How a cupcake sparked a dream
For our founder, Alfia Karim Thufail, baking wasn't part of the plan. It started simply: with a box of cupcake mix from Woolworths and a birthday celebration for her daughter. "We didn't have to buy it, I thought. We can just make it at home," she says. "I had plenty of time. We made the cupcakes, and I just loved the process. It was very calming, very soothing."
That moment sparked something lasting. "She took them to school and came home saying everyone loved them. That's how I think CCT was born." By 2018, baking had moved from pastime to passion, and within months, the first small orders from friends began. "I had never baked before that point. I'd never even switched on an oven," Alfia laughs. "But I just kept practising until I was good at it."
From home kitchen to handcrafted perfection
As her confidence grew, so did her ambition. Alfia discovered a love for buttercream — particularly Swiss meringue buttercream, known for its smooth texture and delicate sweetness. "It's one of the most premium buttercreams out there. It's less sweet and gives this subtle vanilla flavour. You can create amazing finishes, and it tastes beautiful too."
Determined to master the craft, she invested in online courses, taught herself food photography, and shared her creations online. That mix of courage and creativity quickly gained attention, with her signature sleek buttercream designs setting her apart. Her big break came when her cakes went viral on Instagram during the pandemic. "With everyone stuck at home, I started posting Reels. By my fifth or sixth video, I went viral. People would comment, 'What transition is she going to do next?'"
Building CCT Sydney
By late 2023, the cake business had outgrown the garage. Our first pop-up was, in Alfia's words, "the hardest two weeks of my life. I'd wake up at 3am, bake and pipe all the cupcakes, then sell them myself all day. But customers loved it. That's what gave us the confidence to open our store."
Today, the CCT Sydney storefront in Minto Mall has become a destination for celebration. The menu is filled with creations like bento cakes: petite, hand-decorated cakes designed for small moments of joy. "Even something simple, like getting a new job, deserves a little celebration. That's what our bento cakes are for."
Among the favourites are our rich red velvet and the San Sebastian cheesecake — a recipe Alfia perfected after discovering it on a trip to Turkey. "I tried it over and over again until I created my own version. It's one of the most underrated desserts in our store. If you try it, you'll fall madly in love with it."
Powered by people, and a whole lot of love
CCT Sydney now runs with a growing team across the shop and pop-ups, with Alfia leading design and her husband, Tufi, managing operations and finance. "I can't do finance," she laughs. "What I can do is spend money trying to make things prettier."
Through it all, we stay focused on what matters most: happiness. "The most important thing is the customer being very, very happy and pleased with what we create for them. I want the moment to be remembered forever."
