01940 Winter 2020

14 | 01940
Call her
cake boss
the
Pam Shapleigh creates specialty cakes,
cupcakes, cookies, and confectionary treats
from the kitchen of her Lynnfield home.
PHOTOS: SPENSER HASAK
BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN
When it comes to
specialty cakes,
cupcakes, cookies and
yummy confectionary
treats, nobody does it better than Pam
Shapleigh.
Any attempt to describe her
PamShapleighKitchen creations is sure to
come up short. Perhaps the best way to
drum up a visual is, think "Cake Boss."
You name the theme or event, and
Shapleigh comes up with some of the
most unique, whimsical and clever
designs you have ever seen — or eaten,
for that matter. They are sure to put a
smile on the recipient's face.
What started as a hobby for Shapleigh
is now a full-fledged labor of love.
"I was doing some programs in the
schools, which I always loved, but then
COVID hit and I was inundated with
requests for cakes," said Shapleigh. "It
was crazy, people just were demanding to
have these cakes," she said. "I've even had
people say to me after I tell them that I
am booked on the day of the event that
they'll change the date of the birthday
party, just 'tell me when you are free and
I'll move the date.'"
From matching bride-and-groom
top-hats to tea cups to unicorns to green
army men and a "Two Infinity and
Beyond" birthday cake complete with
Buzz LightYear, there is no occasion that
Shapleigh can't pull off to perfection with
an extravagantly-decorated themed-cake.
Her pinata cake is sheer genius.
While the top is a colorful mishmash
of foods - spaghetti, a hamburger, and
upside-down ice cream cone, it's what's
inside that will have your head spinning
with delight and wonder. Slice the
first piece and an avalanche of colorful
trinkets and jewels spills out.
It all started about five years ago when
Lynnfield Community Schools (LCS)
Director Michaelann Herook approached
Shapleigh and asked if she would share
her techniques in classes for adults and
an after-school class for children.
"The classes were booked about
15 minutes after they were posted,"
Shapleigh said. "I couldn't keep up with
the demand and since then the classes
have always had wait lists. I really owe all
of my notoriety to Michaelann. Without
her, I wouldn't be going into Town Hall
to vote early and hear someone say after
hearing my name, 'hey, that's the cake
girl.' I really owe so much to Michaelann
and am so grateful to her."
Shapleigh began posting photos of
her cakes online, including ones showing
customers' expressions when they
received their special treats. Through
her Instagram account and word of
mouth from neighbors and friends,
business took off and soon Shapleigh
was swamped with cake orders. She posts
pictures of every delivery on social media.
"I look at these pictures even today
and am still amazed at how much in awe
these people are who have to have them,"
Shapleigh said.
Shapleigh and her husband, Paul,
moved to Lynnfield 17 years ago. They
have four children together - Samantha,
26, Amanda, 25, Chloe, 18, and Ellie, 14.
Unlike many professional bakeries that
use fondant, Shapleigh prefers her ownhomemade
American buttercream frosting.
"I use it because working with
fondant is so time-consuming and labor
intensive," she said. "When I'm teaching
classes, I'm usually flying in with no
time to spare, so I've perfected my own