“Life is short. Take the trip.

Buy the shoes.

Eat the cake”

Have you ever wondered why cakes are the essential centrepiece for every special occasion? From birthday parties to weddings and special milestone moments, a cake, rich in frosting, creamy layers and sparkling candles, has the ability to elevate the joy and charm of any celebration with its sweet deliciousness. Beyond being a delightful treat, cakes carry emotions, memories and sense of togetherness that transforms ordinary moments into cherished ones.

Welcome to The Bigger Picture; a blog that is all about building NETWORK and CONNECTION. Each month, I feature a woman in small business within my community with the sole purpose of showing support, building solidarity and sharing stories of passion.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible small businesses in the South West run by mums in their spare rooms or out in their gardens and they each have a unique story to be told; a BIGGER PICTURE to be discovered.

In this blog, we’re going for the sweet stuff! In particular, the sweetest centrepiece of all; the cake. A cake can be anything you want it to be, and when it comes to bespoke creations, no two cakes are ever the same. But one thing will always be true; cakes bring people together. From the anticipation of blowing out candles to the delight of cutting into a perfectly crafted masterpiece, the experience of enjoying a slice of cake with loved ones creates cherished memories that endure long after the crumbs have been cleared away.

My feature for March is local dairy farmer, teacher, mum of three, cake baker and designer of cakes extraordinaire, please welcome the very talented…

Mel McDonald

The Sweet Baker

Tell us about your business and what services you offer.

The Sweet Baker is a bespoke special occasion cake maker based in South West Victoria – all made from scratch in my registered home kitchen on my family dairy farm in Bessiebelle. I specialise in wedding and celebration cakes, primarily working in buttercream, to create cakes with form, flair and flavour!

A cake to me, always starts with what is inside – no matter how breathtaking a cake looks, it needs to taste just as amazing. If a client is having trouble thinking of a flavour, I always ask them what dessert option they would never say no to – for instance, if it was lemon meringue pie, I would suggest a Victoria sponge layered with toasty almond meringue, tangy lemon curd and luscious vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream! Flavour choices can take you anywhere – then we get the fun of choosing how it looks!

Is there a story behind the name you chose?

When I first started cake making, it was just as a favour to a friend – but in small towns, word gets around fast, and I found I was making more cakes, and I was able to fit it around my small children and farm life, so I thought it was best to create an actual business. I wanted a name that represented me and what I produced, and conjured up an immediate idea of my products. The Sweet Baker, to me, fit that bill.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Literally everywhere! Cakes are as much fashion as clothes, and my decorating style has changed and refined just like my wardrobe. Pinterest was the absolute go-to to start with – but once Instagram became more mainstream and included hashtags and algorithms, it soon dialled me into what was trending. Also, I was lucky that as I was starting out, home baking was absolutely taking off in the media, so shows like MasterChef and The Great British/Australian Bake Off were showing what amazing things could be done with cakes.

I found very quickly that my preferred medium was buttercream – and there are truly some outstanding cake makers out there who have inspired me to try new styles. Plus, you can absolutely learn anything on YouTube!

Most of all, trial and error have been my greatest inspiration because sometimes you create something by accident and it looks fantastic!

What is your favourite part of your job?

I have a few favourites –

· When I am trying out a new style/technique and it is coming together just as I imagined it and I am doing a happy dance in my kitchen.

· When I have finished a cake and popped it in the fridge for storage and walked away from it for a bit – the moment when I come back and open the door – it gives that ‘first look’ moment – I love that.

· After I have driven so slowly and carefully to a venue with a fully stacked and decorated cake, and I’ve set it up, taken photos, admired the set up (so fun to see all the different venues and decorations that people use!) The moment I peel out of there in the car like I haven’t a care in the world and I don’t have to stress about every pot hole and bump in our delightful country roads.

· When a customer contacts me to say how much they loved their cake, and, more importantly, how delicious it was. That is true joy.

What do you offer your clients that no one else does?

We are quite lucky to have a number of very talented cake makers in our area, so I would never say that I can offer something that no one else does – but, like every cake maker, I have my own style and my own flavour of cakes – so those that know my cakes may come to me for something in my range in particular – but I also have very limited availability, which means each cake that I do make has my full attention, is made fresh, from scratch, and with my own recipes that I have perfected over the years.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt since starting your business?

I’ve always been a ‘bite off more than you can chew then chew like hell’ kind of person, and when I think about the nights when I first started, when I would stay up until 1 or 2am decorating cakes and then trying to function as a mum, I shudder. I wish I had known then what I know now – but we all need to grow in our own way!

My advice would be plan, plan, plan! I now know what I can make in advance, what day I should do each little part to mean that I am never fully overwhelmed the day a cake is due.

Make sure you have the right equipment. I started with such a basic set up – which worked, but slowed me down – once I invested in a few key pieces, a larger stand mixer, a couple of good decorating turn tables, quality food colouring and decorations, I never looked back. Also, watch out for gimmicky items that promise the world – they rarely live up to the hype!

Education is always worth it – investing in yourself is key. Even if it is just taking the time to do your own research and development.

And as much as it is a cliché – believe in yourself! Confidence is catching.

I loved my morning with Mel! We drank cups of coffee, we talked non-stop and I watched, in awe, as she transformed a basic cake into a beautiful work of art. Sitting in her kitchen, it made me realise that at its core, baking cakes is an expression of love. In the tapestry of life’s special moments, the humble celebration cake is a steadfast symbol of love, joy and togetherness.

So, whether you’re celebrating a major life event, you’re stuck for a present for someone who has everything, or you simply want to brighten someone’s day, a cake is always the right answer!

Edwina xx

If you have a celebration coming up that needs a special cake, jump onto the socials and look what The Sweet Baker has to offer. For all FAQs, news, and information, give Mel a follow (and your support) on her social media pages…

Instagram: @thesweetbakermel