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Enjoy Cupcakes brings together a small-town bakery, imaginative cupcake flavors, and a close connection to local food. Amber Vander Vliet and her husband, Kevin, opened the business in April 2009. Their work offers a glimpse into the early mornings, practical routines, and creative details behind a specialty bakery.
Enjoy Cupcakes and its Los Olivos location
The bakery’s storefront is in Los Olivos, California, inside the Saarloos and Sons wine tasting lounge. One of its distinctive offerings is “The Flight”: six mini cupcakes paired with a wine tasting. The idea connects the bakery’s desserts with the wines served at the venue.
Amber draws inspiration from local produce, nearby wines, and ingredients grown in her own yard. She also uses what local farmers have available. New flavors are introduced each week, and the bakery has created more than 470 cupcake flavor combinations. For home bakers, this approach is a useful reminder that seasonal fruit, spices, and nuts can bring variety to familiar recipes.
A typical morning in the bakery kitchen
Amber starts work between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m., usually with a triple latte, and begins baking cupcakes and cakes right away. As her coworkers arrive, the team prepares orders and stocks the shop. The pace is busy, but the workday also includes conversation and laughter.
Amber fits in small meals while working, often Greek yogurt or oatmeal with fresh fruit, nuts, and spices. Around 10:00 a.m., Kevin arrives with their children, Foster and Opal, to collect baked goods for the shop. With the retail supplies on their way, Amber can focus on finishing special orders and cakes. Some days also include wedding tastings in the kitchen’s lobby area, followed by dishwashing and cleanup.
For anyone planning an early baking session, preparing ingredients and work surfaces in advance can help keep a busy kitchen organized. A simple meal break is also easier to manage when it is planned around the day’s schedule.
Collecting cake stands and display pieces
Another feature of the bakery is its collection of cake stands and cake plates. The family has collected hundreds over four years, finding distinctive pieces at thrift shops, flea markets, antique stores, boutiques, Etsy, and eBay. Their daughter calls these places “treasure stores,” and family vacations often include a search for new display finds.
When choosing stands for a home gathering, consider both appearance and stability. A level, sturdy surface helps keep cupcakes secure, while stands of different heights can make a dessert table easier to browse.
Cupcakes for weddings and special events
Enjoy Cupcakes also caters desserts and cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. For some catered events, the team brings its bakery setup to the celebration using a fully restored 1960 Shasta cupcake trailer. At the time of this feature, the business was also planning a second retail location inside the Santa Barbara Public Market in downtown Santa Barbara.
For event planners, confirming the dessert selection, serving arrangement, and venue logistics in advance can make catering easier to coordinate. A mobile setup can also bring a distinct visual element to an event.
A closer look at Enjoy Cupcakes
From early-morning baking and weekly flavor experiments to wine-paired mini cupcakes and a collection of display stands, Enjoy Cupcakes reflects a business shaped by its local ingredients and working environment. The bakery’s approach combines creative baking with the practical routines required to prepare orders and cater events.
Photography by Jennifer Young.
