Mooove over chocolate chip – there’s a new biscuit in town.

Thanks to one creative West Coast farming mum, biscuits now come shaped like calf tags, gumboots, and even LIC notebooks.

Dairy farmer and mum of four Tiana Baxter has found a sweet escape in the kitchen, turning everyday farm life into icing-covered art that’s winning fans on social media.

“I’m always picking up new hobbies – crocheting, knitting, glitter on bottles – I just get inspired and run with it,” Baxter says.

“One day TikTok started showing me decorated cookie videos, and it’s huge in America. I thought, ‘That looks really cool, I could do that.’”

Although she doesn’t claim to be a great baker, Baxter threw herself into the craft, splashing out on a 3D printer to make custom cutters that reflected her farm world.

“TikTok showed me people just printing their own cutters, so I researched printers, watched tutorials, and bought one. The first ones – Mickey Mouse ears, dinosaurs, cactuses, Lego heads – they weren’t good at all.”

Her breakthrough came during calf feeding.

“I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be funny to make an ear tag cookie?’ That was the first set where I thought, ‘Wow, that’s actually really cool.’”

Finding her tribe

When Baxter shared her creations on the Farming Mums NZ Facebook group, the response was instant.

“Then I created gumboot cookies as a fundraiser for Barrytown School’s camp. Out here 90% of kids wear gumboots, so I thought that would be unique. Some turned out great, some not so much, but when I shared them on Farming Mums NZ, everyone loved them. “The kind comments really encouraged me.”

Since then, the group has become both a source of inspiration and support.

“Now I design shapes as I’m inspired, or from suggestions in Farming Mums NZ. The LIC books were a mum’s idea – my husband eating one was hilarious.”

She says the page is more than just recipes and ideas – it’s a lifeline.

“It’s an important group, especially when you’re isolated. You can ask questions, get advice from people who’ve farmed for 30 years, or just vent. If you’ve had a crap day, someone else will say, ‘Me too.’ It makes you feel less alone.”

A happy place

Beyond the laughs, the cookies have also become therapeutic.

“Decorating cookies is my happy place. My mind goes quiet - I’m not thinking about the farm or kids, just focusing on staying inside the lines. It’s like an escape. Teachers even tell me my kids proudly show off their biscuits at school each week.”

Baxter now sells cake toppers, T-shirts, and custom cookie cutters through her Facebook page The Creative Cow and may eventually add biscuits to the lineup. But council regulations -  and her own nerves - have made her cautious.

“Everyone keeps pushing me to take biscuits further, but I’m a stressy person - I worry if I got 50 orders, they’d all burn! Still, I’ve looked into the council rules and might explore it. The cutters feel like an easier business option.”

Her advice to other rural mums looking for a creative outlet? Forget the self-doubt.

“Go with what you love, and just do it. Don’t let doubt hold you back. Not every hobby has to become a business – sometimes it’s enough to create something that makes you or someone else happy. It’s also great for mental health, getting off screens and doing something with your hands.”

What’s next?

At the Baxter dinner table, future biscuit designs are always up for debate.

“We’ve been spit-balling - overalls, tail paint, chainsaws, even a quad bike. The boys want me to try a quad, but I’m not sure I could get all those little details!”

By Claire Inkson