Chock-full of ridiculous deliciousness at new bakery in Modesto

There’s a lot to like when you walk into Nothing Bundt Cakes.

The new bakery in north Modesto is just darling, with cute aprons hanging in the window and tables adorned with party supplies and festive dishtowels. It’s very sweet and inviting.

And then, you taste the cakes. Oh, my goodness, the cakes.

The day I visited, the staff had set out samples of pecan praline to try. As always, for the sake of journalistic integrity, I had a taste. And then I tried lemon raspberry, a featured flavor and one of operation manager Wendy Stuart’s favorites, she said. They were wonderful. Not too sweet, with perfect texture. “What’s the secret?” I asked Stuart. She’s clearly heard that question before.

“I can’t tell you,” she said. “Even the bakers are sworn to secrecy.”

Though the local shop just opened Aug. 5, business has been brisk, Stuart said.

“The community response has been wonderful,” she said. Indeed, while I was there, a steady stream of customers visited, including one man who had been in the habit of picking up cakes at the Roseville location and bringing them to Modesto.

Nothing Bundt Cakes started as a hobby of two stay-at-home moms, Stuart said.

Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz started making cakes for friends and family in 1997, according to the bakery website.

“The cakes they made were delicious, unlike anything anyone had tasted,” the website says. “As a result, their friends and family asked them to entertain more and more.”

The hobby turned into a business, which then turned into a franchise. Now, there are nearly 200 Nothing Bundt Cakes bakeries across the country.

The cakes come in everything from bite-size “bundtinis” to tiered cakes that feed up to 30 people. Flavors include cinnamon swirl, chocolate chocolate chip and red velvet. They are available with festive decorations for almost any occasion. I thought the “Spooky” version was over-the-top cute.

While I was speaking with Stuart last week, the word “ridiculous” came up frequently when discussing how good the cakes are. And it seems like a good use of the word.

I asked 5-year-old Emily Taylor her thoughts after she tried the pecan praline. “It’s so good!” she said, doing a little twirl.

Stuart laughed. “Cakes so good it makes you dance,” she said.

Indeed.

Find Nothing Bundt Cakes at 2100 Standiford Ave., Modesto. Call 209-524-2253. A grand opening is scheduled Saturday.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

On Tuesday, you can get a good deal on pancakes at International House of Pancakes and do a good deed at the same time.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., IHOP restaurants across the country will offer a short stack of pancakes for $1, and all the proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry. The national nonprofit organization is aimed at connecting children in need and their families with nutritious food and the skills to cook healthy, affordable meals.

And finally, get those blankets and lawn chairs – and your appetite – ready.

The Ceres Chamber of Commerce will have its third annual Smoke on the River fundraiser Saturday. According to the chamber, the event will draw barbecue contestants from all over California to the River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center. Admission is $10 per person, with barbecue tasting tickets available for $2 each or three for $5. The event also includes live music and craft beer.

For more information or tickets, see the chamber’s Facebook page.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Chock-full of ridiculous deliciousness at new bakery in Modesto."