Juggling the age old dilemma of trying to create an income whilst taking care of a newborn, former Primary school teacher and avid baker Gina Nitschke decided to turn her love of baking into a thriving local business. After having only baked and decorated cakes for family and friends, Gina decided to take the plunge into full time cake making and decorating as a business venture in 2007, establishing Cups ‘n Cakes, and becoming one of many regular stall holders at the local Barossa Farmer’s Market as well as taking orders over the phone and via her internet site.

     "The idea started to form in my mind whilst doing my regular weekend shop at the Farmer’s Market” says Gina. "I saw how passionate all of the stall holders were and I couldn’t help but think how great it would be to be that passionate about something that you have created. It got me to thinking that the one thing I really loved doing was baking and decorating cakes, so I decided then and there to try to make a business out of what I loved doing, and the rest is history!”

    However, the Barossa Farmer’s Market is all about the highest quality products and the best of in season produce. Therefore, the usual run of the mill cake recipe just wasn’t going to cut it. So Gina devoted the next six months to carefully developing and constantly improving her own very secret recipe. The cakes were to be baked from scratch, had to taste wonderful, and needed to stay fresh without artificial preservatives. Then came the hard part…. painstakingly and delicately decorating her cupcakes by hand to suit the very discerning buyers at the Farmer’s Market.

   Being at the Barossa Farmer’s Market gave Cups ‘n Cakes the exposure it needed to launch into the local food scene and before long, the orders were coming in fast and furious, both from locals, as well as clients from around Adelaide who had heard about Gina’s famous cupcakes, wedding and birthday cakes through word of mouth. Gina’s cakes are now so in demand that she has recently taken on two partners: Nicole Hayes and Tanya Ramsey, in order to keep up with demand. Business is better than ever and the three friends couldn’t be happier. After all, what could be better than baking and decorating hundreds of little gifts of sweetness with your two closest girlfriends? The girls in pink just can’t stop smiling!   

Cups ‘n Cakes can be found at the Barossa Farmer’s Market on the first Saturday of the month. Or send us an email via the contact page.