When Julie, the baker behind Sweet Armenia Bakery, took home the Best of Mt. Juliet “Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Quest” award, it wasn’t just a win for a cookie—it was a reflection of a much bigger story.
More Than a Baker
Julie is an award-winning songwriter by trade, and that same creativity naturally carries into the kitchen. Her journey into baking started long before cookies ever entered the picture. Raised in an Armenian and Greek family, she grew up surrounded by traditional recipes—especially baklava—that were deeply tied to culture, music, and family gatherings. In her home, baking wasn’t just food. It was heritage.
Baking With Purpose
That heritage took on new meaning in late 2020, when serious conflict in Armenia left thousands of families in crisis. Julie and her family felt called to act, and her son Conner had an idea: what if they sold something from home to help? They chose baklava.
What started as a simple online post quickly turned into an overwhelming wave of local support. Julie baked late into the night, delivering trays to neighbors—sometimes with her kids along for the ride. Their effort has grown into an ongoing fundraiser supporting Young Life Armenia, an organization dedicated to helping the Armenian community. That season of giving shaped the heart of what Sweet Armenia Bakery would become: a bakery rooted in both culture and purpose.
Alongside baklava, Julie had always had a soft spot for chocolate chip cookies. Originally inspired by a family recipe she received when she got married, she refined it over the years into the delicious cookie it is today—soft, buttery, slightly salty, and made with mini chocolate chips for that perfect bite every time.
She entered her chocolate chip cookies in the Wilson County Fair in 2018 and took first place. The recipe hasn’t changed since—and it’s still winning.
Try Them for Yourself
Julie and Sweet Armenia Bakery are the real deal—and there are a few easy ways to get ahold of her baked goods. You can find her baklava at Emeraude Bakery right here in Mt. Juliet, as well as select locations in Nashville and Lebanon. Her cookies will be available on her website at sweetarmenia.com. You can also follow along on Instagram @SweetArmeniaBakery or reach her at [email protected].
A Taste of Something Bigger
Next time you bite into one of Julie’s cookies, you’re tasting more than butter and chocolate chips. You’re tasting a family’s heritage, a community’s generosity, and one woman’s decision to turn hardship into something sweet.
Some recipes are just recipes—but Julie’s carry a little history, a little purpose, and a whole lot of heart.
And apparently, they’re also the best chocolate chip cookie in Mt. Juliet. 🍪