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Trudy O’Regan of Trudy’s Home Baking in Kildorrery with some of her delicious breads, scones, and beautifully decorated cakes. Photo: Sandra Quinn

A birthday cake in the shape of a Cork jersey for the avid GAA fan, a little tractor cake for the farm mad toddler or the beautifully dainty cake adorned with baby shoes for a christening – these are just some of the wonderful masterpieces, which Trudy O’Regan creates in her kitchen.

Trudy was always passionate about baking and she took the plunge to set up Trudy’s Home Baking just over a year and a half ago and hasn’t looked back since.

“I always said that I’d love to have my own business and be my own boss.”

Like many baking enthusiasts, Trudy got her first taste of it from her grandmother and mother and when she set up her own business, she wanted to capture and recreate that sense of home cooking with wholesome and tasty food that isn’t processed or made in bulk in factories.

Trudy has a strong background in food and retail, as she started out in O’Callaghan’s Delicatessen in Mitchelstown when she went there on work experience at the tender age of 16, she went on to manage the deli in O’Riordan’s SuperValu in Fermoy and also set up the deli in O’Sullivan’s Centra in Kildorrery.

She has also completed courses with Brennan’s Cookery School in Cork and the Ballymaloe Cookery School.

“It’s something I love and I always had a passion for the decorating side of things,” she explained.

She has always had a flair for artistic things and love working on arts and crafts or doing things with her hands.

Her range of breads, scones, tarts and cakes masterfully combine a taste of old world cooking, which would awaken memories of eating with the family by the hearth, while she also has added some very contemporary twists, such as her wheat meal brown bread with walnuts and cranberries.

The elaborate cakes for different occasions was something she started out doing for friends and family and they were so impressed by what she could achieve and how she could transform a sponge cake into an epitome of someone’s personality and interests, that she started doing them commercially.

“It’s almost like a hobby and once I get to the icing, I find it really relaxing.”

As Trudy has a young family, working from home suits her perfectly. Being an early riser, she can get her baking and deliveries completed early in the morning, allowing her to be home on time for family life. Trudy delivers to O’Sullivan’s Centra in Kildorrery, Farrell’s Centra in Mitchelstown and Roche’s Spar in Mitchelstown.

She said that she wouldn’t be able to do what she does without the support from her husband and family and of course the loyalty from both repeat and new customers.

Trudy said that the positive feedback from customers and nice comments from people has really given her a boost to expand her product base and offer a wider range of customised cakes for any occasion.

While some customers would have a very specific idea of what they want, others will just tell her a little bit about the person the cake is for and she can design it to suit their personality and interests.

“With sugarcraft, you have to think outside the box and I would be constantly coming up with new ideas for cakes.

“Anytime someone requests something different, I look on it as an exciting challenge and the customers have been happy every time, but it’s all about learning as you go along.”

Every decorative cake varies greatly and they are all different, but Trudy’s favourite part is seeing the creation coming together and she has done cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, weddings, christenings, communions, confirmations and other special occasions. She said that she also does a selection of cake slices, which have been a popular choice for things like funerals or family gatherings.

Trudy added that she particularly loves doing wedding cakes and wedding cup cakes, as it gives her the opportunity to play an important role in someone’s special day.

“I love doing kids novelty cakes as well, because you can use so many colours and be very creative,” she said.

Last year’s Christmas market in Kildorrery also gave her range of products great exposure and she is looking forward to this year’s market on Saturday, December 13 in the Old Creamery Yard in Kildorrery. Trudy would like to take the opportunity to wish all of her customers a very happy Christmas.

CONTACT Trudy’s Home Baking, Kildorrery, trudyoregan@gmail.com, 086 3444772.

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