Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

Patricia Bedford, B.S.E. ’06, possesses a unique talent for both engineering and baking. She earned her degree in electrical and computer engineering from Baylor and, upon graduation, worked in engineering for over a decade. However, her passion for baking was reignited when her paternal grandmother — affectionately called “Suga” — passed away.

Suga was renowned for bringing people together with her delectable food. Bedford fondly recalled how her grandmother was always in the kitchen, preparing delicious meals and sweets for her family and friends to gather and celebrate. After Suga’s passing, Patricia decided to honor her grandmother by carrying on the family tradition of baking.

In an episode of the “Black Austin Matters” podcast, Bedford shared her commitment, saying, “I told myself that I would attempt to continue her legacy, to keep the family together. So I decided to do that through baking.”

As Bedford began to take baking more seriously, she wanted to ensure that her cakes looked as good on the outside as they tasted on the inside. She enrolled in cake decorating classes at the local craft store, and after receiving encouragement from friends and family, Bedford opened Suga’s Cakery in 2014. Today, Suga’s Cakery specializes in event catering and dietary-friendly treats, and it has expanded with a dessert trailer and a brick-and-mortar store that opened in Pflugerville in April 2023.

Bedford leverages her position as a small business owner to give back to her community, also serving as vice president of the Pflugerville Black Business Builders (PBBB), an organization that supports Black-owned businesses through education and networking. She organized the PBBB Business Symposium, bringing together over 50 business owners to learn from industry leaders.

With love as her secret ingredient in all that she does, Patricia’s creations at Suga’s Cakery are a testament to her grandmother’s legacy, sure to make Suga proud.