Sweet Serendipity And The Beauty Of Simplicity
Simplicity. The world of food has drifted into the weird, the wacky, the wild, and the unknown. What happened to the SIMPLE recipes? You know — the ones that have few ingredients, but are baked to absolute perfection? Where did the classic vanilla cake with whipped buttercream frosting go? We have charcoal-this, matcha-that, cakes on fire, and steaming ice cream… Sure, we can all appreciate some fun and creativity — but oftentimes the flavours become muddled, and it’s more of a show than a tasty treat to enjoy…
The Sweetness Within A Simple Recipe
Pina, the owner of Sweet Serendipity in Toronto ON, is all about embracing the simple sweets in the kitchen. As a proud member of a traditional Italian family, simplicity in the kitchen has always been key. It’s never adding fluff and gold leaves — it’s about learning to appreciate and highlight the delicate, subtle flavours of natural ingredients.
“Growing up, my parents made us our meals from scratch every day. I’d watch as my mom would transform raw ingredients into complete meals. I was always curious and fascinated by the transformation — and I wanted to know how to do it for myself. I feel so fortunate to have been exposed to natural food and fresh ingredients. Nothing was ever frozen, and food was always in abundance on the table. I quickly realized that the stuff you can find in a box is nothing compared to what you can find in nature. Simple recipes can be so unbelievably delicious — and you’ll never be able to get the same thing by taking shortcuts.”
Sweet Serendipity: It’s All In The Name
Pina had always been fascinated by food — but she never intended to pursue a career in the food industry. She feared that her hobby would become “work” — and that she may fall out of love with baking.
“I never wanted to turn my hobby into a job… So, instead of pursuing a baking career, I went into the travel business. I was there for 30 years, until some events unfolded and the company was forced to restructure. As a result, I lost my job, and I was at a loss for what to do….””
Rather than “humm”ing and “ha”ing about career options, Pina decided to give her bakery (Sweet Serendipity) a go. The process of baking was something that never failed to bring a smile to her face, and doing it everyday was starting to sound like a good idea.
The name of her bakery “Sweet Serendipity”, describes her journey into the world of the food industry… Being laid off from her previous company was a blessing in disguise — and an opportunity to do something she truly loved. Every. Single. Day.
Enjoying The Simple Things & Forgetting The Fluff
Sweet Serendipity is all about appreciating the simple things in life. Her products show you just how special every ingredient can be. Rather than stuffing together cereal treats, candies, and this-sweet-and-that-treat, Pina showcases the beauty of natural, singular flavours.
“I don’t really like to buy the cupcakes with all those decorations and candies. Sure, they’re cool to look at — and I certainly respect the bakers that create them — but I find the decorations often take away from the flavours that I want to taste. Instead, I like to focus on simple recipes prepared with seasonal ingredients. I love making strawberry desserts in summer, pumpkin in fall, thanksgiving themed treats and (of course) holiday sweets! But whatever it is — I like focussing on one flavour, and highlighting it in the best way I can. I use the same idea for my cupcakes — I use the same recipes for my cupcakes that I do for my cakes. It’s almost like having your own personal slice of cake!”
The Beauty Of A Simple Recipe
To some, this may seem “boring or unappealing” — but the experience of biting into a chocolate cake that is oozing with rich, decadent chocolate flavour is incredible. You aren’t distracted by a layer of spicy chili jam, or a rich cinnamon foam, or cereal treat “crust”. Rather, your attention is 100% drawn to the rich flavours of high quality chocolate. Similarly, indulging in a carrot cake (without the addition of pineapples, apples, raisins — or whatever else has been thrown in there through the decades) is simply delicious. The combination of carrots and spices speaks for itself — without the need for acidity or sweetness from other fruits.
“The carrot cake I make is 25 years old. I tried a few times to recreate the recipe, but I regretted it both times… I found the original recipe in a very old publication that’s no longer available — it was some sort of old-school baking magazine. Sometimes I get curious and try the “new flavours” that others are adding — but nothing is quite as satisfying as old and simple recipes.”
