Candace Nelson Biography
Candace Nelson is an Indonesian-born American pastry chef, entrepreneur, reality TV star, and TV show host. She is best known for being a judge on the series Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush.
Candace Nelson Career
Nelson is an alumna of Groton School (class of 1991) and Wesleyan University (class of 1996). She further honed her culinary skills by completing the Tante Marie’s Professional Pastry Program in San Francisco, earning recognition as a Wesleyan Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Before venturing into the bakery industry, Nelson previously worked as an investment banker. Following the dot-com bust, she shifted her focus to pastry making and initiated a custom cake business from her San Francisco home. Subsequently, she and her husband Charles, relocated the business to a former traditional sandwich shop in Los Angeles, specializing exclusively in cupcakes. On April 13, 2005, the entrepreneurial couple, embarked on a groundbreaking venture by opening Sprinkles Cupcakes, hailed as the world’s first cupcake bakery.
Their inaugural establishment was a modest 600-square-foot shop nestled in Beverly Hills, California. Despite the challenging backdrop of a four-year carb-slump trend in the bakery industry and initial skepticism from critics, the Nelsons defied expectations by selling an impressive 2,000 cupcakes in the first week. She is recognized for her “sophisticated” approach to the classic cupcake, utilizing premium ingredients such as sweet cream butter, pure Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, and Callebaut chocolate. Notably, she introduced unique offerings, including vegan and gluten-free cupcakes. Additionally, she specially crafted cupcakes for dogs. The bakery’s sleek and minimalistic store design was crafted by an architect from Vienna. The logo and packaging were created by a former Martha Stewart employee. Sprinkles has expanded its footprint, currently boasting 22 locations across the United States, including New York, and with plans to open in four more cities, including London and Tokyo.
The Nelsons also introduced the innovative “Sprinklesmobile,” a Mercedes Sprinter van designed by Sprinkles architect Andrea Lenardin. In 2007, Nelson diversified the brand by developing a line of cupcake mixes, exclusively available through Sprinkles stores and Williams Sonoma outlets in the United States and Canada. A notable addition to Sprinkles’ offerings came in 2012 with the introduction of the Cupcake ATM—a contactless cupcake delivery system. The concept originated from her late-night pregnancy craving. Currently, Sprinkles operates 38 Cupcake ATMs nationwide. The brand has garnered a celebrity following, with fans including Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively, Katie Holmes, Ryan Seacrest, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, and Serena Williams. In 2014, Nelson made the strategic decision to sell Sprinkles to a private equity group. This marked a significant chapter in the journey of the world’s pioneering cupcake bakery.
Nelson has made a significant mark in the culinary world, not only as a successful entrepreneur but also as a prominent figure in television and media. As a judge, she contributes her expertise to the competition series Cupcake Wars, which is syndicated globally, and Sugar Rush, a show she also executive produced. Her culinary insights have been featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Chef Show, and Bobby Flay’s Throwdown. Beyond her television appearances, she has been a guest on The Today Show, Nightline, The Martha Stewart Show, and was a judge on Masterchef Season 10. She has been profiled in People magazine and her cupcakes have gained recognition on The Oprah Winfrey Show, in Bon Appetit magazine, Food & Wine, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. Her involvement in the culinary entertainment industry extends to co-creating and executive producing the upcoming pizza cooking competition, Best in Dough, set to be featured on Hulu.
Additionally, she is a co-founder of Pizzana, a chain of Neo-Neapolitan pizza restaurants, showcasing her versatility and influence in the food industry. Furthermore, she has demonstrated her passion for baking and success in the culinary world through her authorship. She is the creative mind behind The Sprinkles Baking Book and Sweet Success. These books showcase her expertise, sharing insights, recipes, and experiences that contribute to the world of baking and culinary arts.
Candace Nelson Salary
Nelson earns an annual salary of about $150,000-$200,000.
Candace Nelson Net Worth
Nelson has an estimated net worth of about $5 Million – $20 Million which she has earned through her career as a pastry chef.
Candace Nelson Age
Nelson was born on May 8, 1974, in Indonesia. She is 50 years old as of 2024, and she celebrates her birthday on the 8th of May every year.
Candace Nelson Height and Weight
Nelson stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches tall, and she weighs 125 lbs (75kgs).
Candace Nelson Family
Nelson likes to keep her personal life private hence she has neither disclosed the names of her parents nor those of her siblings. However, this information will be updated when available.
Candace Nelson Husband and Children
Nelson is married to Charles who previously worked as an investment banker. Together they have been blessed with three children, two boys and one daughter. She resides in Sun Valley Idaho and Los Angeles, California together with her family.
Shark Tank
“Shark Tank” Season 15 introduces a fresh face to its panel of investors. Nelson, renowned as the co-founder of Sprinkles, the pioneer cupcake bakery, and co-owner of Pizzana, marked her debut on the show during the Season 15 opener on September 29. Among the entrepreneurs pitching on the opening night, Nelson, aged 50, found common ground with Kristen Dunning, the creator of Gently Soap, as they both identified as “passion-driven” business owners. Offering a partnership, the cupcake expert proposed $75,000 for a 30% stake in Dunning’s company, sparking a lively reaction from her fellow sharks.
Kevin O’Leary, notably vocal, presented a contrasting offer of $75,000 for a 10% stake, along with a $1 royalty until $500,000 is recouped, after which it would reduce to 20 cents indefinitely. Expressing her desire to share Dunning’s story, Nelson managed to negotiate, settling on a 25% stake. This compromise led to a successful alliance between the two entrepreneurs.
Social Media Platform
Nelson is very active on her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. She has 17.5k followers on Twitter 229.6k followers on Instagram and 27.7k followers on Facebook.