Cakes, cookies and more at Sweet Elegance in Clarence

After baking on and off for more than 20 years out of her home, Mary Nemmer decided that it was time to open her own business. On Dec. 1, 2011 she opened her own bakery, Sweet Elegance, located in her husband’s complex, 9393 Main St. in Clarence.

“I finally decided what I want to be when I grow up,” said Nemmer with a laugh as she explained that all of her friends are retiring.

Nemmer runs this business on her own, meaning she has no employees. If you place an order at Sweet Elegance, she will make it. This is one thing that she loves about having her own bakery. She enjoys having control over her work. Also, paying employees can become expensive, which could eventually hurt the customers with the raising of prices to cover costs.

While some may believe that running a business on your own can be overwhelming, Nemmer said that, although she may get quite busy, there’s a simple solution.

“You have to prioritize,” she said. “The customers come first. I just have to make sure that I don’t overextend myself. It’s worked out just fine so far.”

Nemmer fell in love with baking when she was just 10 years old when her brother bought her a cake decorating set for Christmas. From then on she baked and was even taking orders out of her own home for several years.

“I’ve always loved to bake. My husband doesn’t really like sweets so I would bake and give it away, bake and give it away, just because I like to do it,” she said.

“I also really love sugar,” she added. “You could pump it into my veins.”

After quitting baking out of her home for about six years, Nemmer received a call from a former customer and was asked to make a cookie order. She reluctantly turned her down. After thinking about her response, she decided that she wanted to get back into baking for a living.

She did a bridal fair on Sept. 19, 2011. She handed out business cards with her business’ name on them but no address. At that point, she wasn’t even sure where her business would be. The fair was a success and her bakery was open and running just eight weeks later.

“I love being here,” she said. “I really thoroughly enjoy it.”

Nemmer originally opened her bakery with a specialty in cookies and pastries. After several requests, she moved on to trying some cakes. Her first cake was the cassata cake.

“I figured, I’ll try one and see if people like it and it just snowballed from there,” she said.

Now her signature cake, the cassata cake consists of three layers of sponge cake soaked in rum and layered with cannoli filling, chopped maraschino cherries, mini chocolate chips and a chocolate ganache layer. It is then topped with a vanilla or chocolate moose, depending on what the customer prefers, and crushed pistachios.

“I have people actually order it for their wedding cakes,” she said with a smile.

She also does this flavor in cupcakes along with the other flavors such as tiramisu, grand marnier, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.

Along with cupcakes and cakes, she loves to make cookies and pastries as well. She also does ice cream cakes too.

In her spare time she loves to experiment and come up with new and unique flavors. Although her customers enjoy the flavors and recipes that she already makes, she would like to develop something new.

Sweet Elegance does not have regular business hours. Nemmer meets by appointment only due to that fact that she works on her own and having numerous people in her bakery could become hectic. She wants to give her customers her full attention while meeting with them. To make an appointment for your next shower, wedding, party or corporate event, call 741-3236. She offers a variety of cookie displays and has several different options for holiday gifts as well.