Loaded cookies: Uniquely designed, flavoured, shaped and coloured cookies are regularly rolled out in the hours after Laura Gascoyne finishes her “daytime work” at GV Health.
COVID-19 has been the mother of all invention for many entrepreneurs who were afforded the time to further investigate a long-time goal.
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Kyabram’s Laura Gascoyne is one such success story.
“It was around June in 2020 when I started this little business. I always had a desire to do something as a side gig, but never really knew what,” Ms Gascoyne said.
The fruits of her labour, through her Little Cookie Creations business, was again on public display last week when she created NAIDOC Week cookies to celebrate the Indigenous recognition week.
Her multi-coloured, triangular cookies were in the shape of the Aboriginal flag and had the words NAIDOC imprinted at the base for the Kyabram District Health Service commemoration.
Ms Gascoyne said she didn’t have a background in design or baking, but had inherited an interest in baking through her mother.
“My mum loves to bake, so I guess my love for it has come from her. There is no real history of this sort of cookie-making in the family,” she said.
Ms Gascoyne grew up in Kyabram, went to school at Haslem Street Primary School and Kyabram Secondary College and then studied at La Trobe University in Melbourne.
For the past three years she has provided cookies and boxes filled with various edible delights for both small and large businesses, along with a range of other events, from birthdays to weddings and new arrivals to baby showers.
Edible anniversary: Laura Gasoyne’s Little Cookie Creations business in Kyabram is under constant demand to create new poducts and gift boxes such as this third anniversary gift for an obvious sweet tooth.
"I’ve also done cookies and boxes for Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and many other special occasions such as R U OK Day, aged care employee day and now NAIDOC Week,“ she said.
She said Christmas was definitely her busiest time of the year.
“It is generally non-stop for the whole month. It involves a lot of late nights and early mornings, but I do love a challenge,” she said.
Ms Gascoyne works full-time as a health information manager at GV Health, but once she finishes her “day job’’ it is generally straight into the week’s orders.
“There are definitely challenges in running a small business while working full-time. It’s not always easy, but it keeps me busy,” she said.
When she has large orders, Ms Gascoyne calls on her mum and partner to help out.
“They have been a great help during the last few years. My family and friends have been very supportive of this little venture,” she said.
Her cookies and sweet treat grazing boxes come in a variety of sizes, big and small, depending on the client’s needs.
She said each order was very unique.
She has even created a Christmas cookie Advent calendar.
Cookie countdown: Advent calendars are a fun and, in this case, delicious, way to count down the days until Christmas.
“I am always trying to come up with new ideas. Some cookie designs take a lot longer than others, it’s all about finding a routine and working through it,” she said.
Most of Ms Gascoyne’s cookies are vanilla, but there is a chocolate variety.
And for those interested, the colour of the icing doesn’t affect the flavour.
“I personally create each colour depending on the colour theme of the order. Orders are never the same and I really appreciate the support such a small community continues to show me,” Ms Gascoyne said.
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