Jill finds business a piece of cake

YOU won’t see too many modern brides opting to serve fruit cake at their weddings.

The trend is both a blessing and a challenge for local cake decorator Jill Facer.

For the past five years, Mrs Facer has been creating cakes for brides in her Wyreema kitchen.

Things got serious last year when she was granted a food licence and she started her business, Jill-i-cious Cakes.

She has created most flavours of cakes including a cherry rip mud cake and white chocolate honeycomb.

But surprisingly the age-old tradition of serving fruit cake slathered in white icing has slipped by the way side.

“I have done a few fruit cakes but that was mainly at Christmas time,” Mrs Facer said.

“I have made pretty much anything you can think of.

“I was once asked to make a sponge cake, which is quiet unusual for a wedding cake.

“It turned out like a Victoria sponge, soaking in syrup.”

Mrs Facer started making and decorating cakes after family and friends encouraged her to take up the past time.

“I made my son’s christening cake and from that I was asked to make an engagement cake,” she said.

“And then, here and there people would ask.”

Mrs Facer said she enjoyed not only creating the sweet treats, but also sharing in people’s special milestone celebrations.

Last week, she was asked to create a train cake for a 23-year-old man.

“His mum had tried to make him a train cake when he was six years old,” she said.

“Apparently, it was really bad and she has never lived it down.”

Mrs Facers juggles the cake business with the demands of looking after her three children.

“It is a busy time,” she said. “I try and limit it to three cakes a week. At the moment, that’s enough to keep me busy and I am happy to have a hobby that pays for itself.”

I have made pretty much anything you can think of. — Jill Facer