Former financial advisor, Suzannah Beltz, MBA, owner of Fresh Cake by Suzy, was keen on baking from a young age. It was when she had her two children, quit her job and moved to Berks County that her passion turned into a full-fledged micro bakery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: What is your first memory of baking that you can recall?
I have been baking basically my whole life. My mom was a homemaker, and I would love to be in the kitchen with her. She would bake her own bread and grind her own wheat and was kind of hardcore in that way. Everything was always made from scratch, and we had a wood-burning stove. I have a scar on my thumb from flipping pancakes on our stove when I was about six years old.
Q: When did you establish your business in Berks County?
We moved to Wyomissing in December 2020 because my husband, Ben Reffie, has been working for Penske for 11 years, and we wanted to move closer to his job. It was a ghost town in the neighborhood because everyone was inside, and it was winter. So, what I did was I baked little mini cakes, and we took them door to door with our masks on. My whole family and I went in the dark in the evening and knocked on all of our neighbors' doors so I could give them a little cake for a Christmas present and to introduce us. Then, my very first cake order from here was from my neighbor for her son's birthday in January, and she told all of her friends. Suddenly, I was getting order after order… it really just took off.
Q: What is your signature technique?
I use Swiss meringue buttercream. I also only bake per order so it's super fresh that week or a couple of days before they pick it up. Another thing that I do is use high-quality and local ingredients without preservatives and avoid using anything artificial. I do use food coloring in my decorations when necessary, but I really try to avoid food coloring in my cakes overall.
Q: What do you enjoy doing for fun in Berks County?
My kids and I like to go to Nolde Forest and Blue Marsh. We walk on the Wyomissing trail system almost every day. I also like to read and take baths to lower stress levels. And believe it or not, I still bake for fun even though it's my job. I will still bake with my kids on Sundays like I did with my mom.
Q: Who inspires you in the baking industry?
Sugar flower artist Maggie Austen, @maggieaustencake on Instagram. I'm focusing on wedding cakes a lot more, and I am planning on going to her sugar flower workshop at some point this year to learn from her. She mostly teaches, but for her to make a cake, it takes about four months to make all the flowers because they are super intricate. The flowers are true to the species of flower. Her work is just incredible, and she makes cakes for royalty and celebrities.
Learn More.
Love is in the air. Suzy’s books are open for 2025 wedding cakes and 2024 Valentine’s Day boxes for your special someone including a mini cake, macarons and a cookie assortment.
Get a taste. Order Fresh Cake by Suzy’s high-end, custom, specialty cakes for an upcoming special occasion or score a weekly $20 surprise mini cake by following her on Instagram @freshcakebysuzy.
