Lollibakes Gourmet Cake Pops Becoming an L.A. Dessert Staple

Big Sugar Bakeshop on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City has an added boost of popular cake pops that have been featured at the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and Grammys.

Diana Sproveri, private pastry chef to the entertainment industry and newly settled Studio City resident, launched Lollibakes in 2008 and as a one-woman show, has accomplished a great deal while laying claim to being the first retail gourmet cake pop in Los Angeles. Already seeing some media attention, Sproveri's Lollibakes were featured in Food & Wine Magazine as one of best pumpkin desserts in the country.

With the help of a friend, Sproveri, a single parent, is geared up for the holiday and awards season.

To perfect her cake pops, it took a lot of practice to figure out the right formula of chocolate to homemade cake mix.

"There's a science to it," Sproveri tells Patch. "You have to temper the chocolate."

Lollibakes has a smooth and solid chocolate outer shell with a moist cake center, which many pastry chefs have to replicate, Sproveri says, noting that her mother taught her a lot about working with chocolate, especially the heating and cooling process of tempering.

Sproveri, who's worked in advertising and marketing and is also still currently a screenwriter, said she chose Big Sugar Bakeshop because of its incredible service. Lollibakes has been on display inside the shop for four months and Sproveri said she plans to sell her product out of there exclusively.

"They bake everything from scratch," she said.

At the moment, Lollibakes sugar cookies and cookie dough flavors are a huge hit with customers, as well as pumpkin.

For more information on Lollibakes, visit its website.

For more information on Big Sugar Bakeshop, visit its website.