From Hobby to Hustle: How Cake Decorating Helped One STLCC Grad Build a Business

January 05, 2026

Sometimes, a single class can change your life. For Carla Soll, what started as a hobby became a lifelong passion — and eventually, a thriving business and teaching career.

Soll is the owner of Anointed Cake Creations, a custom bakery that designs cakes and cupcakes for weddings, birthdays, and community events. She’s also a Continuing Education instructor at St. Louis Community College, where she now teaches the same cake decorating class that first inspired her journey.

Finding Purpose Through Creativity

Nearly 20 years ago, Soll was searching for a way to heal after the loss of her infant daughter, Kyra. Amid her grief, she came across an advertisement for a cake decorating class at St. Louis Community College.

“I had never baked a cake before,” she said. “But who would have thought that baking would become my therapy?”

Those evening classes gave her an outlet for creativity — and peace. What began as a simple distraction soon grew into something much more. Friends, family, and her church community loved her creations and encouraged her to keep going. “It wasn’t me who realized it could be a business,” she said. “Everyone around me kept saying, ‘You could do this for real.’”

Turning a Passion Into a Career

After several years of baking for fun, Soll took a leap of faith. When she was laid off from her job at General Electric, she saw it as an opportunity rather than a setback.

“It just felt peaceful,” she said. “That’s when I knew it was time to see where this could go.”

She returned to STLCC, this time enrolling in the culinary arts program at the Forest Park campus. The combination of hands-on training and business knowledge gave her the tools she needed to officially launch Anointed Cake Creations.

“The Continuing Education class introduced me to cake decorating, but the culinary arts program gave me the foundation to turn it into something real,” she said.

From Student to Instructor

Ten years ago, Soll returned to STLCC once again — but this time as an instructor. She has been teaching beginner and intermediate cake decorating classes ever since.

At first, she wasn’t sure how she would feel about teaching. “It was scary at first,” she admitted. “I didn’t know anything about teaching. But once I started, I realized how much I loved it.”

Her favorite part is seeing students discover their own creativity. “I love inspiring my students and seeing what they can do,” she said. “Some have even gone on to start small baking businesses of their own.”

More Than Just Cake

Outside the classroom, Soll continues to grow her business and share her skills through themed community events and corporate workshops. One of her favorite projects was a “Boots on the Ground” decorating event, where participants created boot-shaped cakes and celebrated afterward with line dancing.

“I love finding ways to bring people together,” she said. “Cake decorating doesn’t just make something beautiful; it builds community.”

Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

For anyone thinking about turning a hobby into something more, Soll offers practical — and heartfelt — advice.

“Get out of your head and just do it,” she said. “Quiet the fear. It’s not real.”

She also stresses the importance of being prepared. “Even if it’s not cake decorating, make sure you cover your bases,” she said. “Get the right licenses, do things properly, and don’t rush. It’s better to move slow than to backtrack later.”

Another lesson came from experience: it’s okay to ask for help. “Don’t be afraid to hire for what you don’t know,” she said. “You can’t do everything yourself.”

And for anyone planning to spend long hours baking, she added with a laugh, “Invest in good shoes! You’ll be on your feet a lot.”

Family, Faith, and Balance

Behind every successful baker is a lot of late nights — and a supportive family. Soll said her husband and son have always understood her long hours in the kitchen.

“I’ve stayed up until two or three in the morning finishing cakes,” she said. “But I always try to set up in a space where I can still be with my family, even if I’m working. That way we’re together, and they know I’m not just disappearing into the kitchen.”

Faith also plays a central role in her business philosophy. “My business is called Anointed Cake Creations for a reason,” she said. “It’s about using my gifts to create something meaningful and to bless others.”

Registration is now open for STLCC Continuing Education courses.