Our Story

"Extra Lift’ a signature for cupcake business
By Liane M. Roth
Valley Life Editor


LANCASTER – Most people who open a business that specializes in baked goods attended culinary school or even Le Cordon Bleu – or at the very least took cooking classes or worked in the food service industry.

Marilyn Norris, owner of Double “D” Cupcakes, was inspired to open her shop shortly before Thanksgiving after years of baking mouthwatering desserts for friends, coworkers, her children’s school parties and special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or holiday feasts.

Everyone kept telling me I should go into business – they loved my treats that much,” Norris said. ‘I was so busy raising my kids and working, I just didn’t know when I would have the time. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to stop doing what I was doing – I loved my job and was very happy for a long time.”

Norris began her career more than 20 years ago as a licensed insurance agent and after earning the Associate in Fidelity & Surety Bonding designation from the Insurance Institute of California, Norris specialized in writing multi-million dollar construction surety bonds through California.

Despite her successful career, Norris, who says she has been baking her “whole life”, envisioned a modest but highly efficient bakery where she could indulge in her passion for pastries and other sweet treats.

“I dream about cupcakes.” Norris said. “Basil with orange pastry cream inside and Swiss buttercup cream on top – peanut butter cup with a yummy ganache – what chocolate lovers feel about chocolate is how I feel about cupcakes.”

Already heavily involved with several nonprofit organizations, Norris devoted even more time and energy to fundraisers such as the Heartsounds winter balls, Paraclete’s night of extreme cuisine and numerous others.

Even with all her outside activities, Norris continued to bake for others, picturing the ideal outlet for her baking instincts.

"I told Mark I would love to have a little shop where I could market to restaurants and other caterers, and do some specialty baking – catering, really – on the side.”

After months of meticulous planning and hours upon hours of research along with dozens of spreadsheets, Norris opened her establishment, a wholesale specialty bakery, on Nov. 23 at 620 West Ave. L, “Sweet” 103 in Lancaster.

"We use the finest ingredients in all our baking, including many imported ingredients, to make sure everything is of the highest quality as well as great tasting. We’re a wholesale specialty bakery specializing in gourmet, made from scratch cupcakes, cookies and special order cakes.”

The outside windows of the newly built building are gaily decorated with enormous chocolaty, sprinkle-covered cupcake cutouts so there’s no mistaking what the main commodity is. Cupcakes and more cupcakes cover the long stainless steel table set in the middle of the spotless kitchen where Norris, who refers to herself as “Chief Bakeress” and her employee, Cassie O’Keefe, create literally hundreds of the single-serving indulgences every day. O’Keefe, 2006 graduate of Lancaster High School, attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Sacramento, formerly Kitchen Academy, where she graduated as pastry chef.

While the specialty of the shop is gourmet cupcakes in a variety of unconventional flavors, because of O’Keefe’s mastery of cake baking and decorating, Double “D” now offers custom-order cakes as well.

"She makes the most amazing cakes” Norris said. “If you can describe she can create it. You should see what she can do with fondant.”

According to Norris, the business’ slogan, “Home of the perkiest cupcakes in town,” is a playful twist on the business name, which stands for D-luscious and D-lightful.

Norris created her signature swirl for the peaks of melt-in-your mouth frostings glistening with sugar crystals or embellished with bits of fruit, colorful sprinkles or exotic chips of imported chocolates, nuts and candies.

"All our cupcakes have the signature Double ‘D’ swirl for the extra lift’ after ‘augmenting’ the frosting”. Norris said with a smile.

Ten flavors of cupcakes are baked each day, featuring rich chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and even orange cakes topped with assorted frostings and garnished with various toppings. Special-order cupcakes are offered with at least 48 hours’ notice.

Double “D” Cupcakes is open from 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.