After that, we work on the design. For some brides, they know exactly what they want. For others, they might have a color to start from or a general style (think rustic or modern). We like to get to know our couples and help guide them into a cake that’s going to compliment their event. For some, that might be a whimsical stack of colorful cupcakes, for others it could be a fondant tiered cake boasting a multitude of shapes and bold colors. Or it could be a simple buttercream beauty adorned with a fresh flower.
When it comes to payment, we typically require a 50% deposit at the time of contract, the remaining balance is due about three weeks out from the wedding. At that point we will go over all of the details again and you don’t have to think about cake again until you’re feeding it to your new groom!
When you’re ready to talk cake, we’re here, just give us a call!

When: Saturday, January 12, 2013. 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Where: Sweet Love (of course!)

What: A combination fund raiser/ celebration

Who: Anyone is welcome, but we ask that you RSVP to the event via Facebook

Why: Sweet Love is 1 year old, baby!

If you’re interested in attending, RSVP here, we need to have a fairly accurate headcount for food. There will be tons of sweets, champagne, cider and other finger foods available, including items from our friends at Tazikis!

Since this is a ‘pink carpet event,’ we ask that you dress accordingly. Many of us will be in formal attire (suits or at least jackets for men) and dresses for women. There will be a contest for the best dressed, so feel free to have fun!

Like any other birthday party, guests are expected to bring gifts, but not for us! We would love it if you brought an item to donate to The Van, including a gently used coat or blanket, a new package of socks or a monetary donation of some sort.

We do have some pretty awesome swag bags available on a first come, first served basis. There are items from several of our neighbors like Studio 2121 and Hollywood Feed! You definitely want to get your hands on one of these.

We’ve had a great first year and we are thankful for all of our friends and customers (many of whom are now friends!) who have helped make this year so great. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!

Then we invite you to join us at Bubbas in the Rivermarket for the after party where we will listen to Brown Soul Shoes. (starts at 9 p.m.)

We’ve had a great first year and we are thankful for all of our friends and customers (many of whom are now friends!) who have helped make this year so great. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!

In order to accommodate our clients, we will be open Christmas Eve, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will only be open for pre-order pick ups, we will not have items available for purchase. If you would like to preorder any items, please do so before Wednesday, December 19th.

For your holiday needs, we will be offering assorted platters!

These platters will include an assortment of the following based on what has been baked fresh on the day you order it:

• 25% drop cookies (chocolate chip, monster, peanut butter, lemon pillows, chocolate peppermint, mini sugar cookie sandwiches and tiramisu)
• 20% bars/brownies (fudgie, triple threat brownie, peppermint brownie, cheesecake brownie, yum bar, ninja turtle cookie cup, blondies, coconut almond)
• 25% cake truffles (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry dipped in chocolate or spiced rum, gingerbread or vanilla dipped in white chocolate)
• 30% candies (divinity, salted caramels, meringues, fudge bites)

Sizes:

Small: (feeds 5-10, includes 20 pieces)

In pastry box: $18.00

On platter wrapped with box: $23.00

Medium: (feeds 10-15 includes 30 pieces)

In pastry box: $29.50

On platter wrapped with bow: $34.00

Large: (feeds 15-20 includes 45 pieces)

In pastry box: $48.50

On platter wrapped with bow: $54.00

X-Large: (feeds 25-30, includes 65 pieces)

In pastry box: $67.00

On platter wrapped with bow: $71.00

Call 613-7780 to pre-order yours today!

Let me give you some background. before the bakery, I worked in advertising. I was a writer. My job was to be the voice for many businesses. So I like to think I’m good at ‘pretending’ to be more than I am. And based on general feedback, I’m probably right. I like to throw out ‘we’ and ‘us,’ but really those words are ‘me’ and ‘I’.

Currently, my staff consists of myself and a baker who helps twice a week. My husband comes in occasionally to clean up. Starting next year, his services will not be available to the bakery any longer.

I’ve tried multiple times to bring people on. People to help bake. People to help decorate. People to help run the front of the shop. All of those attempts failed miserably. I don’t know if my recipes are too complicated, if my standards are just too high or if there are some other unseen factors at play. Regardless, I feel that the way this bakery will be most successful is if I do everything myself. Quality control at its finest.

So with these things in mind, starting next year, we will go back to being closed on Mondays. I really enjoyed having so many people request that we be open, I love that you guys want to come here! But ultimately, if I am to continue producing the same level of quality, I’m going to need some time away, even if it is to run errands for the bakery.

Can you believe that it’s been almost an entire year? I really can’t either. But I’m excited to see what the second year of Sweet Love brings for myself and for Little Rock!

Best,

Kelli Marks

Oh, and love and thankfulness.

But also food.

Sweet Love is ready to help make your Thanksgiving sweeter and a little bit easier with our ready to serve desserts. While we will make an effort to have several of each of these available, it is best to preorder your Thanksgiving dessert to ensure that we have one waiting for you! Simply call 501.613.7780 to place your order.

