 1 medium egg; 1tsp vanilla extract; 250g plain flour.
To make: In a bowl or electric mixer beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix together. Sift half the flour into the bowl and mix it in and then sift in the other half and mix again. Knead the dough until smooth then wrap in clingfilm and let it rest in the fridge for half an hour. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to around 4mm thick and use your chosen cookie cutter to cut it out. Place on a baking tray with baking parchment and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until light golden brown. Allow to cool before decorating. Makes 12 to 16 cookies.
