It started with a Southern style 7-layer caramel cake made from an old family recipe—seven moist layers of classic yellow cake topped and filled with creamy caramel icing. Caroline Ragsdale Reutter served one such beauty at her son’s christening, and soon found herself taking orders as far away as Alaska. Twenty-seven years later, the cake that launched a thousand delights is now the “Home of the World’s Best Caramel Cake,” a thriving bakery that dishes out incredibly delicious cakes alongside its signature flavor, such as tart Coconut Lemon and dreamy Chocolate Caramel.

One bite of her sweet, creamy creations and confirmation is swift: Southern girls really do do it best.