Baker at Lincoln Super Saver is in final four of national competition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Sara Rivera is a familiar face to shoppers at the Fallbrook Super Saver.

Thanks to her master-level cake decorating skills, she’ll now be a face at the national competition CAKE’D. Rivera is one of four finalists.

She said her customers are what drive her to strive to be the best.

“Their appreciation just helps me keep going,” she said. “It’s something that I really value a lot.”

On Thursday, the Super Saver was filled with people wishing her well, and the store’s assistant manager said Rivera is helping boost sales.

The competition starts Sunday in New Orleans. It’s a live showdown with two rounds.

On Day 1, she will have to put together an entire cupcake arrangement and full sheet cake, while on Day 2, she must make a multitiered cake.

It may seem like a lot of work, but Rivera has the experience, joking, “We’re a very busy bakery.”

Flavors like white chocolate, marble, lemon and red velvet — accompanied by fillings like strawberry and whipped buttercream — are just some of the creations she can whip up.

Amid the high volume of orders, Rivera still makes time to pass along her skills.

Her fellow baker, Megan Pavlik, exclaimed, “She had taught me how to write on cakes and perfect my roses!”

Pavlik said Rivera’s signature style is all about precision, but Rivera said it’s actually just adding glitter.

One of Rivera’s longtime customers, Katie Bateman, said she appreciates Rivera’s “out-of-the-box thinking” and trusts that whatever she creates, her family will love.

Proud to represent Nebraska in this big way, Rivera said her favorite form of recognition is the moment her customers pick up their orders and it is clear they are delighted with her work.