Cassandra Cake Co.
When I saw Cassandra’s Curtis’ cakes and creations on Instagram, I immediately had to find out who this other Cassandra was. Cassandra’s are a rare bunch, it’s not like having a name like Karen or Wendy, where you’re bound to have another in your school class or at work, we aren’t really that common. In Greek Mythology Apollo the Sun God gave Cassandra the power to foresee the future in the hope that she’d return his love, but when she didn’t, he cursed her to never be believed, or, in other stories, that she could only foresee the negative. In fact, there’s even a saying, “Don’t be such a Cassandra”, meaning don’t be so negative. How’s that for a birth name? As it turned out, I’m often believed, and I’ve managed to live a decent life despite my name.
In any case, enough about me, let’s move on to focus on the other Cassandra, Cassandra Curtis from Cassandra Cake Co. This Cassandra has been making custom cakes and baking since she was 11 years old when she landed a job at the local bakery. She started volunteering there after my mom had had enough of me baking at home! Originally only part time (child labour laws and all) but after five years Curtis eventually became their lead cake artist. She continued making cakes at home in middle school, and before I knew it had her own little side hustle going on – Cassie Cakes was born!
After she left that first bakery, she worked at a gluten free bakery as their cake artist until she found a bakery where she could focus solely on her main passion, crafting cakes. At only seventeen she discovered a bakery soon opening in Coquitlam that was looking for a team. On October of 2014 they opened Cakes and Sweets and I before long Curtis was both the cake artist and manager.
After five years, her had work resulted in the bakery growing from a small seed to the blossoming business it is today. Once the pandemic hit, they were forced to temporarily close and Curtis took the opportunity to work from home, immediately becoming overwhelmed with orders. Cassandra Cake Co. now offers custom baking, everything from small treats to large specialty cakes, and her customers couldn’t be happier.
We took the time to fire a few questions at Cassandra, and learn a little bit more about baking.
What are your favorite techniques you use daily as a baker?
I always use a double boiler. It’s the absolute best way to make sure nothing ever burns. I use this method to make my buttercream
What are you favourite tools?
An Exacto knife and my kitchen aid stand mixer-I genuinely would not make it through the day without those two items!
Do you have brands of flour or sugar that you work with and recommend?
Good ole Costco. They sell Rogers sugar and flour, and it doesn’t get much better than that!
Can you give us an easy at home recipe you love?
Clotted cream-perfect for homemade scones.
Take cream cheese and whip it until fluffy and slowly pour in an equal amount of heavy cream and whip until smooth and spreadable. Add about 1 tbps of sugar per cup of cream cheese for added sweetness.
Three baking tips we cannot live without.
Pull your cakes out right before you think they are done-they’ll finish baking out of the oven.
Use a hand mixer or stand mixer- save your arms!
If you want the absolute best cookies -brown your butter, you’ll thank me later.
Who would you love to bake for?
The Queen!
Favourite thing to bake?
Brownies, because they my favourite thing to eat!
Where do you eat when you go out?
Jimmy’s lunch box in Port Coquitlam-yum
What bakers do you admire most?
Duff Goldman, And Sylvia Weinstock
What baking cookbook do you recommend for beginners and one for advanced (either or, or both!)
Good housekeeping and Taste Of homes complete guide to baking- can’t go wrong and it’s Great for beginners. For the advanced, try Bravetart -some wicked recipes in there.
