Checking In With ... SusieCakes:

For a sprinkle of sweetness this Valentine’s Day, try SusieCakes in Newport Beach. Owner and founder Susan Sarich makes home-style desserts taste (and look) like heaven. We check in this week to learn what’s baking.

How did you get your start?

I’m from Chicago, and the impetus for SusieCakes was that after moving to the West Coast, I had a lot of trouble finding true Midwestern desserts that weren’t really structured, or made with a lot of ingredients. We put SusieCakes in a Newport Beach lifestyle center, where people can pick up steak, roses and a cake in one location. We love the center we’re in; we opened in April of 2008. We’re working really hard to become a fabric of the community. We try to donate back, as people are very good to us. We only do desserts, and we specialize in decorated cakes. Once we sell a cake, 10 people try it. So business has grown upon itself, and we’re thrilled.

What are you offering for Valentine’s Day?

We are doing great stuff this year. We’ll be open Saturday during normal business hours, and Sunday from 10 to 5; normally, we’re closed Sunday. Our most popular item on Valentine’s Day is our heart-shaped red velvet cake for two. We also have other items like chocolate covered long-stem strawberries on Saturday and Sunday; conversation heart frosted sugar cookies; Makin’ Whoopie pies; cherry pie in a heart-shaped crust; chocolate cream pie topped with whipped cream and a chocolate heart; and the Love Shack, a gingerbread house that can be customized to say things like “Will You Marry Me?” or “I Love You.” All of our cupcakes have little heart sprinkles on them.

Any advice for a big bang without spending big bucks this Valentine’s Day?

Try two chocolate-covered strawberries in a box with a bow. We also sell cards; we’re a one-stop shop this Valentine’s Day. For as little as $3, we can make your gift look like a million bucks. We love to help men succeed.

SusieCakes

Susan Sarich, proprietor

2043 Westcliff Drive No. 104

Newport Beach

(949) 646-6881

susiecakesla.com

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday; normally closed Sundays, but open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Valentine’s Day