Life is too short to say no to cake, or so the saying goes, and Fallon Fosbery of Fallon Gene Cakes would have to agree. Fosbery has been baking and decorating delightful cakes and cookies for every occasion since she was a young girl, inspired by two generations of bakers that used to bring her into the kitchen to watch the magic of transforming basic ingredients into delicious desserts.
“I have always loved to bake and used to bake with my Grandma and Mom all the time when I was younger,” said Fosbery.
“When I was a kid, my Mom bought me a starter decorating kit and I started making cakes for my family. After many years of baking and decorating cakes for my family, I started decorating for close family friends and it grew from there. I recently have branched into decorating sugar cookies, which has been a fun addition. I am self-taught and love to continue to learn and grow.”
Now three and a half years after launching her business, Fosbery continues to expand on her artistry and makes a wide variety of sweet treats, from cakes and sugar cookies to cupcakes and cheesecakes and ever popular holiday cookie boxes. From birthdays to Valentine’s Day, retirement parties or baby showers, Fallon Gene Cakes will create a unique sweet treat to commemorate the day.
“I provide high-quality customized desserts for all occasions,” explains Fosbery.
“One of my favorite things to make is my holiday cookie boxes and custom sugar cookies for all holidays and celebrations. I feel very honoured whenever I am asked to make a dessert, as I love playing a role in adding to someone’s celebration or a significant moment in someone’s life. I am incredibly thankful for all the support I have had so far from Merrittonians.”
Fosbery is herself a lifelong Merrittonian, who was born and raised in the Nicola Valley. When she isn’t baking and decorating sweet treats, she is pursuing her education career as a full time, first year Grade One teacher.
In addition to her baking and teaching career, she is involved in the day to day operations of her family’s ranch.
“I live on my family’s cattle and horse ranch, where we ride and train horses in our spare time,” said Fosbery.
In recent years there has been an explosion in the popularity of custom created cakes and cookies, which were previously reserved for big events, such as a person’s wedding or a milestone birthday.
While it’s still a fun birthday experience when your mom brings home a Betty Crocker vanilla cake mix and a can of icing, maybe piping on some hearts or adding numbered candles, more and more people are requesting customized and sometimes extravagant cakes.
‘Cake smash’ parties, where an infant turning one takes an adorably decorated cake and does just exactly what the name implies, smashing and eating it by the handful, are becoming more popular. As are themed cakes, whether they feature your favourite book or movie characters, favourite animal or even decade – such as a neon 80s cake or a cake dressed up in an edible poodle skirt for a 1950s theme.
As more dietary restrictions and lifestyles emerge, there has also been an increased demand for specialty desserts, something Fosbery has taken into account and is working to perfect.
“I currently do not do vegan desserts but am working to expand into gluten-free and vegan options,” explained Fosbery.
“I have made gluten-free things before, but would not say I have perfected this quite yet, but working away on it.”
To see more of Fallon Gene Cakes’ sweet creations, or place an order, you can look her up on Facebook or Instagram.
