Baby Cakes or Bust!

Last weekend my husband, Brian and I flew into LA to help my mother move from Redondo Beach to Phoenix where she is currently living and starting her retirement years. She purchased the Phoenix condo years ago but it was the first time we had ever been to see it.


The night before we flew into L.A. mom went to dinner with a group of friends. She met a lady and in chatting with her, found out she owned Baby Cakes Baking Company in Torrance, CA, about 15 minutes from her place in Redondo Beach. Khryste (correct spelling), the owner, told my mom to bring me by the bakery for a tour. In the 12 hours we planned to be in LA, it was a “must do” part of the trip.

We drove out to the bakery before dinner. My mom went crazy buying a bunch of cupcakes and cookies. I am not sure who she thought was going to eat them but none the less she walked out of there with almost a dozen cupcakes and 3 of each kind of cookie from the case. Khryste was so sweet! She let us into the back room where she and a couple of other gals were packaging cookies for delivery to a local grocery chain. This store sells her packaged and labeled cookies as a specialty item. She explained to us how she got started, her current plans for her business and how much time she puts into it. She loves her job and company and you can really tell. If you ever get out to Torrance it is a cute bakery that you should try to stop at for a sweet treat.

After speaking with her, I got a better sense of direction for where I would like to have my business take off to. I recently taught a lesson at church that comes to mind. The basic concept was Practice Practice Practice! I know I have a lot more to learn and research but I believe some day I will reach my goal to bake and decorate full time.

I did try to get to bakeries in Phoenix but by the time I had a chance to go, they were closed for the day. It appeared all bakeries there are also closed on Sundays and Mondays too. My mom made a list of the ones around the area. She said she planned to email me each month with the list as a reminder to come visit her again. AS IF that would be the only reason to get me down there! Since I couldn’t go to a bakery, I tried making a batch of “Almost sugar cookie” cupcakes with a raspberry buttercream icing while I was down there. It’s a little disorienting to bake in another person’s kitchen but I faired okay. I used the Ziploc bag method from “Hello Cupcake” and it worked out fine. Needless to say, it’s my mom’s birthday this Saturday so she may be getting a brand new hand mixer in the mail to replace the one she has from the early 90’s!!!

We’re back home in Edmonds now. My week will finish up with baking 10 dozen mini cupcakes for an order due Saturday and starting on the Mario game birthday cake due later next week.


Have a sweet week!