"So where did the name Hugs and Cookies come from?"  

is a question I'm often asked, so let me tell you how it all began...

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For the Love of Baking

My love of baking goes back as far as I can remember: getting to pour the chocolate chips into the dough or using the mixer guided by the hands of my mom and grandma. I loved the time spent creating goodies together, the connection I felt and the excitement of pulling fresh baked cookies out of the oven. Jumping ahead to 2020, I started Hugs and Cookies as as a simple way to recreate those feelings - to bring more happiness and connection into people’s lives during a time when both of those things seemed scarce. 

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From Passion to Profession

Baking went from a hobby to a profession in 2019, when I fulfilled a lifelong dream to attend pastry school. I spent the summer at École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie in France learning from some of the most talented pastry chefs in the world. Getting up for school at 5 in the morning was not a chore, but a treat, and it built in me a confidence that baking could be more than just a creative pastime.

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After moving to Amsterdam, I took what I had learned and continued to get creative in the kitchen, baking sweets for birthdays and holidays. But in 2020 when the world suddenly vastly changed, I knew I needed to find more ways to spark joy. And seeing how my baked goodies brought happiness to people’s faces planted an idea in my mind...

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I began taking orders from friends for my homemade treats, made with love and delivered personally by me. I would load up my basket with new creations each week, and cycle around in the rain, wind and even snow! Ringing doorbells and dropping off goodie boxes created a moment of human connection when it felt like we could all use a hug…and a cookie 😊🍪

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My Vision: Shared Joy is Double Joy

When I think about Hugs and Cookies, it makes me think of the Swedish proverb that says "shared joy is double joy." And so with every dessert I make for others, I picture joy multiplying all around for everyone who opens up a box made especially for them.

​It’s not just about making something delicious, it's about connecting with people and giving others (and myself) a few more reasons to smile.

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With all that said, who's ready for dessert?