Meet Marie Hillman of Sweet Darling Cakery in Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Hillman.

Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At the age of 12, I started baking as a little side hobby. Ten years later and I’ve turned a hobby into my dream career! Growing up, I started baking cakes because it was a fun way to express my creative side. It also challenged me to have patience…lots and lots of patience. I then started making birthday cakes and other themed holiday cakes for friends and family. Word got out and people I barely knew were inquiring about my cakes. I never really thought of food or baking as a career choice until my oldest sister put the idea of culinary school into my head. The first step was to get my bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Grand Canyon University.

Before I graduated, I decided to finally take the jump and create my own cake business. Though I didn’t know much, I knew I had to start an Instagram page. I named it ‘Sweet Darling Cakery’. Two years later, I enrolled at The Institute of Culinary Education and started classes in January of 2020. I am currently halfway through my culinary program (COVID pushed everyone back a bit) but am set to graduate this December. When I started this journey back in January, I quickly realized that this was what I was called to do. Not just to create a meal or bake a cake, but to serve others. To create something that brings people together.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a business from the ground up is never a smooth process for anyone. There can be challenges that arise after every problem that gets solved. For me, the most challenging thing in my business has been time. I have been a student ever since I started my business which means that my priorities have been towards school first and then my business second. That has pushed my business growth back a lot in the past two years. Fortunately, I know that getting my degree in business management has only helped me excel. The same goes for attending culinary school. I know that all of my studies have only been beneficial for me and my business and will help me succeed in the future.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sweet Darling Cakery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Sweet Darling Cakery specializes in vegan desserts! Especially vegan cakes. Being vegan myself for 3 and 1/2 years, I knew so many others had the same problems that I did: finding a celebration cake that’s also allergen friend. My mission is what I am most proud of as a business. Serving others who normally can’t have sweets like this is really what makes my business stand out and what makes it run. I want Sweet Darling to be apart of people’s celebrations, to create something not only for them to remember but to look back and smile on it.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
If there’s one thing that’s for sure is that I am always thinking about my business and how I can change it for the better. I am always writing down new goals, whether they are small ones or ones that even might seem unobtainable! I am so excited for Sweet Darling this upcoming year. One thing that I can give away is that I am working on an updated logo for my business. As time changes so does my business and I want to make sure that I represent it in the best way possible. Another exciting change is that I am working on a website! I can wait to finally have a place for my clients to go to see all my work, hear a little bit about me and Sweet Darling, and somewhere that makes the process of placing an order that much easier.

Contact Info:

• Email: sweetdarlingcakery@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetdarlingcakery/

Image Credit:
Kelsey Whirledge (Dimas): @kdimasphotos

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