Meet Quincey Troudt | Cake Artist & Owner of QT Cakes By Quincey

We had the good fortune of connecting with Quincey Troudt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Quincey, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Choosing to pursue a creative career is both exhilarating and terrifying all at once – especially in a wedding atmosphere. I actually never expected myself to get into the field of wedding cakes. When I envisioned my career down the road, when I was in college, I thought I’d “own a little bakery” and “maybe sell cookies and cupcakes”. Fast-forward 5 years later and I am creating beautiful wedding cakes feeding any where from 2 to 350 people, each with their own love story attached to it.

Why did I pursue this career? Because every day of my work is different. Every cake I design, build & deliver is like a snowflake – no two are exactly the same. I get to be just a small part of hundreds of weddings here in Colorado and hear each love story that brought them to this moment. I am blessed to witness time and time again, couples plan their celebrations whether they are eloping on top of a mountain or saying I do in front of hundreds of loved ones on a rustic ranch. I spend hours with each client creating their dream cake (or other desserts) that will live on as a memory of their special day.

Being able to display my artistic ability with something edible while bringing smiles to people’s faces (and their stomachs) makes my career absolutely enjoyable. I don’t sit in an office. I don’t mass produce something that thousands can say they have the EXACT same one of. And although they are the majority of my business, I don’t just do wedding cakes. For as much time as I spend with a couple planning their ever-after, I also spend time with the mother who is planning her 5 year-old’s birthday, the best friend designing a baby shower party or even all the “just because” clients who reach out.

I see each cake I make as a memory. A memory of the couple that found each other on opposite ends of the world and wanted their cake to show the traveling story of their love. A memory of the couple who tried for 10 years to get pregnant and are now wanting a cake to celebrate their miracle 1 year-old. Or the couple that found love 50 years ago, and would love to celebrate the fact that they want to spend another 50 years with their person.

Growing up, I had one rule for myself when it came to my future career:

“I want to wake up every morning EXCITED to go to work. For if I don’t, it’s not passion I was meant to do.”
(Because why waste life doing something that doesn’t bring you joy?)

QT Cakes By Quincey is the production of this goal I set for myself – and I couldn’t be happier with where it has brought me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Cake Artist! I’ve spent countless hours designing, building & delivering cakes (or as I like to call it – “Edible Art”) for clients across the world. There are hundreds of Cake artists/decorators that create beautiful masterpieces for us all to enjoy. So why do clients choose me for their special event? If I had to break it down, I would say my work isn’t sought after just for the look of what I display on social media or on my website. I believe it is the “Small Town Feel” I bring to the table with each cake I make.

I don’t see myself as someone who mass produces something to eat for clients, but something that tells a story or creates a memory for each them. Each cake I make is made for a reason, whether it is for a wedding, baby shower, anniversary, birthday, etc. Being able to be located in a smaller town in Colorado, may lower the amount of clients I see in comparison to the big city – but I feel it also gives me an advantage to get to know each of my clients better. I get to know them, I get to create something with them, and I get to be a part of their lives (if even for just a day).

I want my clients to know that each cake they order from me is made with the love and passion from start to finish – with nothing but their happiness in mind.
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There are so many things I am proud of since starting my career as a Cake Artist. Knowing that I started this business from my home kitchen – making cupcakes for friends’ birthdays – to now making cakes for hundreds of people at amazing venues across the states still blows my mind to this day. The craziest part? I feel like I am still no where near where this business can grow to become. And that is exciting.
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With all this being said, was it easy? Absolutely not.
Was it worth it? Every second – yes.

I truly feel that in order to be successful, you have to see the bad times along with the good. You have to experience the struggles to prepare you for the successes.

When I first started my business, it was nothing but a fun hobby that I used to make baked goods for friends and family. As time went on, and my passion grew, so did the challenges. Knowing that the only way I was going to get better at my craft was to try more things, branch out my talents, take on more clients/events – I found that the first couple years were hard. Impossible? No. But to say that the same style cakes I can now do with my eyes closed, use to take me hours upon hours.. is an understatement. I spent weeks attempting cake designs that were outside my comfort zone. I spent months developing skills and purchasing tools that would help make my business run smoother. I even spent hours on Youtube and other video streaming services watching other cake artists show off their crafts as I tried to learn from them.

I can now say that although I am always learning and wanting to enhance my skills – the hours/weeks/months/years I’ve put into my career all ready have made my business thrive.

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You learn lessons in almost everything you do – especially in businesses. I’d say the biggest lesson I’ve learned since starting this career path is learning how to balance my work and personal life.

I’ve always been what you call “A Workaholic” – having two jobs, being a collegiate athlete & finishing two degrees all at the same time was normal for me. So when I started my business, it was easy to find myself lost in my work for hours upon hours – only “coming up for air” when I needed to eat or sleep. Even after getting married, I still found myself focused on my career alongside my marriage (it helped that I married someone as passionate about working as me). But it wasn’t until we had our son that things seemed to change.

