Soul of 78: Frostings Bakery

Words by Micah Harrison | Images by Ryan McGill

"I thought, 'You know? Cupcakes would be a fun thing to get into.'"

For Crystal Woods, a Dora native and Corner High School graduate, that simple thought was the beginning of a sweet new chapter in her life. Like many big decisions, it started with a bit of curiosity. Crystal had questions about baking —how to do it and make it a business — and decided to visit Frostings Bakery in Cullman to pick the owner's brain. What she didn't expect was where that conversation would lead.

"I was just asking him questions, and he said, 'Well, this business is for sale,'" Crystal recalls, still sounding a little amazed by the serendipity of it all.

One thing led to another, and soon Crystal found herself the new owner of Frostings Bakery. For three years, she ran the bakery out of its original location in Cullman. When the lease ended, she moved operations to her home, rolling with the challenges and keeping her dream alive while hunting for the perfect new space. In 2017, that search ended when Frostings found its new home on Hull Road in Sumiton's Country Village shopping center.

Since then, Frostings has grown far beyond its cupcake-only beginnings. Crystal started offering full-sized cakes for weddings and parties, and as demand for custom designs took off, the business became a family affair. Her daughter, Peyton Eddings, joined the team as the bakery's dedicated cake decorator. Now, Frostings offers everything from cookies and brownies to cake pops, cake cups, and even an ice cream counter featuring Blue Bell ice cream and milkshakes.

But Crystal didn't stop there. After settling into Sumiton, she decided to mix things up even more by adding a deli section, serving a variety of cold salads including baked potato salad, Italian pasta salad, and crowd-favorite chicken salad. Whether it's sweets or savories you're after, everything on the menu is available for catering or for enjoying at Frostings cozy on-site event space, which hosts small parties and teas. If you've been to a local festival, there's a good chance you've seen their food truck, too.

As the seasons change, so do the rhythms of the bakery. The holiday stretch from Christmas to Valentine's Day is their busiest time of year. During this time, the Frostings team churns out dozens of orders for their popular chocolate-covered strawberries. Once the last strawberry is delivered, they dive straight into Easter and graduation orders, keeping the ovens warm and the creativity flowing.

Through it all, Crystal and her team remain grounded in what brought them here: a love of baking, a commitment to their customers, and a belief that, as their slogan says, "Life is Sweet." It's a reminder that no matter how busy things get, there's always room for a bit of joy and maybe a cupcake or two. 78