DOUG’S CAKES – TASTY TEMPTATIONS FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS

BY INGRID WEIDMAN | PHOTOS BY WENDY MCCARDLE AND COURTESY OF DOUG REASONER

What defines art varies within the eye of the beholder. Some take technique and skill into consideration. Others believe that creativity and beauty is a must. For Doug Reasoner, he believes his work falls into all of these categories. But Reasoner doesn’t dabble in oils and acrylics; his medium of choice is sugar, flour, eggs and the freshest ingredients he can get his hands on.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and owner of Doug’s Cakes, Reasoner’s interests weren’t always just sugar and spice. “I was a chef for several years,” he says. “In 1982, I came in contact with a Swedish pastry chef, who did things a little differently. I combined some of his technique with my own expertise and started making my own cakes.” Eventually moving from behind the line and into restaurant- equipment sales, Reasoner baked on his own time. But what started as a hobby eventually caught the attention of everyone who tried his desserts. “People everywhere started saying, ‘These are great. Why don’t you sell them?’” Reasoner explains. “After 30 years, I opened Doug’s Cakes.”

“I always want to make sure the flavors are unique. That’s what my cakes are known for.” – Doug Reasoner

And with the tools of his trade instantly at his disposal, Reasoner has designed a menu, which offers his three premier dessert creations in a variety of flavors. Split between Reasoner’s signature cakes, cupcakes, and Doug’s Puffs, it’s nearly too much for anyone with a sweet tooth to pass up. Cakes come in a variety of flavors, including the vanilla rum with fresh fruit, a four-layered creation with a rum-cream icing and strawberries, kiwis, mandarin oranges and almonds, finished with an apricot glaze. Another favorite is the baked Alaska, two yellow-cake layers with hazelnut- liqueur vanilla icing, hazelnut-liqueur ice cream and chopped toasted hazelnuts, finished with a golden- brown meringue topping. “I came up with my own icing, where most of my flavoring or liqueur for the product can be found. The flavors are never overbearing,” Reasoner says. “I use heavy cream, egg whites and other high-quality ingredients in my baking. There is almost no butter in any of my products. That’s what makes them better and different. And when it comes to a cake with liqueur, I also brush the liqueur on the cake, as well as use it in the icing. It really seals in the flavor.” He also offers a Napoleon cake, featuring four layers of puff pastry filled with vanilla-rum crème and topped with fresh fruit and a drizzle of melted white chocolate.

When it comes to cupcakes, you might as well just call them Doug’s mini cakes. “You take a cupcake; they’re all the same,” Reasoner says. “Mine have a filling and are double-iced. They are available in all the same flavors as my cakes and are 50 to 75 percent bigger than my competitors. And I’ve never had anyone tell me they had a dry product.” Some of Reasoner’s most popular cupcakes are the chocolate peanut-butter cup with chocolate icing and real peanut-butter filling, and the chocolate coffee liqueur with chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans. His baked Alaska cupcakes are also a crowd pleaser. Reasoner’s version of crème puffs, or Doug’s puffs, is soft pastry shells filled with your choice of flavored mousse, dipped in white or dark chocolate and topped with shaved chocolate or a variety of nuts.

After years of producing some of the area’s best cakes, Reasoner’s reputation is growing. “It has taken a few years to get the word out, but my business is expanding,” he says. In addition to his normal flow of orders, Reasoner is prepared for any special event that might need an extraordinary dessert. “I can cater almost any event: baby showers, weddings, private parties,” he adds. “For weddings, I usually make a small cake for the ceremony and a showcase table with all the desserts I have to offer. I also deliver all of my products within a 25-mile radius.” Reasoner also offers a cupcake tree that can add a special touch to any occasion, and gift certificates are also available.

But whether shopping for the perfect finish to a meal or the centerpiece of an event, it’s Reasoner’s dedication and passion for his craft that sets Doug’s Cakes apart. “I bake fresh. I always want to make sure my products are high quality, and the flavors are unique,” he says. “That’s what my cakes are known for. I want my customers to have a unique and different experience. I don’t want to be like everybody else.”

For more information, go online at dougscakes.com or call 215-896-7689.