About Nishat

Hi! My name is Nishat and I am a self-taught cake decorator that started this business in 2013. After graduating high school and having lots of spare time on my hands, I decided to venture off and pursue a few of my passions and interests. I always had an interest in arts in crafts and grew up watching shows on Food Network like Ace of Cakes which always intrigued me. I took a few classes that taught me the basics of buttercream and then took it a step further by teaching myself more techniques through YouTube and blogs. I started making custom cakes for family and friends then decided to show and express this creative art to the world.

I created a Facebook and Instagram page which was the start of this business. My pages slowly took flight as I posted more and more of my work however I was also getting busier with my educational endeavors as a college student. But why stop pursuing a passion of mine? I decided to take Cherry On Top Cake with me to Irvine where I was accepted as a psychology transfer student at University of California, Irvine (UCI). While studying, working, and socializing like a normal college student I was also building this brand for Cherry On Top Cake and becoming a popular name on campus. I created cake-in-a-jars during finals week, delivered goodies to students for Valentines Day, and catered desserts for Greek Life events. After graduating with my Bachelors degree at UCI, the company moved with me to Los Angeles as I attended University of Southern California (USC) for my Masters program in Educational Counseling. I had successful graduation sales, catered dessert tables for events, and delivered birthday cakes to the surrounding cities of LA.

It was here that I also started understanding and embracing my Bangladeshi culture more. As a first-generation American, I wanted to pay homage to my native land and have a piece of that identity in my work. It’s no secret that South Asian cuisine is some of the best in the world. Beyond the savory dishes, there are some truly indulgent sweets! From mango lassi to gulab jamun- desserts/drinks across South Asia hit the right spot. However, being a minority group in SoCal comes with minor setbacks including having to assimilate to the norms around us and have typical “American” desserts at events. I found that there weren’t that many flavors that represent our culture in today’s cake shops and I started experimenting. I created cupcakes flavors that are unique and replicate popular foods like jalebi, gulab jamun, chai spice, rose, and pistachio. I also create custom cakes designed to look like Sherwanis, Sarees, and Henna which are traditional South Asian attires.

Now as an academic advisor & college professor at a community college in Los Angeles, I have built this brand that effortlessly combines my two passions in life- helping students in higher education and creating cake masterpieces. Why do I tell you this story? I want to inspire others. I’ve heard of many people who let go of their aspirations and dreams simply because they feel like they do not have enough time, they don’t think they can reach them, they are fearful of the potential failures, or they give up when someone says no. Sometimes this self-doubt leads to not living our life to the fullest and doing all that we love.

I hope you embark on this journey with me as I continue to pursue my dreams.

*Special shoutout to my amazing family (Mom, Dad, Rashad, and Nas) who have supported me throughout this journey since day 1; whether it be washing my dishes, boxing the treats, or helping me frost cupcakes at 4 am. There’s too many supportive friends to name but I value every single one of you that comments, likes, shares, and even orders - it doesn’t go unnoticed. Love you all.