Oakland Community College Culinary Grad Wins 'Cupcake Wars'

Oakland Community College Culinary Studies Institute graduate April Forbes of Waterford, and her husband, James, won first place and $10,000 in the top-rated Food network television show “Cupcake Wars” on November 18.

The Institute is based on the college's Orchard Ridge campus in Farmington Hills. 

The couple competed against three other teams for the honor. Their winning entry was a display of four different cupcake creations: peach melba, banana and peanut butter ganache, pumpkin pie and cherry cola. 

April and James Forbes are the owners of Cakeria, a specialty bakery located in Pontiac that makes wedding cakes, tortes, cookies, breads, pies and, of course, cupcakes. The couple established the business shortly after April graduated from OCC in 2005, selling baked goods out of their home and at such venues as flea and farmers’ markets.

Cakeria had been previously located on Commerce Road in West Bloomfield, at the former home of Marty's Cookies and Bagels.

They continue as vendors at four different farmers’ market locations in the area and expanded to their present storefront location about a year ago. Competing in “Cupcake Wars” has been April's longtime ambition.

“We’re excited at the national recognition winning has brought us, and we plan to use the prize money to pay some bills, and reinvest the rest back into the business," she said.

The Cakeria, located at 153 South Telegraph in Pontiac, is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

Source: Oakland Community College press release