Meet Alissa Dawson of Serendipity Sweets in Southern Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alissa Dawson.

Alissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I received my first baking book on a chilly Christmas morning 18 years ago. Ever since then, I have been baking scrumptious desserts from scratch. Around 3 years ago, I decided to marry my passion for desserts with my background in sculpture. I spent a lot of time experimenting with ingredients and learning how to translate my knowledge of sculpture into the language of sugar. After getting such great feedback, I chose to go for my dream and opened up my cake business. Now, Serendipity Sweets is in full swing, ready to spread happiness through cake creations for the entire Phoenix area!

Has it been a smooth road?
The greatest struggle is learning not to hold yourself back and remaining authentic and original. I am constantly challenging myself to develop new and interesting techniques. Most recently, I have incorporated my experience as a ceramicist into my cake work by introducing a line of cakes that I delicately carve into to reveal a contrasting layer of frosting. These processes are meditative and I’m particularly fond of the repetitive nature of my carved cakes. It’s important to let our true selves shine through.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Serendipity Sweets story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in completely custom cakes and cupcakes. I work tirelessly to create original ideas and designs for each client depending on their needs and what they envision for their cake creation. We are known for the artisanal, sculptural quality of our cakes, as well as our vivid, playful use of color. My ability to create new concepts and push the boundaries with my cakes sets me apart. I have yet to see a cake elsewhere that is carved with the same intricacy and attention to detail as mine are, and I’m proud of that.

If you had to start over, what would you have done differently? 
Starting over, I’d be a little more accepting of my failures as they are the building blocks for success. Every design and concept that fails leads me to something truly beautiful. The magical moment of discovering a new technique to use is worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.serendipitysweetsxo.com
• Phone: 661-236-5164
• Email: serendipitysweetsxo@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/serendipitysweetsxo
• Facebook: Facebook.com/serendipitysweetsxo

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