If you’ve ever seen those beautifully decorated cupcakes and thought there’s no way I could make that, Annalise from Sweet B’s Bake Shop might change your mind.
We recently invited Annalise over to do a cupcake decorating class with part of the Kidlist team, and it was one of the most fun afternoons we’ve had together. She walked us through creating adorable dog-face cupcakes that looked incredibly intricate, but she made the whole process feel simple and approachable.
Even better? Every single person in the room ended up with cupcakes that looked amazing.
A Self-Taught Baker with Local Roots
Annalise grew up in Elmhurst and started Sweet B’s Bake Shop about five years ago. What began as a passion for baking has turned into a thriving home bakery based in Lincolnshire where she creates custom cakes and cupcakes for birthdays, celebrations, and special events.
She’s a completely self-taught baker, and it shows in the best way. Her desserts taste like the kind of homemade treats you wish you could make yourself.
Later that afternoon I tried one of the vanilla cupcakes we decorated, and it was honestly one of the best cupcakes I’ve had in a long time. The texture was incredibly light, almost like a cross between a traditional vanilla cupcake and angel food cake.
If you love baked goods that taste homemade rather than overly sweet or artificial, you’ll understand why her customers keep coming back.
Learn to Decorate Cupcakes Yourself
In addition to custom orders, Annalise teaches hands-on decorating classes for both adults and kids.
She currently teaches classes at:
- The Joyful Gourmet in Libertyville
- Elawa Farm in Lake Forest
Each class walks participants through decorating six cupcakes using professional buttercream techniques while learning piping tips and tricks that make impressive designs surprisingly doable. Classes are beginner-friendly and typically last about 1½–2 hours, so even people with no decorating experience can jump in and have fun.
Most classes include 8–14 participants, depending on the age group and the intricacy of the designs.
Upcoming kid’s classes:
- My Grown-Up & Me Sesame Street Cupcake Decorating Class at The Joyful Gourmet: April 4
- Rainbow Fish: My Grown-Up & Me Cupcake Decorating at Elawa Farm: April 11
- Fairy Garden Cupcake Decorating at Elawa Farm: May 17
Upcoming adult classes:
- Mermaid Cupcake Decorating Class for Beginners at The Joyful Gourmet: March 22
- Intermediate Cupcake Decorating Class – Floral Bouquet at The Joyful Gourmet: April 26
The best way to stay up to date with Annalise’s classes is to head to the Linktree in her Instagram profile. Here’s the direct link:
Perfect for Parties, Groups, and Special Events
Annalise also offers private cupcake and cake decorating classes, which can be a fun activity for:
- Birthday parties
- Girls’ nights
- Team events
- Parent-child experiences
- Small group gatherings
She can even come to your home and brings all of the cupcakes, frosting, decorating supplies, and tools, making it easy to host a memorable experience without having to plan anything complicated. There’s not much clean up either!
Private classes can accommodate up to 16 participants if space allows, and parties can be tailored for different ages. Even little ones as young as 2 years old for “grown-up and me” style classes.
Private decorating parties typically range from $40–$60 per participant.
After doing the class ourselves, we can confirm: it’s the kind of activity where everyone laughs, learns something new, and leaves with treats they’re proud of.
Custom Cakes and Cupcakes
Sweet B’s Bake Shop also creates custom cakes and cupcakes for celebrations. Pricing starts around:
- Cakes starting at $65
- Cupcakes $42 per dozen
Flavors include classics like vanilla, chocolate, funfetti, and lemon with buttercream, cream cheese, or specialty fillings.
How to Order or Book a Class
To learn more about classes or place a custom order:
