Overland Park’s Nothing Bundt Cakes is in the business of celebrating

Every so often, Jim Edwards sits in the parking lot outside Nothing Bundt Cakes, the Overland Park bakery he opened in 2013, and watches customers come and go.

“So many times,” Edwards says, “people come out of the store looking happier than they did coming in.”

Nothing Bundt Cakes is a Texas-based chain of bakeries specializing in ring-shaped Bundt cakes in a variety of flavors, from chocolate chocolate chip to red velvet and cinnamon swirl. Contrary to its name, the bakery sells more than just cake. Step inside the Overland Park location at 13420 Metcalf and you’ll see greeting cards, whimsical cake decorations, colorful paper plates, candles, engraved cake forks and wedding day keepsakes.

When it opened in the fall of 2013, the Overland Park bakery was the 80th location for Nothing Bundt Cakes, which was founded in 1997 by Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz. The Overland Park location is still the only Nothing Bundt Cakes in the Kansas City area; the next closest is in Lincoln, Neb.

The Edwards family first tasted Nothing Bundt Cakes at a family reunion in 2012. A relative and Nothing Bundt Cakes franchisee from Oklahoma City brought several cakes to the reunion, and for Jim Edwards, it was love at first bite.

“When my grandmother made Bundt cake, it wasn’t very moist,” Edwards says, but this cake was soft, rich and not at all dry. Each ring was crowned with bright white frosting made with butter and cream cheese.

Edwards, who was teaching entrepreneurship at Olathe Northwest High School at the time, saw a sweet business opportunity. After conducting some research, he contacted the company about franchise opportunities.

Getting the Overland Park shop up and running required hiring a baker, several frosters and two managers. One of the managers, Alex Edwards, is Jim and Bev’s son.

Nothing Bundt Cakes’ cakes are baked, frosted and decorated in-house. They come in nine flavors available year-round, as well as the top-selling chocolate chocolate chip, red velvet and white chocolate raspberry, there’s carrot, lemon, white white chocolate, pecan praline, cinnamon swirl and marble (that’s yellow and chocolate cake swirled together).

One flavor changes monthly. In February it was chocolate turtle, a moist yet light chocolate cake in a pool of rich caramel sauce. The March featured flavor is peanut butter chocolate chip.

Nothing Bundt Cakes’ most popular seasonal flavor is pumpkin spice, which sells so well that it’s available in October and November.

The bakery offers its round cakes in a variety of sizes. “Bundtinis” — cupcake-sized Bundt cakes perfect for one person — are sold by the dozen for $16.50. Larger “Bundtlets” cost $3.99 and are the perfect size for sharing with one or two friends, if you’re feeling generous. Just don’t try to turn them out of their plastic clamshell container — these cakes are so soft that they’ll crack if you try to transfer them to a plate.

Feeding a crowd? Order an 8-inch Bundt cake that serves 8-10 people for $18.50, or a 10-inch cake that feeds 18-20 for $28.50. Decoration costs $11 extra, and customers can choose from 40 themes with punny names. The “Cute as a ‘Bundt’on” design is adorned with a yellow bow and is perfect for a baby shower. “Let Love Sur’round’ You” design features a pink silk flower in the center and would make a sweet pick on Mother’s Day. “Cele’Bundt’ing You,” with a string of cheerful bunting, would be perfect for a graduation party.

Nothing Bundt Cakes also makes princess-themed cakes for birthdays, sports-themed cakes for MVPs, and more masculine cakes with names like “Real Men Don’t Eat Square Cakes.” The bakery recommends ordering custom cakes 24 hours in advance — if it’s a holiday weekend, call at least three days ahead.

Edwards says brides and grooms also come to his bakery for nontraditional wedding cakes. The largest confection Nothing Bundt Cake offers is a two-tiered cake that tops a 10-inch Bundt with an 8-inch Bundt. The cake serves 26-30 and costs $65.

It’s easy to see why Nothing Bundt Cakes customers leave the shop with a smile.

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Overland Park’s Nothing Bundt Cakes is in the business of celebrating."