Cameron Livesay is the 12-year-old owner and pâtissier of Soul Man Sweets. He lives in Sykesville.
Livesay baked his first cake, a Ninja Turtles vanilla and chocolate creation, when he was 5 years old. He used fondant to do the decorating. The occasion? It was his birthday.
Livesay began baking suger cookies and birthday cake cookies for his sports teams.
Two years ago, when he was 10, Livesay decided to start a business. “People from my sports teams started ordering cookies and birthday cakes,” Livesay said. Then his dentist, Dr. Janloo, told him to get business cards and a website.
Livesay designed a business card with some help from his parents. It shows a photo of him holding a cookie. “I named my business Soul Man Sweets because I bake from my heart,” Livesay said.
A real estate agent placed the first real order: 100 cookies shaped like tulips. The agent is from Holland.
Livesay started the Sweets for the Soul Project through which he donates a portion of his sales back to the community. He was asked to adopt a nursing home resident at Transitions Health Care, but he adopted all of them and made them cookies.
Sweets for the Soul expanded into helping families and donating to different community organizations. For example, he donated an auction item to the Carroll Community College Foundation Starry Night Gala — a baking class for 12. It was his first black tie event.
Next, he was awarded a grant and mentorship from Guppy Tank Kids of $500. The grants are given to kids who donate to the community. He received three months of mentorship from business owners, marketing professionals and a children’s book author. Livesay interacted with the professionals through Zoom meetings every week.
Livesay entered a recipe contest in the “Farmers’ Almanac” for the greatest honey recipe. He won with a recipe for Honey Churro cookies. The publishers asked him to be a freelance writer for them and he has had three articles published so far.
Unwined candles, a store in Sykesville, asked him to sell his baked goods in their store. He has been selling there for three years.
Livesay does cookie and wine pairings for Serpent Ridge Vineyard and Linganore Winecellars. He is also a guest baker at 1623 Brewing in Sykesville.
Livesay participated in the Carroll County Public Library Battle of the Books After Hours for adults. He made a dessert themed for each book.
Two months ago, he made a cake for actor John Stamos for the opening of his book tour.
Livesay also sells his cookies and cinnamon rolls at BroHo Corner Store in Eldersburg.
He won the 2023 Carroll County Public Library Light of Carroll Award for young entrepreneurs for his articles and donations. According to the library’s website: “The Light of Carroll Awards recognize the work of individuals, groups, and businesses, in promoting and supporting the power of literacy through acts of extraordinary kindness, courage, selflessness, or education in our community.”
Livesay won a baking contest called Cookies for la Causa (Cookies for the Cause). According to its Instagram site the organization is, “Building connection and community for Hispanic individuals in Carroll County, MD.”
Livesay most recently started selling his baked items at Strong and Courageous Boutique in Westminster.
One of his specialties is a hot chocolate bomb. “You put it in a cup and pour hot milk or water and it explodes releasing marshmallows, sprinkles and chocolate,” Livesay said.
“I like baking because it makes me and people happy. I like being creative and making up my own recipes. My signature cake is Old Bay Smith Island Cake I made for Maryland Day,” Livesay said.
His most popular cookie is chocolate chip.
“My five-year plan is to get a cookie camper. It is like a food truck but is a camper used to set up at weddings and events,” Livesay said. His website is soulmansweets.com.
Lyndi McNulty is the owner of Gizmo’s Art in Westminster. Her column, An Eye for Art, appears regularly in Life & Times.