I always wanted to have children & I always wanted to be a present parent like mine were growing up. Which caused turmoil in my previously busy career life. The transition from being a full-time worker bee to being a full-time Mom on top of that was hard – but worth it. It took time, but finding the flow and ability to switch from Cake Artist/Business Owner to Mommy/Wife was one of the most important lessons I learned and accomplished. Of course there are still rough days or days I’m not perfectly balanced between the two. But knowing that your personal life is just as important (if not more) as your work life is the best lesson anyone could experience.

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There is a lot I’d love to share about how QT Cakes By Quincey came to be. I wish I could write them all. But the main points being:

1) Becoming a baker wasn’t something I told my Kindergarten teacher what I wanted to be when I grew up. If that were the case, I would’ve been a nurse, (or the princess of a mountain). Through trial and error I discovered my passion and built it to what it is today. So to those who feel like they don’t know where their life is taking them, or are surrounded my friends/family who “have it all together” – don’t fret. Your passion finds you when you’re ready for it – so never stop exploring the possibilities or give up.

2) QT Cakes By Quincey was named after (technically before) my husband proposed to me, In the early days of me starting up my baking journey, I talked with friends and family about what I would call my “future bakery”. I wanted something clever but also something with personal meaning. On the day that my husband (boyfriend during that time) graduated, I made jokes with everyone that if I married someone with the last name starting with “T” I could name my business “QT Cakes” using my initials (at the time my name was Quincey Pedersen). Sure enough, an hour later he proposed and I took his last name “Troudt” (I promise I married him for more than just his last name haha). and QT Cakes came to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I always get excited when someone comes up to the Buena Vista area to visit. Growing up in Colorado, especially in a Small Tourist town (Grand County – home of: Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, etc). made me realize how many people love to escape the busy, city life to enjoy the mountains.

If it were a friend coming to visit for a week, you’d bet a sweet penny that they’d be spending a majority of it on my husband’s family ranch. We’ve built a home there and help with the daily hustle of cattle, hay & anything ranch related. Because who doesn’t want to spend an hour a day feeding adorable “Bottle Baby Calves” or enjoying the wide open fields of beauty.

Outside of the ranch endeavors, there are a few places I would absolutely take them to eat:

•Eddyline Brewery (because pizza & beer of course)
•Louie’s Ice Cream Shop (to enjoy a delicious scoop of one of their 15+ flavors)
•Sorelles Delicatessen (to have mouth-watering sandwiches and homemade desserts)
•Along with a Fancy night out to “Wesley & Rose – Surf Hotel” (for unique cocktails, wine and food that will satisfy any craving).
•Whiskey lover? Deer Hammer Distillery will be calling to us)

Aside from stuffing our faces, Buena Vista offers an outdoor escape for any adventurer:

•Hike one of our many trails or challenge ourselves to complete a 14’er during their visit.
•Raft down the river through any of our fantastic companies surrounding us.
•Relax and soak at the Hot springs and get a spa treatment (especially after hiking a mountain or rafting down the river)
•Get a day pass at Peak Fitness and enjoy their fantastic rock climbing facilities along with a quick workout to keep you going.
•Explore any of the local shops or grab a coffee from Brown Dog Coffee & chat with any of the locals. (One of the nicest places I’ve ever lived alongside so many welcoming people).

And at the end of the day, you can’t go wrong camping a night or two with nothing but the sounds of nature and a sky full of stars. It’s truly a blessing living in such a beautiful area like this.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have helped me get to where I am in my life. Not to be cliche, but I feel every person I have met has guided me to the success I’ve reached in one way or another. Some very important people who make the top of the list are:

*My Husband (Cody): I met my husband in college, right after I made the decision to drop all of my current kinesiology courses and transfer to the Culinary Arts department. From day #1, he has done nothing but support my passion and aid me in building it to what it is now. Between being my delivery driver, dishwasher, cake assistant, emotional support, and even design and build my dream kitchen for me – he is the reason for my success.

*My Son (Daxton): Although my son didn’t enter the world until after QT Cakes By Quincey was up and running, he is the reason I strive to be the best I can be. We leave a legacy behind for our children. We want to be the role model we always hoped for and to know they are proud of us for each decision we have made. My son is only 2.5 years old, but his passion for the kitchen and baking with Mom just enhances my motivation to continue what I do.

*My Parents (Pam & Stacy): Not only for raising me to believe that there is nothing I can’t accomplish – but for showing me the courage to take on an entrepreneurship as they both had their own businesses throughout my life. The love they have shown me in everything I do can not be thanked enough. I’m a determined & successful woman because of them.

*My In-laws (Brenda & Doug): I feel blessed everyday to have married into such an amazing family. Each person making me feel like I’ve been a part of their lives from the beginning. My in-laws have shown so much support in my success and have aided me in any way they could – whether it was babysitting my son, helping with deliveries, advertising my company to those around, or even just bringing me food on the days I was too focused to eat.

*My Aunt In-Law (Julie): Although I would love to give acknowledgment to every family member who has helped me so much, my aunt in-law Julie is someone I must especially thank. Being a baker herself, she has encouraged and supported me with every step of creating this business. The amount of times I’ve called her to either watch my son, let me use her kitchen, ask for her assistance on a cake, or even just to talk are endless. As a one-person company, I was able to become this successful with Julie being but a phone call away.

Website: QtCakesByQuincey.com

Instagram: @QtCakesByQuincey

Facebook: @QTCakesByQuincey