Cupcakes make me happy! And a great cupcake not only looks beautiful, but tastes just as delicious when you take that very first bite. I recently met Michelle Adams, owner of The Sugar Path at the St. Charles Farmer’s Market and I have been buying cupcakes from her every Friday ever since. I have had to increase my daily workouts due to this obsession with her cupcakes & pies! So it was so fun for me to learn more about her business and the amazing “path” she and her family have taken in baking.
Tell me about yourself and your business? My sister Nina and I started The Sugar Path a year ago after spending many years on the concept for it, as well as developing our recipes. We grew up in a large Italian family and learned early on the meaning of “food is love.” Our Grandmother had us sitting on the counter rolling pie dough before we could even walk, turning the cherries we picked outside with our Grandfather into home-baked goodness. Throughout our childhood, desserts always held a special place in our hearts—-our family always celebrated every holiday, birthday and Sunday dinner together, gathered around a cake which was always followed with a good cup of coffee. We found The Sugar Path and never looked back! At The Sugar Path we craft cupcakes, artisan cakes and pies, as well as cater events and weddings. We use locally sourced products and the finest chocolate to make products that taste as good as they look.
What town is your business located? Where can we find your delicious treats? We are based in Geneva, IL. For the past year we have sold at various local Farmer’s Markets in St. Charles, Winfield, Geneva and LaFox. We take orders and make deliveries to places like Chicago, Sterling/Rock Falls and the suburbs. We are currently building our storefront at 315 W. State Street in Geneva and hope to open in November.
What type of events make up most of your business? Most of our business is either daily orders, orders for parties or wedding catering. We are members of Geneva Bride and have also done wedding parties with Crate & Barrel and Heritage Prairie Farm. Over the course of a year we have participated in many craft shows, girls night out events, and festivals as well. We are on the Chicago Chocolate Tour on the third Wednesday of every month where we pair our mini alcohol infused cupcakes with wine at Galena Wine Cellars in Geneva.
What are some popular Wedding Cupcake flavors? It really depends on the setting of the wedding. We have catered weddings taking place outdoors or on a farm and our bridal couples always want a rustic display at those locations. The Apple Pie cupcake is the top flavor for a rustic wedding, along with Salty Caramel, Honey Lavender and Beer & Pretzels. For an elegant wedding with the reception at a Banquet Hall, the favorite is our Scarlett, which is Red Velvet, as well as our signature cupcake Blackberry Syrah (a Petite Syrah wine and Blackberry infused cupcake).
What is your favorite item to bake? Actually, we are partial to the pie! Our Three Berry Pie, Peach Pie, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Chocovanna (Chocolate, bananas and vanilla pudding). It’s so unfortunate for our waistlines.
I have been dying to try your Chocovanna! Every time I visit you, it is gone!
Any favorite baking shows? We don’t get to watch TV too much but we adore Paula Deen! We also like Chopped, Unique Sweets and Master Chef.
I love Unique Sweets! It is my favorite show on The Cooking Channel!
If you could make only one cupcake flavor what would it be? Black & White. It’s a perfect cupcake with a balance of Chocolate Cake and Vanilla Buttercream. Reminds us of growing up in our grandma’s kitchen when she always had a cake on the counter for us after school.
If you are looking for the most delicious Cupcakes & Pies, please visit Michelle and her team at The Sugar Path throughout the Fox Valley and on her website: www.thesugarpath.com