When she’s developing new recipes, Becky Brown likes to use a tester or two. Fortunately, she has honest grandkids who are happy to oblige.

In fact, that’s precisely how Brown’s business got its name. “I served my granddaughter a slice of cake and she blurted out, ‘Oh, my, Grandma. This is heavenly! Even a kid would eat this,’ ” Brown recalls. Her husband liked the sound of that, and Heavenly Cheesecakes by Becky was born.

Brown baked her first cheesecake after visiting a relative in Savannah, Georgia. “She showed me one of her old cookbooks from her church, and I had to give the recipe a try,” she recalls.

Now four years into her business, Brown offers 17 flavor options like Snickers, Turtle Pecan, Crème Brulee, and Maple Pumpkin. Her best-seller — which also happens to be her favorite — is Cool Key Lime, “but I’ll make anything at least once,” she says.

A bit different from the traditional New York-style graham-cracker crust, Brown’s Original cheesecake has a vanilla-wafer and crushed-almond base. And because she doesn’t use flour, her selections are also slightly shorter than standard.

Brown still packs plenty of punch into her 7- and 10-inch desserts and petit fours — enough that her old cottage shop (which she shares with her husband’s business) gets most of its customers through word of mouth. “My dream is to have a place downtown,” says Brown, whose desserts are available online, in her store, at area restaurants, and through caterers. Until that time, extra money goes into savings for new culinary equipment.

“For me, working in the kitchen is kind of like being in church. You have everyone else singing around you, but you can only hear yourself because you’re so in tune with the words,” Brown says. “When I cook, it doesn’t matter if the phone is ringing or if there is other commotion around me — I feel relaxed; I feel peaceful.” Hallelujah.

Heavenly Cheesecakes by Becky is at 11040 Old US 52. The shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To order, call 336-577-9390 or go to http://www.heavenlycheesecakesbybecky.com.