HOW SWEET IT IS: These beautifully decorated floral cakes were created by baker Karen Ambrose, owner of Sweet Gourmet in the Princeton North Shopping Center. “Floral cakes are my specialty and also my favorite thing to decorate,” she says. “They are especially popular for birthday parties, bridal showers, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day.” A variety of pastries, all made from scratch with fresh ingredients, are also available at Sweet Gourmet.
By Jean Stratton
Once upon a time, a little girl loved to watch her grandmother bake, and at the age of 8, she became fascinated with the variety of decorations to make a cake special. Having taught herself how to decorate, she was thrilled when her mother gave her the Wilton’s Cake Decorating Book and a piping set.
And now, that grown-up little girl Karen Ambrose is very happy to say, “Hundreds and hundreds of butter cream roses, cakes, cookies, culinary school, and 30 years later, here is Sweet Gourmet!”
Her early years were a preparation for her own baking business, she explains. “I was always hoping to do this. I loved making cakes and cookies for my family and friends’ birthdays. I taught myself the decorating and piping (edging) and all the different decorating shapes and sizes using the book as a guide.”
Her dream continued when she attended the Culinary Arts Institute at Hudson County Community College, where she was enrolled in the full cooking/cuisine program.
Custom Cakes
Her true love, of course, was baking, and in 2017 she started her first bake-to-order bakery, providing custom cakes for customers’ special orders.
Then, in 2021, Sweet Gourmet in the Princeton North Shopping Center at 1225 Route 206 North, opened its doors. Custom cakes are still available for residential customers and also for organizations, clubs, restaurants, and corporations.
In addition, however, a full array of cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and scones are offered every day in the cozy bakery. Other specialties include the popular cake pops, cheese babkas, walnut cinnamon coffee cake, challah bread, baguettes, and pound cake and loaf cakes (by the slice).
A very important aspect of Sweet Gourmet is its emphasis on completely fresh ingredients, emphasizes Ambrose. “Everything is made on site from scratch. All natural ingredients, nothing frozen, and no preservatives. We only use fresh blueberries in our very popular blueberry scones. When everything is fresh, not frozen and without preservatives, it makes such a difference in the taste, and it is so much healthier. This really sets us apart.”
All Occasions
While the focus is primarily on made-to-order cakes for all occasions for residential customers, Sweet Gourmet also provides pastries for a variety of organizations.
“We do custom and wedding cakes for the Nassau Inn, and challah every Friday for the Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Lawrenceville,” reports Ambrose. “Also, our cookies have been sold at the concession stands for the last two years at the Trenton Thunder baseball team’s stadium, and I work with them for cupcakes, cakes, etc. for their guests who book suites or have parties at the games.
“I will also be doing occasional store events, including cookie or cupcake decorating, and we will have children’s cupcake or cookie decorating birthday parties. In the past, I have taught baking classes, including at the Princeton Adult School.”
She has also created a variety of novelty cakes and cupcakes for children’s parties and other specialties of all kinds. Sports themes are popular, and in addition, she has crafted unique designs for family members.
“My daughter is an EMT, and for her birthday, I surprised her with a cake made in the shape of an ambulance,” she says.
An even bigger birthday surprise was for her husband, who, unlike all of Sweet Gourmet’s customers, lacks a sweet tooth.
“He is a meat and potatoes man,” explains Ambrose. “So for his birthday, I surprised him with a meatloaf cake!
It had mashed potatoes icing, was decorated with bacon roses, and featured a gravy drip!”
BAKER’S DELIGHT: “I’ve been able to share my story and passion for baking in many ways since starting Sweet Gourmet. I have loved baking and decorating cakes from the time I was a little girl, and I really taught myself from scratch how to bake and decorate cakes.” Karen Ambrose, baker and owner of Sweet Gourmet, bakes cakes and other pastries for all occasions. (Photography by Cari Ellen)
Special Connection
Ambrose provides cakes for a full range of occasions, from birthdays to anniversaries to weddings, as well as bridal and baby showers, and memorial services.
Two memorable occasions had a special connection, recalls Ambrose. “I provided cake, mini pastries, and decorated cookies for a baby shower, and then made them again for the baby’s first birthday party.”
Wedding cakes are especially meaningful, and depending on the size, style, ingredients, and decorations, they can be very labor intensive. Customers’ tastes vary, but currently, a favorite is lemon chiffon. “It also has raspberry preserves filling and vanilla butter cream icing,” says Ambrose. “It is big favorite.”
With every kind of cake in her repertoire, she can provide a memorable treat for every customer — from chocolate chiffon, Black Forest, and devil’s food to coconut and carrot cake, and many more.
Two Weeks Ahead
Of course, the decorating is her specialty, and the possibilities are unlimited. “I enjoy creating new recipes and providing special items for customers. I truly believe you have to love what you make.”
For custom cake orders, Ambrose emphasizes ordering two weeks ahead. “Since everything is made fresh, it can often take 12 hours to prepare, depending, on the size, shape, special ingredients, etc.”
Sweet Gourmet offers both takeout and eat-in opportunities, with a welcoming environment and seating for 13. In addition to the pastries, tea and coffee are available, with coffee specially imported from Savannah, Ga. “When I was there, I was so impressed with the coffee that I now order for the bakery,” she explains.
And there is so much to enjoy. If your favorites are chocolate chip cookies, there are many variations, along with raisin oatmeal, peanut butter/chocolate, and the traditional sugar cookies. The assorted cupcakes are very popular, and the blueberry scones always hit the spot.
Ambrose has a special affection for the cheese babkas, another customer favorite. “I remember having them in my family when I was a girl, and they have a traditional feeling for me,” she recalls.
Having the bakery reflect her own tradition and love of baking is important for her. “I want the bakery to be an inviting, welcoming place and something that is a reflection of me,” she adds. “And with an ambiance that I can share with customers.”
Decor and Design
She has included a number of items in the bakery’s decor and design that are meaningful to her. “We have an early 1900s baker’s scale from Paris, and another that is an American antique. I also have displays of kitchen containers that belonged to my great-grandmother.”
Ambrose is pleased that many repeat customers are enjoying her creations. “We’ve had great word-of-mouth, with many customers from the Princeton area.”
And, good reviews continue to come in from many quarters, including a recent testimonial reporting, “That was the best chocolate cake I ever had! And as a foodie, I know. That was one impressive cake!”
High praise indeed. As Ambrose says, “It is so special when I hear these comments, when customers come back and say how wonderful the cake was. This means so much to me.”
Sweet Gourmet is open Wednesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A special Scone Happy Hour, offering a blueberry scone and tea or coffee for $5, will be available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
For further information regarding cakes-to-order and pricing, call (609) 285-5970. Visit the website at sweetgourmet.biz.