“Building community through cake is my passion,” says ray of sunshine Sunnie McCain. “Being open to and present in day-to-day interactions make us a stronger community.”
Chocolate little layer cake with almond buttercream
Amity Gardens neighbor and boss mom Sunnie McCain leads with love and a heaping side of artistry. Her niche business Mama Ward Cake Co. specializes in a deep south delicacy: Southern Little Layer Cakes.
Born and raised in Bainbridge, GA, Sunnie’s great-grandmother, Mama Ward, baked this Southern staple “all the time.” Nearly every household had a signature Little Layer Cake recipe, and the number of layers mattered greatly. Its history can be traced back to the early 1800’s in Alabama (or Georgia), but that debate could get as hot as sugar vs. salt in your grits.
Lemon cake with blueberry compote
Years after Mama Ward passed away, the younger generations realized that no one had learned to make the traditional layer cake. Sunnie made it her mission to reconnect with the past and to bring the love and treasured memories into today.
The OG: Yella’ cake with boiled chocolate icing
She says the secret is the historical boiled icing recipe, layers stacked sky high, and no shortcuts.
“When I bake a cake for someone, my favorite part is their reaction. I love hearing about the memories that come flooding back.”
While Sunnie says the OG flavor that started it all is “Yella’ cake with boiled chocolate icing,” her menu of cakes for all occasions has quite the range!
A few signature flavors:
BANANA PUDDING CAKE // BANANA CAKE WITH MADE-FROM-SCRATCH VANILLA PUDDING, VANILLA WHIP CREAM OR VANILLA BUTTER CREAM, TOPPED WITH NILA’ WAFERS
CHAMPAGNE CAKE // CHAMPAGNE-INFUSED WHITE CAKE WITH LEMON CURD AND ALMOND/LEMON ZEST (CREAM CHEESE) BUTTERCREAM
SWEET SAVORY CARAMEL CAKE // YELLA’ CAKE WITH BOILED CARAMEL, TOPPED WITH THICK CUT BACON OR BURNT ENDS (see photo below!)
CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE // TRADITIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY FILLING, TOPPED WITH CHOCOLATE (CREAM CHEESE) BUTTERCREAM
Are the memories flooding back for you? You can order custom cakes baked with love directly from Sunnie here. And follow Mama Ward Cake Co. on Facebook and Instagram for information on pop-up events and cake-by-the-slice sales.
