KANSAS CITY, MO — Never underestimate the power of cake. This is a token of knowledge that Mike Elder, founder of Black Sheep Cakes in Wellington, MO, takes very seriously.
As a “Sugar Angel” for Icing Smiles, a non-profit dedicated to providing celebration cakes and treats to families with children facing critical illnesses, Mike has created 32 custom cakes. But for Black Sheep Cakes, it’s about more than just baking a sweet treat.
“We don’t often get a chance to do things that ripple through time,” Mike said. “[Working with] Icing Smiles, I’ve gotten to be a part of some of the best days, but obviously, there are some not-so-good days when I delivered cakes, and it’s made a huge difference. We get to add a little bit of light to these children’s lives, and I think that’s beautiful.”
That light is shared in the form of multi-tiered creations inspired by a young person’s wildest dreams. From a 3-foot sculpted Go, Diego, Go cake to a 3D Mario Kart cake, there’s no design outside of the realm of possibility. Each cake symbolizes a deeper purpose: a chance to go above and beyond for each child.
“Some people may ask, ‘Why does a cake really matter?’” he said. “But it’s a little bit of normalcy for a child who doesn’t get to have it. They live with illness, doctors, hospitals, sometimes even facing death, which just isn’t fair … so, it’s nice to be able to provide a little bit of normal in all that.”
With its 40th Icing Smiles cake on the horizon, Black Sheep Cakes is well-equipped to turn vision into an artistic reality. As Mike looks to the future, all he sees are more opportunities to keep doing good.
This story has been adapted from the May | Q2 2026 Craft to Crumb mini-mag. Read the full digital issue here.