Using simple recipes doesn’t mean there’s lack of creativity or talent. In fact, the ability to master the most basic flavours and techniques is incredibly difficult. There are no sprinkles or marshmallow clouds to cover up any mistakes… You have to be precise — there’s absolutely no room for error.
Bringing Imagination To Life
Pina’s creative side shines through in her designs. Adding artistic components to custom cakes is the one time she gets to showcase her imagination and bring her visions to life.
“I love working with customers to create their dream cakes — whether it be making a cake decorated with fondant or creating one with a simple buttercream finish. I always ask for a starting point — there are a million ideas out there, so I need some guidance to start building their perfect design. Once we have a rough idea, I begin to imagine what their cake could look like. Making their vision come to life is challenging — but it’s so much fun. The fondant elements are all made by hand, and each figure is eye-balled — so it takes quite a bit of time and patience. Things can go wrong really quickly with baking, but I love the process of solving the puzzle and creating something incredible.”
The WOW Factor
That WOW moment. That’s the moment that Pina is continuously on the search for. The best part of the job is that moment when a kid comes into the shop for a baked good, or the moment when a custom cake is revealed to the customer.
“Watching as someone takes the first bite of a treat that I made is the best feeling. Seeing their face light up and bringing them a smile is such a humbling experience. When a customer picks up a cake with their mum/dad and I open the box for them to see it — their face is absolutely priceless. That’s why I do this — to shed light on someone’s day, and create an experience they’ll remember forever.”
Sweet Serendipity: My Favourite Carrot Cake Thus Far (Sorry Mom…)
I can attest to this… Pina kindly baked her signature carrot cake for my mum’s birthday celebration. We all gathered around the table, opened up the box, and smiled at the sight of a gorgeous, perfectly-iced cake with a few pink polka dots on the outside. My mum sliced into the cake and revealed the beautiful orange layers inside. It was so light and fluffy, and the colour from the carrots and spices was incredibly vibrant. As my mum took the first bite, her face lit up. Carrot cake is one of her favourite flavours, and the recipe from Sweet Serendipity was 100% CARROT cake. It was lightly spiced, and boasted an incredibly sweet (yet not overpowering) flavour. There were no extra ingredients competing for the spotlight. The carrot and spice took center stage — and we were loving every single bite ❤
Thank You!
Thank you so much to Pina for taking the time to speak with me and share your story. Talking to you was “simply” incredible, and I cannot wait to stop by again and dive into the world of appreciating all your delicious, simple recipes! If you’re begging to try a bite of Pina’s incredible sweets — head on over to her instagram HERE and website HERE to order your favourite treats!
Before I let Pina jump back into her bakery, I had to ask just a few of my favourite quickfire questions…
Quickfire Questions
What Is Your Favourite Food Memory??
“There isn’t one specific thing that lingers with me… There was a lemon meringue pie I made when I was younger that was the first baked good I’d ever made. I think that has to be my most memorable baking experience. It had a graham cracker crust and a homemade lemon filling. I did it all by myself, and I was so proud to share it with my family! I guess that would have to be my favourite baking memory.”
If You Could Have Any Flavour Of Cake, What Would It Be?
Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream — it’s the best of both worlds! But — I can’t have it the other way… Vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream just isn’t the same…although that combo is my nephew’s favourite…
What Are Three Ingredients You Cannot Live Without??
Butter, Sugar, and Chocolate
What Is Your Favourite Treat To Eat??
Wow… I can’t answer that — I have so many favourites! It really depends on the mood i’m in. I guess if I had to choose one, I’d have to say a Sicilian Cannoli. I’m not really sure why, but I’ll never not enjoy eating it! I don’t think i’d ever try making it — but I’ll definitely always eat it. Then again, I also love butter tarts…, I could go on and on — it’s a long list…”
What’s Your Favourite Food To Eat??
My mother made the best gnocchi — nothing else will ever match up! It melts in your mouth. If you haven’t tried using half potato and half ricotta — you have to! It’s the best combination!
