Amity Grad Brings Home Bakery to Woodbridge

Erica Saldamarco is like many young entrepreneurs:  she knew she wanted to be her own boss.  She tested the waters in a few different professions before finding her true calling and early next month she will start a home-based bakery business called Sweet E’s Confections LLC out of the basement of her parents’ Woodbridge home. 

Ever since taking a culinary class at when she was a teenager, the now 23-year-old has loved to bake. She recently graduated from the Lincoln Culinary Institute and from her new bakery, she will bake and decorate custom cakes to rival the likes of those seen on the television show Cake Boss.  

“When I’m baking, I keep those bakers in mind and always try to do better than them,” she says.  Work on the bakery included began a few months ago and included installing checkered tile floors, industrial grade stainless appliances and five sinks.

She received approval to open the home-based business from the Woodbridge Plan and Zoning Commission last month and as soon as she receives permit from the Quinnipiac Valley Health District, she’ll be ready to start taking orders.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own business, it just took me a long time to figure out what I’d like to do,” she says. At one point, she thought she’d start a career in special education, then she toyed with the idea of becoming a hairdresser and then it clicked: she knew she wanted to open a bakery.

“In high school, I was all about the culinary class at Amity High School. Ever since then, I’ve been doing cakes,” she says. 

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Her colorful fondant covered cakes appeal to children and adults featuring playful cartoon characters or intricate designs. After mastering those custom cakes, she’s added cupcakes, pies and other desserts. Now she’s becoming well-known for her specially flavored Italian ricotta filled cannolis that come with candy or cookie pieces, fruit and other additions. Her menu also includes pastries, petit fours, chocolate dipped treats, muffins, tortes and candies.

“I’ll make custom cakes, custom cupcakes, pies, cookies, cookie trays, pretty much everything. I’ll take orders for anything,” Saldamarco says.

Her offerings will include the basic vanilla and chocolate cakes, but also red velvet, chiffon, banana, and tres leches filled with a choice of fillings such as chocolate ganache, espresso buttercream, German chocolate, lemon/lime mousse and cinnamon cream cheese.

She admits that though it’s a big move, the basement bakery is a start for Sweet E’s. Her next dream is to have a bakery storefront.

“Someday,” she says. For now, she’s thankful to her parents for allowing her to set up shop in their home.

“They’ve been so supportive and helpful to me,” she says.

To contact Sweet E's call  (203) 996-4264. Once the business receives its final approval, the address will be 2 Old Farm Rd. The business also has a Facebook page.