Khayelitsha Cookie kingdom

I was lucky enough to visit the Khayelitsha Cookies factory last year, and I’ve been in love with these homemade cookies and brownies ever since…

They call it a factory, but really it’s more of a magical cookie kingdom, where vast trays of chocolate-dipped shortbread, butterscotch cookies, choc chip cookies and heavenly brownies are mixed and rolled and cut and sprinkled with magic by a team of previously-unemployed ladies from Khayelitsha.

The result? Quite possibly THE most delicious scent known to (wo)man, some simply delicious baked goodies and a really inspiring empowerment project.

So what does this have to do with weddings?

Brownies, that’s what. Nutty fudge, pecan-nut filled chocolatey chunks of heaven. Heart-shaped brownies sprinkled with white chocolate and served up instead of cake (because really, who needs cake once you’ve already had dessert?)

My man and I had been to one too many weddings where the cake became a sort of sideline that nobody really ate because they were too full and had started dancing already… We didn’t want that. What we wanted were the best brownies in Cape Town (yip, I just made that claim) that would complement our dessert of a soft serve ice cream station beautifully.

And we got it! Plus a whole lot of really, really happy guests.

The added advantage of choosing these fabulous brownies (that could also be a slab of chocolate brownie cake with writing on it, or a mountain of freshly baked cookies) is that you’re supporting a really wonderful cause. In their own words: “We hire previously unemployed women from Khayelitsha and then train and skill them in permanent, affirming employment.”

If you’re looking for a wedding cake / dessert / party favours with an unusual twist, check out Khayelitsha Cookies.