About

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Hi, I’m Amanda, a trained pastry chef, longtime recipe developer, and the hands (and heart) behind STIR TASTE SMILE. I’ve spent over 15 years in the world of baking, from the fast paced rhythm of restaurant kitchens to the cozy feel of small cafes. I’ve run my own baking business, taught cookie decorating classes, and baked more sheet trays of cookies than I can count.

My professional training started at the College of DuPage’s baking and pastry program, right when several chefs from Le Cordon Bleu had just joined the faculty. It felt like perfect timing. I was lucky to learn from some of the best, and from the moment I stepped into that pastry kitchen, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I got hooked on technique, obsessed over butter temps, and completely fell for the balance of creativity and precision that baking demands.

But baking goes way back for me, long before culinary school. I grew up in a house where dessert wasn’t optional. My mom’s muffins and biscotti had their own fan club, and my grandma’s fig cookies were non-negotiable on holidays. I was elbow deep in flour as a kid, long before I knew what a recipe even was. Baking was our way of showing up for each other, and that spirit still runs through everything I do.

When the world shut down in 2020, I pivoted. I dove into food photography, started creating content, and finally gave myself space to share the recipes that had been living in my notebooks for years. That same year, I met my husband (yes, our early dates involved food styling and tripods), made our wedding cake, and launched STIR TASTE SMILE —thanks to a name my dad threw out over dinner that instantly felt right.

These days, I focus on what I love most: developing desserts that actually work. Every recipe on this site is tested, tweaked, and built from years of real world experience. I don’t just throw out ingredients and hope it turns out. I walk you through the “why.” Why butter needs to be soft but not melty. Why chilling dough matters. Why that tiny pinch of salt makes all the difference.

Baking isn’t about being perfect. Your cake might lean, your icing might get smudged, and that’s okay. What matters is that it tastes amazing, and that you learn something along the way. I’m here to help you build confidence, trust the process, and have some fun with it!

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What awaits you at Stir Taste Smile?

• Discover an array of decadent and distinctive dessert recipes that will truly elevate your baking experience. My favorites are lemon bars and brown sugar bars!
• Explore stress free and effortlessly understandable recipes tailored for bakers of all levels, ensuring fun in the kitchen. My carrot cake truffles are so much fun!
• Unveil tested recipes guaranteeing your baking triumph, complete with substitution suggestions, expert tips, FAQs, and ingredient insights.
• Find a curated selection of my preferred baking tools and kitchen essentials for your culinary endeavors.