ISO some sweet inspirations for any sort of home baking? Look no further than American Dream Cakes in Jacksonville NC.
With this post, I continue my end-of-the-year series of five fabulous spots in Jacksonville NC. You simply won’t want to miss this sweet little gem of a bakery.
Joining the line up that so far includes Paleteria Deya, an authentic Mexican ice cream shop ; and Southern Breeze Seafood, a fresh seafood market and food truck of the same name, is American Dream Cakes.
American Dream Cakes is a family-owned, veteran-owned bakery. In business for the past 23 years it has become a beloved Jacksonville NC staple for custom cakes, standard cakes, cupcakes, pastries, cookies, pies – the list goes on and on. Not only are the sweets legendary, but American Dream Cakes has the distinction of being Onslow County’s longest operating family-owned bakery,
This Sweet, Family Affair Started with a Blind Date
American Dream Cakes is the creation of Randy and Gunilla Kroshus, pictured below with this food and travel writer, Heidi Billotto.
This husband and wife team has a passion for baking, matched only by their dedication to quality and community. The two met in 1989 in Yugoslavia on a blind date on Valentine’s Day. Randy was stationed there with the US Army and Gunilla, who is originally from Sweden, was in town to visit her mother, who was a Swedish diplomat. The couple dated long distance for a while and then married in the states in 1991. Not only did Gunilla fall in love with Randy, but subsequently she fell in love with their wedding cake. After the wedding, Gunilla decided to try her hand at baking and cake decorating.
Starting Small
After the wedding and a short time stateside, the couple moved to Germany where Gunilla taught herself how to bake and started a little cake shop. In 1999, the Army called them to Jacksonville, NC. This was the last station for the couple during Randy’s active duty. Gunilla did the research and realized that there were no scratch bakeries in Jacksonville. She opened the first iteration of American Dream Cakes in 2001 and Randy helped out on weekends. At that time, their bakery was in a converted garage at their home. They moved into their first store front in 2004. The rest, as they say, is history.
Planning a wedding? Celebrating a birthday? Or, simply craving a little something sweet and delicious, American Dream Cakes in Jacksonville NC, is THE place to go.
Couture Cakes with a Personal Touch
While delicious oversized cupcakes remain the signature item at American Dream Cakes, it’s the custom work here that takes the cake. Specializing in couture wedding cakes and cakes and baked goods for all occasions, Randy, Gunilla and their team put meticulous care into every creation. Their cakes are not just desserts; they are edible works of art.
There is no one size fits all here. From elegant wedding cakes to whimsical birthday designs, these custom cakes are crafted to reflect the personality and theme of your special event.
On my last visit to Jacksonville NC, I had the good fortune to watch Sara and Gunilla create this beach-themed 60th Birthday cake, decorated with all sorts of fabulous, edible hand-made decor from white chocolate shells to pulled sugar waves and then finished with all the glittery trim.
Amazing to watch them work their magic.
The bakery’s dedication to quality means that every cake is baked and decorated fresh to order for clients in Jacksonville NC and those who come from across the Carolinas and beyond. If you say you want to pick up your order at 2 pm. The final touches go on minutes before your arrival to insure that it is all as fresh as possible. Timing and organization is everything here.
Serving Cupcakes in Jacksonville NC, before Cupcakes were Cool
Custom cakes aside, there is lots to love on the regular in the American Dream Cakes pastry case. There is no seating and no extended menu for dine-in options here; but, American Dream Bakery makes up for it with an abundance of grab-and-go items that will satisfy your sweet tooth every single time. Display cases offer an ever-changing selection of distinctive cupcakes, pastries, tortes, cakes, bar cookies and pies. They also make cream puffs, eclairs and cake pops nearly every day. Customers will find seasonal treats – like the Sara’s Pepperkakor which they sell in December, as holiday and occasion demand. Everything is made, from scratch, fresh each day or fresh to order.
When the bakery’s first storefront opened in 2001 in a small space on Gum Branch Road in Jacksonville, cupcakes were the name of their game. Not just any cupcakes, mind you. American Dream Cakes was distinctive from the start ,offering cupcakes easily double the size of any other standard bakery cupcake.
