Sarah’s Cake Shop expansion means more grab-and-go goodies

West County just got a little bit sweeter, thanks to the recent expansion of Sarah’s Cake Shop. Jill Umbarger has more than doubled the size of her popular specialty cake and dessert shop, a change that has allowed her to provide a seating area and significantly expand her daily offerings.

“Now we have two display cases, and they’re always full,” Umbarger said. “People can stop in here any time to get a cake, a specialty dessert, some cookies – whatever.”

This week marks nine years in business for Umbarger, a West County resident who opened her first operation – Sarah’s Café in Wildwood – on Dec. 13, 1993. She later moved her business to Chesterfield, opening Sarah’s Cake Shop, which quickly became known for its delicious, ready-made and custom cakes, cupcakes and bite-sized desserts for birthdays, weddings and other special occasions.

More recently, Umbarger took her culinary talents to the streets with two food trucks: Sarah’s Cake Stop, serving cupcakes and other desserts, and Sarah’s Meltdown, offering gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, salads and her latest addition – Sloppy Joe Nachos prepared with homemade chips and homemade cheese sauce.

Along with its new look, Sarah’s has some new menu items, including breakfast breads, quiche, Rustic Fruit Tarts and scones. Those who have the time will be tempted to linger and enjoy a breakfast item with a cup of locally roasted Thomas coffee in the new seating area, which is cheerfully outfitted with pink and white checkerboard flooring and comfortable, shabby chic furnishings.

Also new is a line of six specialty cakes that are available any time.

“Our specialty cakes are three-layer, 8-inch round cakes that are ready to go for last-minute pickup,” Umbarger said.

An assortment of cupcakes always is available, too.

“We’re doing a cupcake of the month now,” said Umbarger, noting that Sarah’s also offers a breakfast bread of the month and cookie of the month. “We have anywhere from seven to eight cupcake flavors offered in-house every day.”

Sarah’s’ “small bites” are perfect purchased singly to satisfy a sweet tooth or in bulk for special occasions. Options include Traditional Petit Fours; Cake Truffles, in chocolate or yellow; Glitter Bites (buttercream-filled cake puffs covered in chocolate and sanding sugar); Dessert Shots (cake and mousse layered in shot glasses); Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts; and Cake Pops (cake truffles dipped in chocolate).

For special orders, Sarah’s’ pastry chefs are happy to create custom cakes in a variety of flavors and sizes. Measuring 5 inches high, they are built with four layers of cake and three layers of filling, iced and filled with buttercream or a specialty filling of the customer’s choice.

Sarah’s also offers catering for home parties and corporate events.

“We can help people create dessert bars, we’ll set up, and we’ll deliver,” Umbarger said. “We also offer rentals of any kind of dessert display.”

Open at 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday and until 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, most any time is a good time to stop in and see what’s new at Sarah’s.

Sarah’s Cake Shop

10 Clarkson Wilson Centre • Chesterfield

636-728-1140

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Tues.; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed.-Sat.

(open until 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve)

www.sarahscafestl.com