Learning the tricks of the cake decorating world one talk at a time

By Tim Goodwin - Feb 4, 2014 | 0 comments

We told you there’s a lot of pans hanging on the store’s walls.

Look at all those wrappers for the cupcakes you’re going to bake us.

Some of the final products from one of Chandler’s classes.

Now that’s what we call a nice rack of chocolate.

Sue Chandler, owner of Chandler’s Cake and Candy Supplies, shows off her favorite tool, the ultimate clay extruder.

Ask Sue Chandler a question about cake decorating and you might want to grab a chair.

With 25 years of experience spreading delicious frostings and making melt-in-your-mouth candies, the owner of Chandler’s Cake and Candy Supplies on Perley Street has a lot of tricks up her sleeves. Chandler loves to share her knowledge about the ins and outs of gum paste, fondant and sugar. And by the time the conversation is over, there’s a strong chance you’ll have the worst sugar craving of your life.

“You have to invite people into your world to eventually make a business out of it,” said Chandler. “It’s about the relationships you build with people.”

She always wanted to be a teacher, and this is just her way of fulfilling that dream. It’s in her nature to guide others, especially when it comes to creating that unique dessert for a special occasion.

“My favorite thing is teaching,” said Chandler. “I love to share what I know with people.”

While Chandler doesn’t have the equipment to bake at her store, a compromise she made when originally looking for a space about 12 years ago, there’s no shortage of tools necessary to make your favorite dessert at home. From melting chocolates and sugar-pressed candies to cookie cutters and frosting tips, Chandler has it all. She will even rent you a Scooby-Doo, Big Bird or Transformer cake pan for just $3. 

“Even if you’re not a cake decorator, there’s something in here for you,” said Chandler.

And those are just a few of the pans you can take home for three days. Chandler has filled her walls with them, and it’s a deal almost too good to pass up. It’ll bring a whole new level of excitement to the cake-making experience – and Chandler can teach you how to decorate it for that professional look.

Chandler’s store is not one that people just stumble upon. She’s a bit off the beaten path, so she knows if someone walks through her door, it’s for a reason. Some will ask for help finding a tool or product, while others seek guidance in ensuring the proper way to handle a project. Either way, Chandler is happy to oblige.

“I don’t get very many drivebys. Most times people are coming here because their friend told them about me,” said Chandler. “Most people only find me when they need to find me.”

Sometimes she will talk you through a strategy, maybe even draw you a picture. But there are times when Chandler will bring you into the back room for a quick demonstration. This isn’t some secret lair where Chandler spends her days and nights creating new ways of decorating. It’d be a lot cooler if that were the case, but the back room is where she does most of her teaching. 

“I always say this – ‘well this is what I’d do,’ ” said Chandler. “You have to give them something that they can be successful at.”

You see, Chandler originally wanted to go to college for education. At some point along the way, she was talked out of it by her high school guidance counselor and instead got a business degree. After years in the food service industry and working at a similar store in Hooksett, Chandler thought it was time to do her own thing.

“I went all in and opened the doors,” said Chandler. “And it’s a great business to be in where everybody coming is celebrating something.”

From the very beginning, Chandler has been passing along her knowledge to others, holding classes two or three nights a week. The classes range from a five-week, in-depth cake decorating course for beginners to a cupcake design instructional class that is jam-packed into one night. Chandler also offers kid courses and does birthday parties on the weekends at the store. And just so you know, we’ve already scheduled our party for when the Insider turns 8 years old in October. Be kind to us and you might just get an invite.

“We try to make it easy for people,” said Chandler. “You don’t have to have any specific skill level to do a lot of the classes.”

The classes are split into three sessions. The current session runs through Easter, before the spring session starts up and goes until June. Chandler takes the months of July and August off from teaching before the final session stretches from October to December. Those also happen to be her busiest months, with three big holidays for cakes and candy. But you’re all pretty smart – we’re quite certain you already had that figured out.

While Chandler can’t bake at her store, she still does quite a bit of it at home. She bakes all the necessary elements for her classes and even makes cakes on the side when she has the time.

“I’ve made hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of cakes. I don’t think there’s an event I haven’t made a cake for,” said Chandler. “But I really only have time to do one cake a week now.”

And it’s her neighbors that reap all the benefits when she’s trying new recipes and combinations. We thought about relocating the Insider office next to her condo complex in Hooksett, but outside of the tasty treats it just doesn’t seem to make sense.

“When I’m experimenting with my baking my neighbors love me,” joked Chandler.

Just about everything Chandler knows is self-taught from a pastry chef text book she bought at Southern New Hampshire University many years ago, as well as many hours in her kitchen. She took a few classes along the way and attended a few cakes conventions; the rest comes from her passion to learn and improve.

“You just throw yourself into finding out how to do it,” said Chandler.

Many people show up at the store trying to recreate something they saw in a magazine or on TV, but Chandler quickly points them to an easier way.

“The average person isn’t going to be able to accomplish what they see on TV,” said Chandler. “You don’t need all the flash. Start out simple.”

That’s why she’s still there after all these years. She wants her customers to succeed in each project because it’s why they keep coming back. And a lot of times they will bring in some of their own baked goods for her to try.  

Sounds like a bonus program we’d like to be a big part of.