From stress reliever to sweet venture
Tru-Sha Russell blooms as a baker
Published:Thursday | August 21, 2025 | 12:17 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
During her days at university, whenever Tru-Sha Russell got anxious during examination season, she would turn to an unexpected stress reliever: baking. Creating sweet treats came naturally to her. But she never imagined that she could convert her passion into a cake company.
Though she was nervous to start this new chapter, she discovered her greatest blessing on the other side of fear. And after serious consideration, this aunched her blooming business, 35 Bakery Delights.
“This journey began as a personal hobby and later blossomed into an official venture in early 2024. I was very afraid to do it, but I decided to just do it scared and done. The responses have been genuinely warm so far, particularly to the floral cupcakes. One of the most frequent comments I receive is, ‘They’re too pretty to eat!’ And that’s a sentiment I deeply appreciate,” Russell told Food.
Providing pastries for any occasion, the orders tend to range from birthdays and weddings to Valentine’s Day and bridal and baby showers, due to the floral designs. “We have a list of flavours, but clients seem to really love our chocolate, coconut, vanilla bean and lemon cupcakes,” she highlighted.
When it came to the business name, placing the number 35 in the business name was a no-brainer, since it holds personal significance. She grew up with her grandmother in a loving home that held that house number.
“Our house was filled with love, warmth, and an open-hearted joy that has shaped who I am today. Naming my business 35 Bakery Delights is a tribute to her legacy. It represents more than just a place; it symbolises the spirit of hospitality, care, and comfort she so effortlessly shared,” she said.
She hopes that each of her desserts carries that same love and warmth with every bite.
Her inspiration for floral cupcakes came unexpectedly while she was preparing desserts for her sister-in-law’s bridal shower. It was then that she began doing research, and she discovered the magical experience of buttercream flowers.
Fascinated by the new cupcake trend, she went through a series of trials and errors before mastering that unique baking skill.
For this year’s Taste of Art exhibit, Russell was among the featured cake artists, tasked with creating centrepieces for the Bridgerton-themed event. “The cupcakes were decorated with mini buttercream bouquets in teacups.”
Her exhibit featured an exquisite bouquet to celebrate the Regency era. “Although I don’t normally do bouquets, in the spirit of the theme, I thought to myself, ‘ Why not?’ It aligned perfectly with the elegance of the Bridgerton theme, so I just went for it, and it was a fun experience,” she said.
Her kitchen is considered to be the creative lab where signature recipes are tested, refined and perfected. “It’s always a pleasant surprise for customers when the taste doesn’t match their expectation of overwhelming sweetness. I put in a lot of effort into ensuring that every cupcake is as enjoyable to eat as it is to admire. A significant amount of thought and care goes into perfecting both the aesthetic and the taste because I don’t want to compromise one for the other,” the entrepreneur shared.
And her creative process is a mixture of inspiration, planning, and hands-on experimentation. “It usually begins with a spark; sometimes it’s a colour palette, a season, a flower, or even a feeling I want to capture. From there, I sketch or plan the design concept,” she said.
Some clients will reveal their heart’s desire for their orders. But the majority will share the flavours and colours wanted and give Russell the creative freedom, much to her delight, in the design department.
Custom orders can take a few hours or a day or two, depending on the size and complex nature.
Wearing the hat of an entrepreneur is daunting enough; Russell is currently juggling the art of baking with running a business while feeding the demands of her nine-to-five. “It’s challenging,” she admitted, noting that in a competitive, image-driven industry, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. “I’ve learned to lean into what makes 35 Bakery Delights unique and to grow at my own pace. I also make a conscious decision to show up and take my place, even when I’m afraid.”
Learning new techniques and exploring different delicious dimensions have allowed Russell to create beautiful and flavourful masterpieces. “There’s something deeply fulfilling about turning simple ingredients into something that not only looks elegant but also carries emotion, memory, and celebration.”