About Me

Hi, I’m Ashley — founder and cake designer behind Sugar Beats Bake Shop.

I started Sugar Beats in 2010 with a simple goal: to create beautiful, custom cakes that tasted as good as they looked. I had attended too many celebrations where the frosting was overly sweet and the colors stained your teeth. I knew cake could be better — and more intentional.
 

I am primarily self-taught (with the exception of a Wilton cake decorating course at Johnson County Community College in 2003), and my background is in graphic design. I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Kansas and spent 15 years designing greeting cards for Hallmark.
 

Designing for Hallmark taught me to value life’s most meaningful celebrations — to create pieces that feel personal, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant. While working in a digital world every day, I found myself increasingly drawn to the tactile art of baking and cake design — experimenting in my kitchen with a medium that is soft, delicious, and delightfully unpredictable.
 

Cake design blends everything I love about art. Sometimes it feels like sculpting — shaping fondant into detailed figures. Other times it feels like painting — using edible color to bring a vision to life. It’s design you can experience, share, and savor. It’s temporary, which makes it feel a little magical.
 

I’ve been honored to receive The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” award for eight consecutive years and to be ranked among the top cake designers in Kansas City. In July 2022, I moved into my storefront in Windmill Square, where I now host in-person wedding cake tastings and consultations.
 

My clients are fiercely loyal, and I pour that same dedication into every cake I create. If you’re ready to begin designing something beautiful and delicious for your celebration, I would love to hear from you.