Family: Marsden woman Dee Rodwell is Queen of the Cupcakes

May 5 2010 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Family: Marsden woman Dee Rodwell is Queen of the Cupcakes

Dee Rodwell lived in 10 different parts of the UK before finally settling in Marsden, where she felt so at home she decided to set up a community-based bakery business. Today, the 28-year-old is the cupcake queen of the Colne Valley. HILARIE STELFOX reports.

CUPCAKES are the fashionable new bakery products – to be found everywhere from coffee bars and department stores to classy confectionery shops.

They’re an American import and are now available in just about any sweet-toothed combination of flavours imaginable.

For Dee Rodwell, Marsden resident, former theatre box office manager and also an American import, cupcakes and their equally tempting cousins muffins represent her future.

The 28-year-old moved to the Colne Valley a year ago with her husband Neil, an ambulance technician and was inspired by her new-found surroundings to set up a cottage industry supplying cake-related treats to local shops and businesses.

Born in Merced, California, Dee came to England as a toddler and spent most of her life moving around, from Hampshire to North Yorkshire, Wiltshire to Surrey.

But it wasn’t until she and Neil, who first met on an animal care course in Hampshire, arrived in Marsden that she felt at home.

“Neil found a job with the North West Ambulance Service in Rochdale and we did look at living in Manchester,” explained Dee, whose parents now live in the Yorkshire village of Knaresborough.

“We spent a long time looking for a village community where we could talk to people. Neil hadn’t spoken to his neighbours for three years where he lived, because in the South everyone is so busy, they’re living the London lifestyle,” she added.

Getting to know the neighbours proved to be the key to establishing a new career for Dee, who was a keen amateur baker and looking for ways to turn her hobby into a job.

“My neighbours own The Little Bridge (bistro and wine bar) in Slaithwaite and have been buying from me and helping me with the business side, pricing that sort of thing,” she said.

“Everybody we’ve met here has bent over backwards to help us. They couldn’t have made us more welcome.”

And so Dee’s Pantry was born and she now spends her days baking everything from Beetroot and Chocolate muffins (see recipe) to blueberry streusel cupcakes.

To support the community that has been so welcoming, Dee buys her ingredients locally wherever possible, and sells to Colne Valley outlets, including businesses such as Mikron Theatre, Design Mechanics and the Green Valley Grocer. She likes to use organic supplies and free range eggs.

Proving that everyone loves a cake, or two, her business has been successful enough to keep her baking full-time.