Forget birthday or holiday cakes – Bundt cakes are the new wave of celebration sweets, according to Bend Bundt Cake owner Judy Morrow.

These locally made cakes are not just a dense dessert with a hole in the middle and white icing drizzled over the top. They are a bouquet of festive ribbons, bows and themed decorations, all atop a rich cake.

”That’s what makes them different,” Morrow said. ”It looks nice and tastes good. It is an alternative to everyday gift-giving.”

Morrow has only been selling the cakes since Nov. 15, from a kiosk in the Bend River Promenade. She left the mall Monday, however, and is now seeking a permanent location to expand her business. She’s still accepting and delivering orders.

”I’m trying to find a storefront, hire a baker to work in-house and a designer, instead of contracting everything out like I do now,” she said. ”Right now, I’m working with a local baker and a local florist, who hand-ties the (decorative) toppers.”

Morrow at first baked the Bundt cakes herself, but sales picked up so quickly, she had to seek outside help.

She figures she sells 80 to 100 cakes per week, which her one cook makes from scratch. She offers five different flavors: pumpkin, carrot, cranberry-orange, chocolate chocolate chip and vanilla with chocolate chip.

The most popular flavor is cranberry-orange. Carrot-flavored is No. 2.

The largest cake serves up to 20 people and, with decorations, costs $38; medium cakes serve 10 and cost $33; and small or mini-Bundt cakes serve one or two and cost $7 without decorations, $11 with decorations.

While it’s still too soon to tell how much the business will grow, Morrow said sales are promising. Some customers order as many as 100 cakes and she’s shipped cakes from Portland to the East Coast.

We shipped 40 cakes … just Monday and Tuesday of (last) week, Morrow said. We just put them in a regular cake box, frozen for shipping, and wrap them up with shipping peanuts and cardboard to ensure they dont move around. Weve got it down to almost a science.

How did you get into the business of baking Bundt cakes?

I have a background in sales and always thought it would be a neat idea to sell Bundt cakes. I actually got the idea from some ladies who did it in Las Vegas. My husband, Mark, and I have toyed with the idea since we moved here two years ago.

I thought it would do well in Bend because theres nothing like it here. Reception from customers has been really good so far.

How did you come up with the recipe?

Its our bakers recipe that we tested and modified to get how we wanted.

How will you decorate the New Years cakes?

If you want a New Years cake, we can do that with sparkly stuff coming out of it, maybe a top hat. Maybe some noisemakers. The cakes will be the same flavors, of course.

Being such a small, new business, how do you market yourself?

Id say about 50 percent of our sales come from outside sales. Outside sales are when we go around to local companies, taking samples to them, and they distribute them to employees or customers as gifts. That has really driven business.

Ive found that in Bend, companies are so busy, they dont always say thank you to customers, yet they vie for customers and ways to keep them coming. A lot dont give gifts to customers yet, but giving is a nice way to say thank you. What is a better way to give than with an alternative gift like a pretty Bundt cake?

Also, being a small business, weve donated some cakes to (community holiday parties). We want to focus on the community, to give back to the community, even though were small.

Will you develop any different kinds of cakes?

Ive had requests for gluten-free, sugar-free and low-fat cakes. So Im developing some of those types of cakes next.

What is your favorite type of Bundt cake?

My favorite has been the carrot cake. Its moist and sweet, very tasty. Mark likes it, too.

I try not to eat them too much, though, because I have to watch my weight. I just have a bite, a small amount. I do need to know how they taste, after all.

Anna Sowa can be reached at 541-383-0304 or asowa@bendbulletin.com.

The Basics

What: Bend Bundt Cake

Owner: Judy Morrow

Phone: 541-771-7048