Toying with Perception: The Marvelous Cakes of Jewel Burgess
Since launching her business Cake Jewel Custom Cakes in 2015, Jewel Burgess has appeared and competed on multiple Warner Bros. Discovery Networks shows, including Food Network’s Halloween Wars, Cakealikes and The Big Bake, among others.
The meal arrives on a black platter. Butter mixed with herbs melts atop the grill-marked surface of a juicy T-bone steak. A savory baked potato with a helping of sour cream sits to the side. And to top it all off, a hefty mug of frothing Budweiser promises to quench one’s thirst.
But cutting into this bountiful meal will yield a surprise. For the steak isn’t medium rare, it’s red velvet cake; and the bubbling beer isn’t liquid at all, but cake of the pumpkin spice variety.
I’m known for people looking and having to think, ‘Is that cake or is it not?’ That’s my whole motivation, capturing that wow factor.Jewel Burgess, owner of Cake Jewel Custom Cakes.
And Burgess’ hyper-realistic cakes are the epitome of wow. From pancake breakfasts and hamburgers to zombie sculptures and cakes that look like hats, Burgess’ baked goods are masterly crafted works that toy with perception. And her talents haven’t gone unnoticed.
Since launching Cake Jewel Custom Cakes in 2015, Burgess has appeared and competed on multiple Warner Bros. Discovery Networks shows, including Food Network’s Halloween Wars, Cakealikes and The Big Bake, among others.
“Cakes have consumed my life, literally,” said Burgess. “The last thing I think about before I go to sleep is, ‘What cake can I make that can wow you?’ Because that’s my whole purpose in this.”
“It’s not just a cake; it’s an experience,” she added.
Burgess didn’t start baking with the intent of becoming a professional. She simply wanted to bake a cake to celebrate her son Benjamin’s first birthday. At the time, Benjamin was obsessed with Mickey Mouse so Burgess decided to bake a two-tier Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cake.
“I never decorated cakes, never made anything from scratch,” said Burgess, who dove headfirst into the culinary art. “When I took the cake to the party, people were like, ‘This is so cute! Where did you get it?’ I was like, ‘I made it!’”
“The next month, someone asked me if I could make their daughter’s first birthday cake,” she added. “That cake request turned into another and another and then all of a sudden, I was posting cakes on Facebook and Instagram, almost every week.”
And thus, a business was born. As Burgess shared her creations online, she continued honing her craft, learning the ins and outs of the Play-Doh-like fondant icing. Every day, she sculpted and baked, and sculpted and baked.
“It was about a year and a half after I started baking and putting everything online, that’s when the Food Network contacted me,” said Burgess, who successfully auditioned for the channel and was placed on a show. She spent 10 days in Los Angeles filming for the baking series. Her team won two of the three episodes in which they appeared.
“I came back, and I started, little by little, specializing in more reality-based cakes,” said Burgess. “I started looking into more specialized techniques and looking at finding a mentor and it just grew from there.”
As Burgess’ business grew, she continued making appearances on Food Network shows. Most recently, she appeared on Food Network Canada’s The Big Bake.
Though her cakes have put her on the national stage, Burgess is through and through a Rancho Cordovian. She’s lived in the city for the last 48 years, moving here when she was two years old, and over the years, she’s watched the city develop and grow, all the while making it a central hub for her life and business.
I love Rancho Cordova. This city has just really expanded. It’s a wonderful place for families and it’s a tight community because if you live here long enough, everyone knows everyone.Jewel Burgess
In addition to creating custom cakes, Burgess also hosts baking classes, teaching her hyper-realistic style to the masses. In a recent class, she and her students created a cake that looks like a short stack of pancakes.
“They did awesome,” said Burgess of the class. “They were so excited and kept sending pictures of their cakes to friends and family.”
One common thread throughout Burgess’ life is that she has the soul of an artisan. Whether it’s baking, crafting jewelry or designing clothes, any mode of expression is an outlet for her.
“I love art,” she added, reflecting on her motivations. “I love to share it; I love to make people smile. I don’t like to do anything boring.”
“Although baking is fun, it’s not my passion; my passion is art and creativity.”
And who says art can’t be delicious too?
Find out more about Jewel Burgess and Cake Jewel Custom Cakes by following @cake_jewel on Instagram or visiting www.cakejewel.com
