Suzy Cravens of Advance Components competes in Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge
With the arrival of Fall and the turning of leaves, it’s time for Suzy Cravens to start thinking about cookies. “Not just any kind of cookies, but highly decorated cookies,” says Suzy.
It all started back in the 1990s, when Suzy, a self-professed crafter, sewer, baker, and all-around handy gal, decided to venture into the world of cake decorating to satisfy her creative whimsy. After taking several classes she started teaching cake and cookie decorating in her spare time. She also began a home cake decorating business which eventually led to her becoming quite well known in the area as the Cake Lady.
Her growing interest in baking led her to expanding the business to include offering cookies. She began adding cookies as a flair to her cake orders, then began offering holiday-themed cookies as well. It wasn’t long before she was also being called the Cookie Lady.
Around 2005, Suzy closed her baking business as she found it too difficult to continue to raise children, manage a full-time career, and continue baking cakes and cookies all at the same time. Suzy did manage to find a new creative outlet for her whimsy in the form of competitive baking and decorating. She’s entered many contests over the years including the Dallas Morning News Holiday Cookie Contest as well as many baking competitions at the Texas State Fair, and she has quite a few blue ribbons to show for her efforts.
Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge was searching for cookiers (those who bake cookies) of all kinds when they found Suzy. They were convinced they had the right baker when they noticed Suzy actually had many of her award-winning cookies framed on the wall of her craft room.
This challenge will pit Suzy against several other bakers including a pastry designer, a bakery owner, a cookie/cake decorating teacher, and a self-taught baker/artist. The episode will be fun, fast-paced and hilarious as they decorate to the best of their abilities in their quest to be named Christmas Cookie Challenge Champion and winner of a $10,000 cash prize. Tune in to Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge on November 18 at 10:00 PM Eastern/9 PM Central.