We will be offering the following for Thanksgiving:

• Cranberry Pecan Bundt cake ($30.00)

A lightly cinnamon cake sprinkled

with fresh cranberries and pecans.

Topped with either a dusting of powdered sugar

or an almond glaze.

• Caramel Apple Pie ($15.00)

A 9″ double crust pie filled with a combination

of granny smith and honey crisp apples,

walnuts and a caramel sauce.

• Pumpkin Pie ($15.00)

A single crust filled with a traditional pumpkin custard.

• Pumpkin Latte Cake ($35.00)

A stack of three pumpkin and coffee flavored cakes with just a hint of chocolate, topped with a light whipped frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. Perfect for that evening coffee.

• Slab ‘o Yum Bars ($30.00)

For fans of the yum bar, this one is a no brainer. This decadent dessert starts with a thick pecan crust, topped with more pecans, pretzels, a layer of house-made salted caramel, and finished with a drizzle of chocolate. Fills a 9×13 pan, sold uncut.

• Pumpkin Cheesecake bar slab ($35.00)

A pumpkin infused cheesecake rests atop a crushed pecan crust, the entire thing is drizzled with caramel sauce and more pecans. These bars are denser than a traditional cheesecake and can be eaten by hand. Fills a 9×13 pan, sold uncut.

• Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart ($30.00)

A tender chocolate crust filled with a layer of sinful salted caramel then topped with a dark chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of vanilla fleur de sal. This elegant dessert is as sophisticated as it is delicious.

• Ninja Turtle Tart ($30.00)

Another house favorite make it’s way from the mini to the full size. This 9″ tart starts with a brown butter chocolate chip and pecan base, topped with salted caramel and ganache and sprinkled with crushed pecans.

• Cheesecakes- Variety ($40.00)

Our cheesecakes are rich and come in a variety of flavors, including vanilla bean with lemon curd, chocolate goat cheese, turtle, s’mores and chocolate-peanut butter.

They are the perfect treat for a birthday, baby or bridal shower, or just an everyday pick me up.

But my favorite part is decorating them.  Simple circles or squares become faces or gift boxes. I could write a dissertation on cookie cutters. But sometimes, that perfect cutter might not exist, so I freehand a design for what I need.

Next comes the frosting. Thick enough to hold a beautiful design, but soft enough to bite into. From there, layers of edible glitter, sugar crystals or googly eyes take the cookies to a new dimension. And, if needed, you can always draw on them with an edible pen.

Sugar cookies are the prefect way to top off a party and really take a theme one step further. They also make wonderful party favors or birthday gift for any friend with a sweet tooth. Cookies are available in the case with seasonally appropriate designs or you can have some custom created for you by the dozen.

Kelli

Personally, I’ve been involved with an event called Craws for a Cause. It’s an event near and dear to my heart that was started by my best friends to help benefit the NICU at Baptist. Their baby was born at 24 weeks and only weighed 1.5 lbs. Earlier this year, I was a committee chairperson for the event. Next year, Sweet Love will be a sponsor for the event.

Through those friends, I was invited to participate in the Signature Chef’s Event and Auction to benefit the March of Dimes. I’m really excited about the opportunity. I will be serving three desserts as well as auctioning off a dessert table package.

The table serves 25 (really, I’m sure it serves more) but it will include the following:

(1) 1 cake (flavor and decoration of your choosing) to feed 25.

(2) Twenty five iced sugar cookies to match the theme of the event.

(3) Twenty five ‘cake pops’ in coordinating colors and decorations.

(4) Twenty five servings of a ‘bar’ dessert (your choice of brownie, blondie, yum bar or lemon bar).
(5) Choice of twenty five additional individual desserts of your choosing (items available would include decorated rice krispy treats, chocolate dipped brownies, cookie dough truffles, mini pies or individual cheesecakes).

(6) 1.5 gallons of strawberry lemonade.

That night, I will be serving the following:

1. Chocolate Raspberry Decadence- A chocolate cake soaked in raspberry syrup covered in chocolate ganache.

2. Hint of Lemon Cheesecake- A vanilla bean cheesecake with a layer of lemon curd and a light, sweet icing.

3. Spiced Rum Cake- A rum infused spice cake topped with a cream cheese frosting and decorated with a rum caramel sauce.

I hope you get a chance to come out and visit us at this event. It’s a wonderful cause, a chance to bid on some fab auction items as well as an opportunity to sample some treats before Sweet Love opens.

Kelli

I’ve canned my strawberries during the summer when they are their sweetest, so that you can have a flavorful, delicious strawberry cake even on a dreary December day.
The only times I don’t use local products is when it’s better to have it imported. Items like vanilla, chocolate and specialty coffee are purchased from places that are known to have the best.
My ultimate goal is to produce high quality treats that bring a smile to your face.

Kelli