When a once in a lifetime opportunity knocks on your door, you take it. Local pastry chef, Kyle Cuffie-Scott did just that. Cuffie-Scott couldn’t believe his ears when he got a call from a friend he wasn’t expecting.
He was asked if he would bake a birthday cake for Janet Jackson. Yes, that Janet Jackson! The living legend, Damita Jo, the icon, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty. Immediately he obliged. After all, it’s not everyday you’re asked to bake a cake for a living legend.
It Started From A Fundraiser Now We’re Here
Cuffie-Scott is the founder and owner of Darnel’s Cakes located in the Old City section of the city.
The company is named after his late cousin, Darnel who passed away 10 years ago from AIDS complications.
What started as a fundraiser to raise awareness for the HIV/AIDS, has now blossomed into a thriving business.
Darnel’s Cakes turns three this month and Cuffie-Scott continues to use his platform to bring awareness to the disease.
What a heartfelt way to honor a loved one and keep their memory alive! Darnel’s Cakes is not only filled with pastries but also passion.
Take The Cake
And now here he was making a cake for a musical icon. Indeed Cuffie-Scott was excited to be bestowed with such an honor, but he was also nervous.
Not only would he be making the cake but he was also going to present the cake to Jackson. Talk about the icing on the cake. He recalls having to rewrite “Happy Birthday Janet” several times on its top layer because his hands were shaking.
Ultimately, the cake came out both beautifully designed and tasty. It was a two-tier strawberry shortcake with a pastry cream filling, cream cheese icing and fresh strawberries draping both layers. Yum!
The cake was completed and it was now time for Cuffie-Scott to take the cake to the superstar!
Happy Birthday Janet Jackson
To celebrate her 57th birthday, Jackson had a private party at the historical Divine Lorraine Hotel on Broad Street. Miss Jackson was seen entering the hotel Tuesday evening with no other than Root’s founder and Philly Icon, Questlove.
Her current tour, Janet Jackson: Together Again, made a stop in Allentown May 18 and will be in Atlantic City May 20th, 2023.
We spoke with Cuffie-Scott who told Secret Philadelphia how honored and excited he was to present Miss Jackson with the cake. He was however, understandably nervous, sweating. Not only did he present the cake but he also had to cut it, “the pressure was on,” Cuffie-Scott laughed, “the pressure was definitely on.” It was moment he will never forget.
Jackson herself looked absolutely flawless and appeared touched by the presentation of the cake. Age 57 where!
Now You Can Have A Piece Of Janet’s Birthday Cake
If you are dying to taste a piece of Janet Jackson’s birthday cake for yourself, now you can! Well, not the actual cake, it’s all gone, but a replica.
Cuffie-Scott is now offering a mini version of the same recipe and cake he created for Miss Jackson. “The Janet” is now available at Darnel’s Cakes.
It’s so good you can enjoy it anytime, anyplace because that’s the way love goes!
Darnel’s Cakes is located at 444 North 3rd Street.