🎬 How I Baked a Hollywood-Style Birthday Cake with Detroit Soul for David Alan Grier

When it came time to create a birthday cake for the legendary David Alan Grier, star of St. Denis Medical, I knew I wanted to go beyond just a “favorite flavor.” I wanted to honor his roots, his legacy, and his love for red velvet cake — all while giving it a dash of classic Hollywood glam.

David is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and while researching ideas, I stumbled upon a beautiful tradition from one of the city’s beloved bakeries: Good Cakes and Bakes, which makes its red velvet cake using beet juice instead of red food coloring. Not only is this a natural alternative to artificial dyes, but it’s also a nod to the soulful and authentic flavors that define Detroit’s food scene. That inspiration sparked something deep — I had to try it.

The result? A red velvet cake rich with natural color and flavor, frosted with homemade cream cheese frosting — silky, tangy, and just sweet enough to complement the earthy richness of the cake. But the look? That’s where Hollywood stepped in.

For the design, I kept things elegant and expressive with classic piping techniques: star piping for texture, rosettes for softness and movement, and rope piping for a timeless finish. The color palette of blue and white added a crisp, bold contrast, and the entire cake was accented in gold to give it that extra bit of celebratory sparkle; think vintage glam meets elevated birthday party — the kind of cake that makes you stop in your tracks and say, “Who’s that for?”

Creating this cake for David was such a joy and honor — not only because he’s an icon in comedy and television, but because this cake carried a little piece of where he comes from. A sweet tribute from Detroit to Hollywood. 🌟

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My cakes are made with intention, nostalgia, and a touch of magic. Celebration Cakes

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