Vendor Spotlight | Crumb & Kettle
We are constantly amazed by the talented vendors we get to work with on a weekly basis. One of these exceptional vendors is Heather with Crumb & Kettle. An Oak Cliff local with a passion that took her side gig to a full time career. We were able to talk with Heather about how Crumb & Kettle came to be, the ins and outs of the wedding cake business, and her favorite aspects along the way. Enjoy!
From Heather:
After a year or so working in my field right out of college, I felt stifled and I knew I needed to be using my hands in a more creative setting. I'd always enjoyed baking and dabbled in cakes and decorated cookies here & there, so I decided to pursue that passion and dove right in. I found a short term, intensive baking + cake decorating program in Toronto and flew my 22 year old self there to live in a foreign city and learn all things cake. I jumped right into the wedding cake industry when I returned to Dallas, and baked from home for 6 years. In 2018, that little home-based wedding cake business grew into a storefront here in Oak Cliff called Crumb & Kettle. I'm still learning and growing every single day, and while this industry is not without stress, it's also incredibly rewarding.
For cake designs, I'm inspired by the couple we're baking for- their vibe, their story. Textures always play a huge role in our designs- I love for cakes to look and feel layered- not too stuffy, and a bit artistic. Refined, yet whimsical.
I have loved baking cakes for so many Cliff House couples- our cakes seem right at home in the space, and the team is always incredibly welcoming and hospitable. I sent my husband to one of the open house events last year as I wasn't able to attend, and he had the best time chatting with everyone- the Cliff House truly attracts the most down to earth, lovely couples & we're always thrilled to work with them.
I think two things make us unique. 1) Our baking & buttercream style. My approach is a bit different than most southern bakeries- primarily because of where I was trained. Our cakes are more European in style. With butter being a staple around here, you'll find that the cakes take on all-natural flavors from fruits and chocolates very well. They're moist, a bit dense, less sweet than the American stuff, and paired with meringue-based buttercreams. 2) Our designs. I've worked really hard to maintain a standard of elevated, yet approachable designs. Our cakes have great, reliable structure with clean lines and level tiers, but we always take that blank canvas and make it something special- with texture, color, gold leaf or drips, fresh blooms.
What I love most about this job definitely changes year to year. Right now, I would say I love seeing everyone's hard work come together on wedding day- the venue, flowers, caterers, rentals, etc... It still wows me after all these years, and I love playing a small role in that final outcome.
In our freetime, I love taking our dog on hikes, spending time with family, reading, and working on home renovation projects- we have a little 1922 cottage here in Oak Cliff. :)
Here at the Cliff House, we adore being the backdrop for Heather’s cakes. We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to hear the intentionality and passion behind her business. If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and check out her work. Thank you, Heather, for taking the time to share with us!
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