CRAPAUD - There's no need to flick on TLC to check out Buddy's elaborate latest cake creation. Prince Edward Island has its very own "Cake Boss."
Cheryl Newcombe runs Cher A Little Cake, a hobby business creating specialized custom cakes from her home in Crapaud.
She was inspired to get in the mix by the current cake craze caused by shows like "Cake Boss" and "Ultimate Cake Off" and by fond childhood memories.
"Those shows are why cakes are so popular right now," said Newcombe, a dedicated viewer of both shows. "When I was a little girl I always helped my mom make cakes. No one really bought cakes back then."
When her own daughter was born seven years ago Newcombe followed in her mother's footsteps. She began by making cakes for family and now gets orders from across P.E.I.
Newcombe's creations are not your ordinary slab or layer cake.
"Everyone has a similar reaction. They all say my cakes are above and beyond anything they could ever imagined."
She's made cakes to look like a sneaker, purse and stereo, just to name a few.
"The most fun cake I've ever made would have to be the M&M cake I made for my sister's 30th birthday," said Newcombe. "I got the idea when we visited the M&M store in New York City."
She's always had a creative finesse, whether it was for jewellery making, tole painting or cross-stitching. It's no different when it comes to cake.
"If someone showed me a cake I can play around and figure out how to create it," said Newcombe. "I really enjoy starting something out of nothing and creating something everyone can see and eat and enjoy."
Her specific detail and vibrant colour make it easy to mistake the edible creation as a real object. Besides support materials, such as wires and wooden skewers, Newcombe tries to make as much of the cake as edible as possible.
She begins with two base flavours - vanilla and chocolate - and adds ingredients to come up with mouthwatering flavours such as pina coloda, smore and Oreo mint.
So, what's been her biggest, most expensive and most time-consuming cake?
"I made a replica of the Sobeys store for their fall harvest promotion last fall," said Newcombe. "It took me about 27 batches of cake, 30 batches of icing and 96 hours."
She donated that cake and several others to support events such as Tim Horton's Camp Day and Crapaud's P.E.I. Olympic Skate.
But it's moments like when she sees a child's face light after seeing a cake made especially for them that take the cake for Newcombe.
"I love the ones where I can be creative. I am definitely willing to try anything."
Newcombe's creations and ordering information can be found on her website at www.cheralittlecake.com.
Crapaud woman's cakes causing a buzz and mouths to water
Newcombe flips through a photo album she keeps of cakes she has made. She has made about 200 different cakes, mostly in the past year. Photos by Amber Nicholson/Journal Pioneer
- Published on April 6, 2010
- Published on June 20, 2010
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Amber Nicholson
CRAPAUD - There's no need to flick on TLC to check out Buddy's elaborate latest cake creation. Prince Edward Island has its very own "Cake Boss."
Cheryl Newcombe runs Cher A Little Cake, a hobby business creating specialized custom cakes from her home in Crapaud.
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Comments
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- David
- - March 8, 2011 at 07:32:13
Congratulations Cheryl. I wish you all the best and hope to see you as a big business tycoon. Thank You _________________________ David < a href="http://www.noosachocolate.com.au">chocolates
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- mary
- - June 21, 2010 at 19:08:20
Cheryl's cakes are awesome i had two of now one was a ge for judo and the other was a poker table it was an on real job she did way to go cheryl keep up the awesome work
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- Rayna
- - June 21, 2010 at 19:06:53
Congrats Cheryl!! You have a very impressive talent here and hope the business keeps booming for you.
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- Karen
- - June 21, 2010 at 19:05:54
I've seen the replica of the Sobeys store that Cheryl made! This woman has got great talent! Looking forward to seeing more of your cakes!!
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- Jill
- - June 21, 2010 at 19:04:02
Cheryl's cakes are THE BEST! She is a very talented lady & her service is top notch! Way to go Cheryl!
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- tammy
- - June 21, 2010 at 19:03:50
Cher's cake are the best, she even does gluten free! I don't even wait for special occassions anymore....I order them now, just because. Good luck Cher......your the reason I keep have to keep going to the gym 3 times/week!