20 years after that first location opened it’s doors, Gunilla and Randy found a larger space on Western Blvd., offering more room for cake decorating and baking stations. American Dream Cakes now calls the 1130 Western Blvd. storefront, home.
Tasting Notes:
For some ideas on what you might want to order, watch my cupcake tasting video here.
Small Batch Production, All Baked On-Site
Every single item is baked fresh on-site daily, in small batches, The team here is baking and decorating throughout the day, ensuring that customers are getting the freshest and most delicious options, every time you visit.
What sets American Dream Bakery apart from many other bakeries is the fact that they bake in small batches. The bakery offers 10-12 different cupcakes each day; but only a half dozen or so of each flavor are presented in the case at one time. As cupcakes sell during the day, Randy and Sami, ADC’s head baker, bake more, rotating through the 100 plus cupcake flavors they offer.
The attention to detail that Randy and Gunilla and their team bring to the table is without rival. The emphasis on taste and flavor is without question.
For me, its the the not-too-sweet, yet perfectly balanced homemade buttercream frosting that gives these cakes and cupcakes the edge.
Special Orders and Custom Cakes
If you are going to American Dream Bakery with something in particular in mind, its best to order in advance. Your cakes or cupcakes will be baked and decorated on the day your order is scheduled for pick up. Nothing is made and frozen in advance.
They strongly suggest if a customer is looking for a particular flavor for a particular day, that an order be placed in advance. Orders for specific flavors, at a minimum of a dozen cupcakes per flavor, require 48 hours notice.
Beyond wedding cakes, the bakery also offers the most beautiful of personalized birthday and special occasion cakes. If you’re looking to celebrate, American Dream Bakery certainly brings the sweet finish , both in taste and design. And, if you need help with your special ocassion, wedding or party planning, the American Dream Cake website is full of powerful information.
Go to AmericanDreamCakes.com for info on everything they bake, how to place special orders, what you need to know about using copyrighted logos or designs and how to plan a wedding or military event. They also have an impressive blog on the site, with all the delicious details on everything they do. Posts include info on how to host their Sweet Treats Trailer at your next fabulous celebration or private event.
Military Cakes Unlike Any Other
With Randy and Gunilla’s history in the US military, and their Jacksonville Nc location, it only make sense that American Dream Bakery specialize in well-crafted military cakes. The amazing images here courtesy of American Dream Cakes.
Not only do they bake for military promotions and retirements, but for military weddings as well.
Grab-N-Go Goodies: Fresh Every Day
For those visiting Jacksonville, whether for a day trip or a longer stay, American Dream Bakery is a must-visit stop. It’s a local business with a heart and a story. Truly the kind of place that embodies the charm of small-town America.
Jacksonville NC is primarily known as being the home of the US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. But, it’s places like American Dream Bakery and the other restaurants in this series. And, all of the places on Jacksonville’s International Food Trail ( a collection of restaurants that I have helped to gather and review), that give the city its unexpected culinary character.
Whether you’re planning a special event, in need of a delicious treat, or just want to support local business, American Dream Bakery is a spot that does not disappoint.
But don’t just take my word for it. I invite you to follow my lead, plan a 2-3 day weekend away to check it all out for yourself.
Headed to the coast? Make plans to stop and discover all the good eats Jacksonville NC has to offer. And, see what makes this family-owned bakery one of North Carolina’s best-kept secrets. #TellThemHeidiSentYou
Where to Find American Dream Bakery:
Address and Phone:
American Dream Cakes; 1130 Western Blvd. ; 910-346-2347
Jacksonville, NC
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 2pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Holiday Hours Vary. In December 2024 the bakery will be closed Dec 22- Jan 1; reopen for business after the new year on Jan 2, 2025
Website & Social Media:
Follow American Dream Cake at @americandreamcakes Instagram; and at American Dream Cakes, Bakery on Facebook. Keep checking the feeds for updates, special designs, and mouth-watering photos of their daily specials!
You’re a “dream cake,” Heidi!