Introduction
“It’s a lot of really hard work but it truly is a labor of love!” - that's how my Mom, Robin Joy Evans, always liked to describe her baking. For years...decades...over half-a-century even...Robin’s been baking cookies, breads, and cakes to the pure delight of her family and close friends.
Our Story
Many times, over the years she was encouraged to turn her legendary cookies into a business, but it was never about that for her. Happy bellies and huge smiles were my Mom’s rewards. She knew it could never be profitable because of her strong belief in always using the highest quality ingredients and the extraordinary amount of labor required (buckle up)!
The level of care and attention my Mom poured into every single cookie was just astounding. Mom loved to bake for the people she loved the most, and you can taste that love in every bite!
The flavors are incredible which is why it’s so wild to me that on only a very few occasions did I ever see her indulging in her own creations. I guess after making them for so long she just knew when everything was right. On the other hand, her friends and family were more than glad to gorge ourselves with as many as we could possibly take...and then a few more!
I remember one Thanksgiving, Mom made 16 different kinds of cookies and I sat there oh so quietly and (very happily) ate every single type of cookie on the table – all 16 of them! My Mom watched as I went back for another and another and another and to this day, I vividly remember her smile. It brings me supreme joy thinking of that moment and I know she is looking down today with that same smile.
Robin had a heart of gold, and she would spend countless hours perfecting her craft. Mom would start “baking up a storm,” which could easily persist for 6 to 8 weeks near the end of which she’d proudly proclaim, “I’ve been baking my brains out!” This monumental task required incredible dedication, and to keep her spirits high and her love for baking strong; she knew how to plan everything out with just enough time to “take a break.” Yup, Mom loved to take a break, and if at any time you feel that you need it, go ahead and take one too! Feel free to roll one up, pour yourself a cool glass of Pinot Grigio (or an old flat cherry Coke), and you know...take a break! Bonus points if you softly rock (not too loudly now) some Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, or Traveling Wilburys.
Mom loved to share her cookies with friends and family and her “baking season” started early so she’d have enough time to ship them around the world in time for the Holidays. Her homemade baked goods have been enjoyed throughout Colorado, New York, New Hampshire, Florida, California, Australia, Spain & Japan. Once, she even participated in a mail-in baking competition and took second place. She was not very happy that the winner in part used a pre-made dough - Mom had way too much love for baking not to start a dough from scratch!
Now it is my great pleasure to share Robin Evans Legendary Baked Goods Recipes with you all. Please flip these pages or go to robinevansbakedgoods.com to view the recipes – go ahead and try baking them for yourself - share your experiences, photos and baking tips on the website. Together we can all improve our baking skills and share what worked out best (or what didn’t work - Mom always loved a good baking disaster story too!). Most of the food photos in this book are from my attempts at recreating her delicious morsels. Speaking of recreating, all the cursive found throughout this book was expertly replicated from my Mom’s original cursive handwriting. I had it turned into a typing font which turned out "most excellent" as she would say!
I wish we had more pictures of her amazing original creations, but they typically got eaten before being photographed! Mom was so meticulous to carefully follow the baking instructions, she’d make little tweaks here and there, but once she got a recipe just right, she would stick to it. Do keep in mind that my Mom did all of her baking in the mountains of Colorado at nearly 8,000-ft above sea level. Temperatures and timing can vary with location and elevation. And, it wasn’t just the flavor; Mom also took incredible pride in the appearance of each cookie - someday, I hope that I’ll make them as pretty as she did. Maybe you can help me out? Some of you were fortunate enough to have tried the real deal from the Master Baker herself.
The time has come for these legendary recipes to be shared and enjoyed. Some of the recipes in this book are relatively new, and others were passed down to my mom from my Grandma - and there’s no telling where she got them! My Mom baked these countless times, and they are all absolutely delicious.
Many of these did not begin as Mom’s original recipes (and I would give credit where credit is due), but I only have old copies from her, except for Julie's Pumpkin Bread recipe. Julie was Mom’s best friend, my Godmother, a great baker herself, and just an incredible soul. The origins and reworkings of these recipes do not matter – all that’s important is that these were our families’ favorites, and we have been devouring them for many, many years!
Hopefully, soon, you’ll be enjoying these delicious baked goods with your loved ones, too!
It literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I made my Mom’s cookies after her passing. The baking was challenging and fun, but the best part was that first bite, which took me right back to my childhood and brought me closer to her spirit. Fortunately, every cookie that I’ve tried to replicate since then has brought about the same results. It may take me a lifetime to get them to look and taste nearly as perfect as Mom’s but that is a journey I welcome, and I hope you find enjoyable too.
At the end of the day, I really want to honor my Mom and make her proud by carrying on an amazing family tradition. I wish in my heart of hearts I could ask her for the little tips and tricks. Since that is not an option, I’m hoping we can turn into our own community of bakers and help each other with helpful hints. If a question arises, you have a good idea to share or just want to show off your finished product, please post on any of the recipes.
Mom's Notes
These are the gems I wish I had more of.
Just that extra insight from the master baker herself...
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