‘Everyone deserves a cake for their birthday’: Grayslake teen baker donates creations to food pantry

From the time she was a toddler, Abby Mack has known her own mind.

At age 2, she announced to her parents, Denise and Stephen, that she wanted to dance.

“She was determined,” said Denise Mack. “She bothered us every day about it.”

Soon after, Abby discovered a second passion: food.

“I started with cooking and switched to baking. I preferred that more,” said Abby, a Grayslake Middle School student whose culinary curiosity grew out of helping her parents in the kitchen.

By the time she was 8, Abby had turned her love of baking into a business, establishing the eponymous online bakery Abby Cakes.

“Abby isn't a typical kid,” her mother said. “When she thinks of something, she goes for it.”

Fast forward five years, and the now 13-year-old from Grayslake continues her family's tradition of volunteerism, donating birthday cake kits to the Avon Township Food Pantry in Round Lake Park.

“I love birthdays. I love celebrating different things,” she said. “Everyone deserves a cake for their birthday.”

To that end, the self-taught baker pledged to donate 26 cake kits each month to the food pantry this year. Next year, she hopes to increase that number to 27.

The idea came to her last fall after the federal government shutdown resulted in the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food assistance to low-income families.

“I wanted to bring some joy to people,” said Abby, who as a youngster operated a cupcake stand in place of the traditional lemonade stand.

The kit provides everything a celebrant needs: cake mix, frosting, a 12-ounce can of soda (in place of eggs, oil and water) and candles. They cost about $6 each to assemble.

“What Abby has done is absolutely amazing,” said Avon Township Supervisor Michele Bauman. “How many 13-year-olds have that passion?”

Bauman recalled a client recently coming into the pantry on her birthday. Noticing the kits, the woman became emotional knowing that someone cared enough to make a stranger feel special on her birthday.

“We forget young people can change the world,” Bauman said. “It's the simplest things that mean so much.”

Abby’s business was launched after her parents posted photos of her heart cakes online and they received inquiries about placing orders. Stephen Mack created the brand's pig logo and set up online payments. Abby Cakes' Facebook page followed and an entrepreneur was born.

These days, Abby balances school, dance, music and her business.

“When it comes to making time, I try my best to make sure I don't feel too overwhelmed by everything,” she said.

Abby’s menu is seasonal, as are customer orders, which she tracks on a dry erase board. Her signature cinnamon rolls are her most requested creations. Her heart cakes, cookie Christmas trees and Halloween treats are also popular.

Abby favors her pretzel sticks — pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and accented with sprinkles and other candies. Her family, including siblings Isabella and Christian, like her snowball cookies made from her grandparents' recipe.

Some recipes come from Mack's family. Some she dreams up herself. Some she finds online and tweaks.

While she aspires for a career in music or dance, Abby says she'll never give up baking. And she encourages others to pursue their passions.

“If you really have a passion for something, if you really enjoy doing a certain activity or making something … don't give up,” she said. “If it's a sport, an activity, cooking or baking, if you love it, keep going.”

· To help support Abby’s birthday cake kits, contact Avon Township at avonil.us or visit Abby Cakes on Facebook.