Two Charlotteans Team Up to Take the (Pound) Cake

By Melissa Dorsch

March 4 is a day to celebrate the time-honored dessert, pound cake. Have you ever been to a potluck or picnic that hasn’t included pound cake?

Neither have I. It’s incredibly versatile which makes it a favorite in our house. You can add fruit and whipped cream, add fun flavors or eat it plain. It’s as delicious for breakfast as it is as a dessert.

Check out Takes the Cake. It’s the moistest (sorry, I hate the word, too — but sometimes there’s no substitute), most delectable mound of sugar, flour, butter and eggs I’ve ever tasted.

Sometimes Life Requires Cake

Carolee Sinton and Jen Nowak met in 2012 when both had kids attending the same preschool. When Sinton’s husband had to have surgery, Nowak decided to bring them a pound cake made from a family recipe. Sinton asked for the recipe, and six months later, the pals paired up and started selling pound cakes to friends.

Takes the Cake was born out of a friendship … and a love for cake. Sinton said the business was born from a “kind gesture between friends.”

Three years ago, after the urging of friends and die-hard fans, they became an LLC. They took their “hobby with no name” and created a sinfully sweet small business.

Their specialty is the original pound cake which is offered any time of year. They’re also known for specialty pound cakes which pop up throughout the year.

They make a chocolate heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s day, Guinness salted caramel for St. Patrick’s Day (I’ve already placed my order), lemon for the summer and of course, pumpkin for the fall.

So march forth (see what I did there?) and celebrate “National Pound Cake Day” by checking out their Instagram feed. And then consider feeding yourself — or someone special. (They ship.) As Nowak said, “Life is sweet. Celebrate accordingly.”