Olivia Rose Khalil was looking for a creative outlet outside her 9-to-5 job when she discovered one that proved particularly sweet: custom sugar cookies.

What began as a passion project has grown into Creative Cookies by Olivia Rose, a custom cookie business that creates personalized treats for everything from graduation parties and holidays to corporate events and other special occasions.

“I’ve always been a creative person,” Khalil said. “I’ve always been into the sciences, but also the arts. Me being creative with cookies has allowed me to have the best of both worlds.”

Khalil, who has a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, balances her professional career with her growing business. Working from her home kitchen, she typically completes three to four cookie orders each week.

And demand has been strong. Khalil is already booked through mid-December.

For Khalil, Creative Cookies is about more than a homemade sugar cookie recipe and intricate decorations. She wants customers to be involved in the creative process and see their ideas reflected in the finished product.

“I want them to have input on the design so that they feel that they’ve personally touched the cookie, as I did,” Khalil said. “I want them to feel that their image was brought to life, that I have that detail.”

Building the business also has given Khalil an opportunity to pursue another side of herself. She encourages others with an idea or creative passion to take a chance rather than wonder what might have happened.

“Doing it is so much better than not doing it,” Khalil said. “I’ve always wanted to do a little bit of everything, and I think more people should do that.”

In addition to accepting online orders through social media, Creative Cookies has appeared at pop-up shops and events throughout the Pittsburgh area. Khalil said many of those events have sold out.

She posts booking availability, upcoming appearances and examples of her latest creations on Instagram at @creativecookiesbyoliviarose.