Sugar, Spice, and Everything Iced

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Harry Brexel
  • 19 AW/PA
Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. --  The story of Alyssa Wurtz and Jacie Adams began in Alaska back in 2011. The two were dependents whose husbands were stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. They met by chance. Alyssa was searching for a dog, and Jacie's dog just had puppies.

"Jacie didn't want to sell her puppy at first, but she came around eventually. When Jacie and I met, it was almost like love at first sight," Alyssa joked.

Alyssa and Jacie's friendship only grew stronger. Despite their differences, Alyssa being a New Yorker and Jacie a Louisianan, the two still found that they had a lot in common. For instance, they were both new mothers who shared a passion for baking. For Alyssa, it was even in her blood. As she stated, "My grandfather was a pastry chef."

"We saw other baking companies in Alaska and realized that it was something we could do, and do better. So we gave it a shot. We made a lot of cakes at first. But we realized that cakes took too long to make and decorate, so we decided to bake just cupcakes instead," Alyssa added.

Starting their business, Cake Creations AK, was not easy at first. But the two made it work, even while on a limited senior airman's budget. As their small business grew, more opportunities came about for the women.

"One day on Facebook I saw a casting call for 'Cupcake Wars'," said Alyssa. She responded to it on a whim. Cupcake Wars is a popular baking competition show on the Food Network.

"We never thought they would pick us, but they did. We were so happy," said Alyssa. Out of the plethora of entries, the two women had made it. They boarded a plane and took the trip to Los Angeles. It was their first television appearance, and they could not have been more excited.

"Unfortunately Jacie had a last minute emergency and wasn't able to make it to the show. My sister filled in for Jacie, but she's not really a baker," Alyssa said. The judges seemed to notice too, as the pair was eliminated in the first round for their candied yam cupcake.

Alyssa and Jacie stayed optimistic, despite the mishap on Cupcake Wars. The two are resilient, as many Air Force wives have to be. Their resilience would come into play again, as more complications were to come.

"My husband and I got orders," said Alyssa. "We were leaving Alaska for Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. I cried a little," she admitted.

Around the same time Alyssa's husband got his orders, Jacie and her husband also received orders. The couple was leaving Alaska for Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
Despite being sent across North America, Alyssa and Jacie wanted to keep their business alive.
The women weren't the only ones who believed in Cake Creations AK either. The Food Network contacted them again for a second chance at Cupcake Wars.

"They saw something in us," Alyssa said. "We obviously accepted the offer, and went back for a second chance. We would be together this time too." The two mothers made the trips from Nevada and Arkansas to Los Angeles.

"We did much better the second time," Alyssa said. The judges were blown away by their Mimosa cupcakes during the first round. But ultimately in the second round, their root beer float cupcakes just didn't cut it for one of the judges, and they were eliminated.

Although they didn't win, the two television appearances were still something to brag about. Their business blossomed as cupcake requests poured in. The two still get recognized in public for their appearance on the Food Network.

"We kind of have a cult following now," said Alyssa.

"I even moved to Arkansas for our business. It helps that my husband is so supportive. He is now in the process of switching to the Guard, so that he can come to Little Rock as well." Jacie said.

Alyssa and Jacie have recently changed the name of their business from Cake Creations AK to Sugarbelles' Cupcakes. They claim their business is unrivaled in the Little Rock metropolitan area. The two say that their cupcakes aren't expensive either. Their business is so successful now, that the two mothers often work up to six days a week.

"We have a lot to look forward to in the future, especially considering that my husband just got home from a six-month deployment," Alyssa said.

Jacie went on to say, "We've recently hired our friend, Samantha Magallanez, as our first employee. Our next venture is a storefront location."

In the meantime, they are sticking to catering events and individual requests. Sugarbelles' Cupcakes offers up to 130 different varieties of homemade cupcakes and can be reached through their Facebook page: CakeCreationsAK.