Jamaica-born, Minnesota-based pastry chef Dr. Altreisha Foster-Bentho and her company, Sugarspoon Desserts, were selected by General Mills to craft a one-of-a-kind cake for Betty Crocker’s 104th birthday, celebrated at the Minnesota Cake Picnic.
According to a press release from General Mills, the cake—a towering eight-tier masterpiece—was described as “a true culinary art installation.” Each tier features a mystery flavor combination, ranging from pistachio to tropical passion fruit, a nod to Foster-Bentho’s Jamaican heritage, and indulgent cherry chocolate, offering guests a unique tasting experience of Betty Crocker’s legacy.
Foster-Bentho, who has long used Betty Crocker mixes in her own kitchen as well as in her Cake Therapy Foundation programs, shared on Instagram:
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“A few weeks ago I was asked to bake the celebration cake for Betty Crocker’s 104th birthday at the Minnesota Cake Picnic tour stop. Here’s to 104 years of inspiring generations of bakers and to the next generation of creators to come. You don’t create nor accomplish this in a silo—@the_cakeartistry came in for the weekend to help keep this ship sailing and the endless piping coordination we had to do on site. @elevatedstyleevents & @lianascakepops who showed up at 7am to ensure that this stayed in line with our brand and the @bettycrocker brand. Thank you @cakepicnictour for having me. @northern_urbanity_events who always shows up for me—thank you Callie, what you pulled off was simply amazing!”
A Closer Look at the Cake’s Flavors:
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Pistachio: Elegant and timeless.
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Blueberry Lemon: Bright, fresh, and reminiscent of classic family desserts.
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Double Strawberry with Buttercream Filling: Playful and celebratory, evoking summertime picnics.
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French Vanilla with Caramel Buttercream + Vanilla Pineapple with Passion Fruit Buttercream: Two halves of a tier merging tradition with tropical flair, symbolizing Betty Crocker’s global influence.
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Cherry Chocolate with Chocolate Buttercream + Chocolate with Chunks and Caramel: Indulgent and rich, a reminder of the comfort and joy chocolate brings.
Foster-Bentho’s path to culinary acclaim is unconventional. A public health professional with experience in vaccine science and infectious disease research, she has spent only a few years training in baking—but quickly established herself as a master cake artist. Born in Jamaica, she now runs Sugarspoon Desserts from Minneapolis, creating cakes that combine intricate design with bold, layered flavors.
She is also the author of Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life, in which she explores the intersection of life experiences, trauma, and healing through baking.
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