Cake Interview With Candy Queen Bee Baker

10 Uniquie Cake Ideas with Candy Queen Bee Baker

Welcome to Cake Decorator Spotlight Series!

Hi everyone! I am pleased to be featuring Candy Low, Candy Queen Bee Baker for the November’s cake decorator spotlight. Candy is an AMAZING & versatile cake & treat decorator with years of sweet confectionery experience and use various techniques for her creations. She’s the jack of all trades in the confectionery field! Read on to get to know a little bit more about her.

Interview with Candy Queen Bee Baker

It was a pleasure sitting down with Candy to ask some questions and get to know her a bit better.

Check out with Candy had to say in our interview:

How did you get started with making cakes?

From when I was a little girl, I can remember celebrating special occasions with a homemade cake, skillfully crafted by one of my relatives. I give major credit to my great grandmother, the one who raised me as a child. She was always cooking and baking for everyone. My aunt was a close second in inspiring my passion for baking. As I grew older, I also started creating handmade cakes and treats for my friends and relatives. During my school years, I took home economics, and my teacher would organize cake competitions that I enthusiastically entered and eventually won. All these experiences and influences led me to embark on my cake-making journey.

What made you decide that this is your career?

In my younger adult life, I lost my passion for baking due to becoming a teen mom, living in a survival state, and lacking direction in a dysfunctional family. When I grew tired of merely scraping by, I decided to rekindle my love for baking and transform it into a hobby and potential business. Out of a sense of desperation and the need to generate more income, I started creating cakes as a side hustle.

Where do you find your inspiration from?

I usually find inspiration from many places; there isn’t just one source for my inspirations. My children have always been involved in creating their birthday cakes, so I ask them to draw out their ideas, and I bring them to life with a bit of my touch. I love art and sculpting, so watching and viewing artists’ work can fill me with ideas on how to approach something in a unique way, which I might not have considered otherwise. I also enjoy “failing” or problem-solving. Over the years, I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself (which can be challenging as an artist) and to simply enjoy the process of creating. Nothing is perfect, and it doesn’t have to be.

What are your go-to tools when designing a cake?

Honestly, just keeping it simple. Some people underestimate how a clean tool made right can improve the way you create. Here are a few tools I love and cannot live without: Ester cake combs, a must-have for any baker perfecting their buttercream coats. Metal spatulas in three sizes: small, medium, and large. A good rubber spatula (different sizes). Cake leveler – even the $3 ones work great. Sturdy cake boards and drums. My Ateco metal cake spinner. All basic tools that really make a big difference.

Is there a baking/cake decorating technique that you would like to try soon?

As soon as I see someone bring out a new technique, I save it for later in hopes of having time to try it. I’m sure I am not alone in this. I only want to try something new if it’s truly innovative. As one of the OG bakers in the social media industry, I’ve seen so many new tutorials that are just adaptations or the same as older ones. So, as of now, I don’t have a new technique I would like to try. However, if I do come across one, I tag the person on my socials and put it to the test!

What are your favorite cake trends?

Currently, my favorite cake trends are vintage cakes and doll dresses. When my daughter has a themed party, I love to incorporate the character into a doll dress cake; it’s her current obsession!

Do you have a memorable cake that challenged you?

Absolutely, I have quite a few memorable challenges. One that stands out is a 3D ganache-sculpted Poppy trolls cake I created for my daughter’s birthday. Another was a Deadpool bust, a 3D sculpted cake for my son, and a 3D sculpted Sin Cara wrestler cake for my middle son.

What are your challenges with wearing different hats in your business?

This is an excellent question because it’s something I’ve discussed for years, not only in the baking industry but as a human being. As a mother with children, we often feel the pressure of being enough in all roles. I’ve asked myself, “Am I a good mother? Am I a good friend? Am I a good baker/cake artist? Am I a good wife?” The list goes on. Managing various roles within the business can be challenging. Juggling responsibilities across different areas like marketing, finance, and operations requires effective time management and versatility. It’s important to ensure that each aspect of the business receives the attention it deserves, which can sometimes be demanding. I’ve found that sitting down and creating a schedule, along with my family’s input, has been tremendously helpful. What works for one person may not work for me, so tailoring my own family schedule and sticking to it over the years has significantly reduced stress in both my career and life.

It’s important to ensure that each aspect of the business receives the attention it deserves, which can sometimes be demanding. I’ve found that sitting down and creating a schedule, along with my family’s input, has been tremendously helpful.

Candy Low

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a content creator while owning a cake business?

Do it!! I started when MySpace came out and then transitioned into Facebook and Instagram when those platforms emerged (OMG, just typing that makes me feel OLD). It’s been a roller coaster journey, but I wouldn’t change it. I have been given so many opportunities just by showcasing my work and being myself. I’ve evolved as a person, businesswoman, and artist. My biggest fear when starting out was being judged by others because of my upbringing and how I was programmed to think about myself. Once I overcame most of my traumas through therapy, my career took off. I would tell anyone thinking about or on the fence about doing what I do, DO IT!!

What is your favorite buttercream to work with?

American buttercream is my go-to. I also like mock Swiss meringue. It really depends on the recipe and type of cake I am making, but as far as my go-to, it’s American buttercream.

What is your favorite dessert?

My husband and I have a funny joke about me and desserts because, as a baker, I hear a lot of people say that because I’m around cake a lot or work with cake, I would be tired of it. But it’s the opposite. I will try any dessert once because I won’t know if I like it if I don’t try it. I love trying desserts from different cultures. But if I had to pick a number one, it would be a tres leches cake, but it has to be soaked and have a decent amount of whipped cream.