When the economy recently faltered, three local sisters decided to create a new business around an activity they were always sweet on – baking. The three sisters had always cooked and catered together and enjoyed each other’s company.
So in May of 2009, infused with a new entrepreneurial spirit, the trio created Full Spirited Flavours based in Phoenixville, a line of gourmet cakes infused with top shelf liqueurs and quality ingredients. The business was baked up by sisters Carole Algier, Sue Katein and Kathy Lanyon. Each one brings her own flavor and role to the company and their tiny office is filled with big hearts and lots of laughter.
Prosperity is a pillar of this small business. Carole designed the company’s logo, the “Prosperity Tree” and their cakes are known as prosperity cakes. According to the their website, their sisterly bond continually brings their business great fortune, “Utilizing the strength we derive from each other, as sisters, friends and partners, our commitment to each other and our goals has been the strong bond and faith that guides us to the next level. The “Prosperity” trunk [made up of the words hope, dreams, imagine, believe, success and health] is the strength that supports us and the branches represent the upcoming riches of growth and determination.”
Currently, their prosperity cakes come in four flavors in festive color-coordinated polka dot boxes – Amaretto Liqueur Cake, Chocolate Razz Liqueur Cake, Limoncello Liqueur Cake and Mango Coconut Rum Cake. Eventually the cakes will be available in other flavors, but they diligently work to perfect each recipe before launching new flavors.
Each luscious cake is moist, rich, and flavorful. These unforgettable cakes come in a variety of sizes: a full size (2.6 pounds which serves 10 to 15 people), a junior size (serves 2 to 4 people), bundt size and a four pack of fun.
Full Spirited Flavours cakes have generated quite a buzz. They were featured recently on the Rachel Ray and The 10! Show. The cakes have been given out as favors at the Sundance Film Festival, Marriott Marco Island, Ritz Carlton and the Hilton in Philadelphia. The Nibble named them one of the top 10 gourmet foods for 2010. After sampling one of their cakes in a gift basket, the president of QVC recently set the wheels in motion to have prosperity cakes presented on the shopping channel. Full Spirited Flavours is expected to make their QVC debut in a few months.
The sisters started creating their cakes in rented kitchens. As they’ve grown, they’ve hired a local bakery to make the cakes under their supervision. Despite their popularity, each cake is still hand made in small batches by chef Chad Durkin at Desserts International, a bakery in Lionville, over the course of two days. The liqueur is infused in both the cakes and glaze during the process.
Carole created the original recipes and has been serving the amaretto liqueur cake at family parties for 35 years. For three months, she worked with international pastry chef Chad to teach him her unique recipes.
The Prosperity cakes can be purchased from D’Innocenzo’s Bakery in Lancaster County Farmer’s Market in Wayne, UpHome in Malvern, Montesano Bros in Chester Springs, Limoncello in West Chester, Epicurean in Phoenixville, Tattoria Guiseppe in Newtown Square, American Bar and Grill in Chester Springs and Sassano’s in Paoli or shipped all over the country. Alcohol is a natural preservative, so the cakes have an unrefrigerated shelf life of two months and they can freeze up to three months. The junior cakes make a perfect parting gift for your next event or as a corporate gift.
These sisters have many fresh ideas in the works, so look for new products in the future. Full Spirited Flavours philosophy is “life is short, start with dessert first”, so bring some prosperity in your life with a gourmet cake from Full Spirited Flavours.
