A Little Valentine's Warmth with Amber Siegel

It’s cold out there! And we’re talking everywhere from Florida to Montana. So what does it take to get a bunch of Hudson Valley, New Yorkers out on a bone-chilling Sunday afternoon? How about a cookie decorating class at the cozy and eclectic Bluecashew Kitchen Homestead in Kingston, NY. And not just any class, but an in-person tutorial with the founder of SweetAmbs Cookie Art, Amber Siegel.

Spiegel, a Culinary Institute of America grad, took her talent for cookie decorating and transformed it into a career, with a little help from over six million people, including one million+ on Instagram. But don’t get swept away by her influencer fame as an artist. Just pay a visit to any of her online cookie tutorials and find out what mesmerizing means. Beyondish sat down with the artist, mom and Kingston native to chat about the road to Bluecashew and the inner game to turning a passion into a livelihood.

First things first. What’s your favorite breakfast spot in Kingston? And your go-to dish?

I’ve been going to Dietz Stadium Diner forever. In high school my friends and I would go in the middle of the night for cake and pie! These days it’s one of my family’s favorite places to go for any meal, but especially for a weekend breakfast. They make a great Belgian waffle! I actually made a cookie once that was inspired by a birdhouse hanging in their outdoor seating area.

Okay, so once you’re fed and caffeinated, do you have a cherished habit or routine to get the creative juices flowing?

I do my best creative work when all of my morning activities have been completed, which include getting the kids’ snack boxes ready, eating breakfast, working out, getting the kids on the bus, and then getting myself ready for the day. I also need my coffee by my side. As soon as I get into the studio I put on WMAC Northeast Public Radio to keep me company while I decorate cookies.

And you’re good with WFH?

It’s been fantastic having my studio at home, especially with two little kids. I try to stay out of the studio during non-work hours, but it’s nice to be able to pop in whenever I need to. I’ve had a few different workspaces over the years and I’ve loved them all, but nothing beats having my studio at home! My favorite studio (other than my current one) was in the Shirt Factory in Kingston. It was a big open space with huge windows. Right after I moved in, my husband snapped a photo of me and it just so happened to look just like a photo of my mom in her art studio in NYC from the late 70s.

Mother-daughter time capsule.

Any favorite cooking or food shows you escape to?

I miss the days of Food Network in the early 2000s! Good Eats and the original Iron Chef were the shows that got me interested in becoming a professional in the food industry. These days, I love watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I get so excited when we’re traveling and I see a restaurant that’s been featured on the show!

Is there one special place you go for inspiration to start new projects?

Away!! Every time I come back from a trip I feel inspired to make a new cookie design. Some of my favorites have been inspired by our visits to Cape Cod, Virginia Beach (the poison dart frog cookie was inspired by a trip to the Virginia Aquarium), and camping trips in our pop-up camper. We bought the 2012 camper a few years ago and we’re not sure how many more seasons it can handle, but we’re enjoying it while it lasts. Taking time away from the studio has always been a great way to get the ideas flowing.

How about off the cookie trail? What’s the best dish you cook that your family cheers for?

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten any cheers for my meals in this house! [Editor’s Note: LOL.] It’s hard to be enthusiastic about turkey burgers and broccoli. I cook dinner every night, but to be honest, cooking is something I don’t really enjoy (I prefer to bake!). We do love this homemade hamburger helper recipe from Salt & Lavender, which I make on occasion. I’m very good at baking scones and quiche.

If not baking and cookie art, where might your career have led you?

I like to think that I would have had a successful career as a nail artist. For a while I was doing my own gel nails at home and matching them to my cookie designs. It was so much fun and I loved how they looked, but it was so time consuming. I spend most of my workday decorating cookies and there just isn’t enough time to fit in nail art, too. I’m not sure what I’ll do with my collection of gel polish.

Who would you like to play you in the SweetAmbs movie?

My daughter has taken an interest in acting, so I would choose her. But she’s only 8, so we have a while to go until then.

You have quite the fan base. Any heartfelt piece of advice for someone who follows your work and dreams of a career in baking?

One thing my dad told me when I first started out is to just create something every day. Even if it’s a sketch or a rough outline of a project that’s in your head. You don’t have to wait until the perfect moment or until a big great idea comes to you. Just take a small step toward creating something and let it grow from there. His advice really helped me when I was feeling stuck all those years ago, and still helps me to this day. If I don’t have any specific ideas for cookies, sometimes I’ll trace a few cookie cutters on a piece of paper and start sketching to see what comes to me.

Siegel watches over her aspiring decorators.

Best thing about living in [somewhat] rural Kingston NY?

I love that Kingston has trees, trails, nature preserves and public parks, the Hudson River, and so many restaurants, galleries, and shops. It’s really an awesome place to live.

If you could live in any other city in the world for a year?

I would love to go back to Chicago. I lived in Lincoln Square while I worked at Wilton as a cake decorator for their product packaging and publications about 15 years ago. The commute to and from work was terrible but it was a fun place to live.

Any one hobby you have that not everybody knows about you?

I got into running a few years ago. It was like a switch was flipped in my brain on my 39th birthday and I just decided to start. I was on the track team for a short time in junior high and I was the slowest on the team back then. I remember my track coach telling me I had great form, which was very generous of him and I love that he was trying to encourage me.

And last question for today. Your favorite restaurant dish in Kingston that Beyondish simply must review?

The Big Lox at Fantzye Bagels.