Truly Awesome Custom Cakery

Cake by Truly Custom Cakery

Cake decorating fever has swept the nation! We can’t help but be fascinated by what these talented artists/bakers can do with a little butter cream, fondant, and their hands. I often watch these masterpieces come to life on television, but I couldn’t believe it when I saw what Stacey Hill of Truly Custom Cakery is able to create in her home-based Warrington bakery. Check out our interview with Stacey below & browse through her impressive portfolio!

BH: How did you start making custom cakes?

TCC: After having kids I found that I needed something more than laundry and play dates. So I took a class on cake decorating. It filled a creative gap in me.

BH: How do most of your customers find you?

TCC: I get a lot of referrals and also get a lot of customers through my blog and my website.

BH: Do you bake in your home?

TCC: I have a licensed residential bakery. Basically that means I am a work-at-home mom with an inspected and licensed kitchen.

BH: What was the craziest cake request you ever got?

TCC: For a tennis player. He plays with a group of guys and they requested that one of the guys be wearing a pink tennis skirt. I’d have loved to see that manly man get a peek of his sugar paste replica!

BH: Which cake was the most difficult cake to complete?

TCC: That’s a tough question. The first time I try a technique is generally stressful. But in January I did a large wedding cake. It was right after the holiday’s and I was totally wiped out and on overload. Add to that a cake so big I barely had room to cool the layers after taking them out of the oven… It worked out beautifully, but boy was I glad when the cake was set up at the venue and my job was done!

BH: And your absolute favorite?

TCC: Another tough question… I have so many favorites. I think I really like the soft feminine cakes. I grew up with two brothers and now I have two sons. Not much girly girl stuff around me. So I appreciate all the soft colors and frilly touches. I did a Winnie the Pooh Shower cake for a friend a while back. I don’t generally get to sculpt Disney stuff due to copyrights so I appreciate the opportunity to test my skills. I love how that cake turned out. It was so precious and I was thrilled with the sculpting.

BH: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

TCC: When I’m not stressed out and I can get lost in the sculpting. I really am a detail oriented person and it is nice when the client’s budget and my schedule allow me to really take time with a cake and get lost in the details. I also appreciate seeing how happy a pile of sugar can make people. It makes all the stress worthwhile.

BH: With the current TV frenzy over cakes, which show do you like best? Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, Cake Challenge? Any thoughts on why these shows are becoming so popular?

TCC: I like each show for different reasons. Ace of Cakes is just plain fun. The personalities in their shop are so entertaining and their work is outside of the box. Cake Boss shows a little more of the process of creating. So you can learn a little more when watching Buddy’s team. Cake Challenges are suspenseful and they keep you guessing… I really like them all.

I will be honest though and say that sometimes, I’ve had enough cake in my real life and just want to relax and watch something completely unrelated.

BH: How much do the custom cakes generally run?

TCC: I’m really pleased with my pricing. If you have done any research on custom cakes, you know that pricing can start anywhere from $5 a serving for fondant all the way to $15 a serving. Pricing on standard tiered cakes from Truly Custom Cakery, LLC start at $4.50 a serving. Carved/Sculpted cakes are priced based on complexity and serving size but my prices are still much below the norm for a carved cake.

BH: What’s in store for the future of Truly Custom Cakery?

TCC: I’m not sure. Lately it’s been so busy I’ve had to turn away a number of cakes. Once both of my kids are in school full time that may change… maybe I’ll have a shop with a cute little awning and the ability to take more orders. For now, I’m thankful to be a stay at home mom and work on a few cakes a week.

BH: We got to try your amazing Holiday Crunch! How do you make it so delicious?

Along with my cakes I also offer a gourmet candy called “Holiday Crunch”. It is an irresistible combination of pecans, almonds, and popcorn coated with caramel toffee and drizzled with rich dark chocolate. It’s a tender, melt in your mouth treat that never fails to make an impression! I just got new packaging so that it can be sold year round rather than just the holiday season.

Check out Stacey’s blog for tutorials, recipes, details about her cakes, lots of photos, and a better look into her world as a Custom Cake Artist.