Durham-based baker delivers custom cakes, tasty treats and inspiration

Trista Sanford, owner of Bespoke Bakery & Dessert Bar, is delivering creative confections right to your door.

She runs everything online, and she can handle just about any type of project you can throw at her.

Customers just email an order, Sanford will make it and then deliver. Talk about a piece of cake!

“I have a spirit of, ‘yes,’” Sanford said. “Just email me what you want, and I’m probably going to say yes.”

Sanford grew up in Nashville and that’s where she met her now-husband, Doug. But Doug was from Durham, and in 2016, they booked it back to the Bull City.

“He’s originally from Durham, born and bred. So, he told me when we first started dating that he wanted to come back home,” Sanford said. “So, I agreed, after we got married, we could move here.”

And when they moved, she brought some of that Music City flavor to the Triangle.

"I’ve always brought Nashville with me,” Sanford explained. “I’ve named a majority of my cupcakes after places in Nashville, just kind of interweaving who I am in my business.”

One thing that’s helped Sanford operate successfully with the online business model is social media. It’s a direct way for customers to see what she can do. So, for her, looking good on the ‘Gram is crucial.

“Instagram has definitely been helpful for my business,” she said. “Just getting the word out, and as people share it, it’s kind of that word of mouth. So, it’s more authentic and genuine.”

Sanford knew her calling from a young age, and it all started with a Christmas gift from mom and dad.

“I think I was in fourth grade when I asked for an Easy Bake Oven,” she recalled. “And I have been a foodie most of my life.”

And now she’s a mom to another little foodie named Naomi

“A lot of customers have seen her, she’ll pop up because I’ve done virtual consultations, so if she sees you on camera, she’s going to say hello,” Sanford described.

She says that balancing motherhood and a business during a pandemic forced her to hit the reset button. And she’s so glad she did.

“We get so used to the cycle. I’m going to get up at 6, I’m going to get ready for work, I’m going to get my daughter ready, my husband’s leaving, and so I was kind of in this cycle where I wasn’t really able to dream and do,” she explained.

“With the pandemic, everything stopped.”

It was the perfect chance to mix things up.

“The more time I was able to spend at home, I could say, ‘you know what, I’m going to take a 10-minute break, and I’m just going to create something,’” she said.

“I was able to quit my job. Now I’m a business owner, full time. And that’s been amazing. I get more time with my daughter, more time with my husband, and more time to be creative.”

And when you think about it, that’s what’s really important. Finding what you’re great at, what means something to you and inspiring others to do the same.

“We’re navigating in really weird times right now,” Sanford said. “I just want to encourage women, Black women, people in general, just to go for your dreams. Live intentionally, live inspired and love.”

You can visit Bespoke Bakery online, and can contact Sanford for orders at indulge@bespokedessertbar.com or by phone at 919-473-3327