Cake Interview With Suzie’s Q Bakery
Welcome to the Baker & Cake Decorator Interviews Series!
Hi sweet friends! I am pleased to feature Suzzanne with Suzie Q’s Bakery, a Southern California-based bakery serving Corona and the OC area. Suzzanne specializes in a variety of homemade, custom cakes, cookies, pastries, and more, using fresh ingredients 100% from scratch and with a lot of love. Read my cake interview with Suzie’s Q Bakery on how Suzzanne got her start in the cake decorating world and owning her business!
Baker Interview with Suzie Q’s Bakery
This interview has been edited for clarity and length, preserving original responses.
Check out what Suzzanne had to say in our interview:
Can you share a bit about yourself?
Hey there! My name is Suzzanne Rubio, and I am the owner of Suzie Q’s Bakery. I have a home-based bakery in sunny southern California. I’ve been doing this full-time for about seven years now, and I love it!
How did you get started with cake decorating?
I started going to culinary school in 2013, and that’s when I started baking cakes and treats for my friends and family. More and more frequently, I started doing orders on the side, mostly for practice, and after college, friends encouraged me to start sharing my work on social media. I was working a full-time kitchen job, but I always kept my side business going. Word of mouth started spreading, and I made the decision to quit my kitchen job and turn my side business into a full-time, permanent venture. Suzie Q’s Bakery has been growing ever since.
What is your favorite & least favorite process of baking/cake decorating?
By far, my favorite process is the decorating process. Once everything is prepped, I can start the decorating details, which are just so fun. I think my least favorite thing is the actual baking part. The mixing, the measuring, the oven. If you mess up on anything, you may have to start completely over, and that is never fun.
What are your must-have cake tools?
A cake turntable and a spatula are my must-have tools. I feel like I can get by if I don’t have other supplies, but if I don’t have a turntable or a spatula to smooth out my buttercream, I would not be able to make a solid base to decorate on.
What is your favorite buttercream to work with?
Italian buttercream, hands down, is my go-to for all my cakes. It’s so light and silky, which makes it very easy to work with. It’s not overly sweet, which is one of my clients’ biggest pieces of feedback, and it holds up well in warmer temperatures.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspiration from a lot of different places. Social media is a big one, but I find myself seeing things randomly in my everyday life that I can apply to cakes. Examples: textures, color combos, different shapes. Especially during the holiday seasons, I will see a cute decoration and think about how I can apply that design and vibe to a cake!
Is there a cake decorating or baking technique you want to try soon?
Burnaway cakes are something that has become popular. I haven’t tried to make one yet, but it seems like a fun design to make.
Do you have a memorable cake that challenged you?
I always hold a special place in my heart for the first time I made a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. I felt so happy to be a part of something that is, unfortunately, still a hot-button issue. They were one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever worked with, and were so grateful towards me as they were turned away from a previous bakery. It broke my heart that they had to go through that, but I was so grateful at the same time, as it led them to me, and I was able to give them a much better experience. It was also a challenge for me as they wanted the largest wedding cake I had ever made at that point. I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone to make a cake that size, and I wanted to make it extra special given their circumstances.
What are your challenges with running a business?
For me, one of the most challenging aspects would be the mental aspect. Owning a business will always come with extra stress, but I also struggled with setting boundaries, imposter-syndrome, fear of failure, perfectionism and really every mental mindgame my anxiety could come up with. In the beginning I was over-booking myself in fear I’d be a failure if I said no, and at the same time severely under-charging myself because I thought I was not good enough to charge my worth. Recognizing and overcoming these issues are challenging, but essential in order to have a successful profitable business.
Recognizing and overcoming issues are challenging, but essential in order to have a successful, profitable business.
suzie’s q bakery
What is the most significant accomplishment to date in your baking career?
There are so many really. Starting from scratch, any small thing seems like an accomplishment. Not burning a cake, or even remembering to buy flour. However, I think the thing I am most proud of is having regular clients. I create a product for someone, and they enjoy it so much that they return. I have had some clients for over 10 years, and it’s humbling that they continue to come back to me for various events in their lives. To watch all the milestones for my regulars is truly amazing and makes me feel like I have accomplished something special.
What is your favorite dessert?
I have the worst sweet tooth; it’s so bad. One dessert I will never ever get sick of is boysenberry pie. No matter what time of day, year, or meal, I am always on board for a boysenberry pie.
My Favorite Creations
Winnie The Pooh Birthday Cake
Such an adorable Winnie The Pooh birthday cake for a birthday girl!
Winnie The Pooh Cookies
What a gorgeous Winnie The Pooh cookie set for a baby shower. For some baby shower inspiration, click here.
Golden Girls Cookies
This is a fantastic rendition of The Golden Girls, but in edible art!
Semi Naked Wedding Cake
There’s nothing like a gorgeous, simple, semi-naked wedding cake adorned with some fresh florals. For some semi-naked inspo, click here.
Blush Wedding Cake
A beautiful wedding cake with some fresh flowers and gold! Perfect for summer and spring weddings.
Louis Vuitton Cake
This could easily pass as a genuine LV purse, with her meticulously crafted design and attention to detail that mirror the high standards set by the renowned brand.
Black Berry Drip Cake
I love this berry theme with the black drip and black buttercream! Here’s a guide to a long drip tutorial.
Children’s Books Cake
This is an excellent, sculpted children’s book for a children’s classic book lover!
Peanuts Snoopy Cookies
Oh, good grief! SO CUTE.
Halloween Cookies
This is perfect for a Halloween Birthday party!
More about Suzie’s Q Bakery
Baker & Business Owner. of Suzie’s Q Bakery