Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Mabee.
Hi Kelly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sweet Home Cakery began in 2018 as an un-named, unofficial, home-based hobby. I would bake for friends’ birthdays, family parties and taught myself new skills slowly as time allowed. Until we moved from Ohio to Illinois in 2019 and I found myself in need to supplement income but still wanting to be home with my two little daughters, I hadn’t ever thought of it as more than something I loved. After we were settled, and with the help of my ever-supportive husband, we launched SHC and were shocked to find the response so joyful, generous, and plentiful. A few months later, Covid hit, and wouldn’t you believe it- people still wanted cake during a pandemic. I reformatted my menu to suit smaller gatherings and was able to provide for my family while also meeting such kind clients, being a part of their special moments, creating something lovely, and growing into a featured wedding cake baker. SHC has blessed us most notably by contributing to our oldest son’s adoption, giving back to local ministries through event donations, and my personal favorite, giveaways. I love giving stuff away, my husband says it’s amazing that I actually make money at all. We recently moved back to Ohio, or as we call it, “the promised land”. I now have 4 children under 5 years old and, more than ever, am so grateful for this home bakery.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Working from home has its benefits but also some downsides. Maintaining a warm home environment for my family while also a clean, safe workspace can be challenging at times. I work late nights, often until 2 or 3 in the morning and there’s always a distraction with four little ones. Since having my 4-month-old, we’ve worked out a better schedule that allows me to work sustainable hours. Inflation and cost of goods has definitely been a challenge as one of my core values is to remain affordable. The biggest but most important challenge is making sure my family still comes before my job, it can be tempting to chase the next achievement or overestimate how much I can do at once. I want my kids to remember mom working from home as a “fun” thing that they got to grow up with, never something that got in the way of my love for them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Home Baker: I create custom cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, French macarons, and more from scratch. I specialize in crisp, clean designs. Quality flavors and introducing new combinations to my clients is a joy. I’m known for wedding cakes, wearing my babies in a wrap while I decorate, and being a baker that’s allergic to dairy, eggs, and gluten-intolerant. Most of my treats can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan because everyone needs a little sweetness. What sets me apart from others is how much I genuinely make each order personal. By this point, I’ve done thousands, but if you show me a photo, I can tell you something about that client or what flavor it was.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been extroverted, energic, outgoing. People love to find out that my college degree is actually not in culinary arts but in Automotive Science. Pre-baking, I was in the automotive industry and loved it. You could say I did a full 180.
Pricing:
- Smash Cake $30
- 6″ Cake $55
- 8″ Cake $65
- 10″ Cake 75
- Cupcakes begin at $30/dozen
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweethomecakery.com
- Instagram: @sweethomecakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesweethomecakery
Image Credits
Armenteros Weddings
