Muskoka Stuffed Cookie Co. a sweet new business for local photographer

Local wedding photographer Kelly Holinshead’s latest venture is sure to curb the community’s sweet cravings.

Before launching her photography career, Holinshead worked in the food and beverage industry.

During the first COVID-19 lockdown last March, Holinshead spent a lot of her time baking, which has always been one of her favourite things to do.

“Ultimately this little cookie company was born from a passion for baking and eating baked goods,” she said of Muskoka Stuffed Cookie Company. “For the longest time, I have gifted family, friends, and even clients with countless boxes of baked goods—especially at Christmas when I used to bake dozens of kinds of squares and cookies and bars to gift people.”

Why stuffed cookies you may ask?

“Last year I was making some date squares for my dad and father-in-law for Father’s Day when I thought about how awesome it would be to have a cookie with a date square inside it!” said Holinshead, “So I made them maple bacon date square stuffed cookies. Of course we all loved the cookies and I could not help but think how many other treats would be great inside a cookie.”

Each cookie, which Holinshead says can easily be split in four, has a unique theme, sure to satisfy every dessert lover. She suggests ordering a few, cutting them up like a pizza, and testing a few flavours out.

“It seems everyone is taken aback when they open their box and see for their own eyes the size of the cookies—they are at least a quarter pound a piece, so it’s a pretty impressive box of cookies,” she said. “After one bite, everyone agrees that the old adage is true—it’s what’s inside that counts.”

Muskoka Stuffed Cookie Co. flavours, which are as fun as the cookies themselves, include: Triple Chip With Brownie Points, Apple Of My Eye, Peanut Butter Me Up Cup, Peanut Butter Be Jammin, Gimme S’More Stuffed Cookies, Sweet Salt of the Earth Caramel Crunch, and Every Day Should Be Your Birthday Cake.

Kelly Holinshead with her Butterscotch Marshmallows + Unicorn Kisses (left) and Sweet Buns Cinnamon Crunch cookies (supplied)

Each cookie is stuffed full of indulgent ingredients such as buttertart, skor blondie, cinnamon bun, or birthday cake.

“They are all so delicious, it is tricky to decide on a favourite,” she said. “Perhaps it is the brown butter dough that makes the difference—you can’t beat the flavour freshly browned butter adds! On the other hand, the dutch process cocoa I use in the chocolate dough cookies makes them so dark and decadent. Then again, the caramel ganache I make is like nothing else… such rich flavour and amazing texture. Every cookie has its own redeeming quality.”

So far the response from her mini-launch at Christmas has been amazing.

Some clients have even told her to bake stuffed cookies as her full-time job, but Holinshead is a photographer at heart. “The cookies will have to take a back seat to photography of course….and as that picks up again, regular ordering may have to be reduced to just holidays.”

She will also be introducing holiday packs and seasonal selections throughout the year, she said. “Next one up is Valentine’s Day! I am still working on those flavours and will announce them at the start of February. Following that there will be spring flavours, Easter packs, and then summer will bring some new flavours to incorporate the fresh, brightness of summer.”

Cookie ordering opens every Friday at 3 p.m. and stays open until Sunday at 6 p.m., or as long as supplies last, and are available for pick up at Muskoka North Good Food Co-op the following Friday. Orders are currently accepted via email, but a new site complete with a shopping cart is in the works.

For more information visit muskokastuffedcookiecompany.com or email Holinshead at [email protected].

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