Creative Currents is a new, reoccurring feature highlighting Alaskan artists. To submit an artist for consideration, please email news@thealaskacurrent.com.
Sweet Caro’s bright and creative confections are as much a reflection of herself as they are her heritage.
Also known as the Ube Queen of Alaska, she sells hundreds of colorful Filipino-inspired desserts, ranging from mango sticky and mais con yelo rice krispie treats to pan de coco.
“[The ube rice krispie] has been my most-sold product, and is kind of like my thing now,” Caroline Correche Towne — or Caro for short — said. “Along with having freshly made mochi pieces in my krispies, mochi fruity pebbles is a close second for the fan favorite.”
Towne markets her treats on Instagram. Whether it’s a Hello Kitty-themed cake, or a cosmic-themed brownie, her baked goods stand out from the normal fare, as does she. Towne often posts videos of her goofing around and baking, providing a behind-the-scenes look at her sprinkle-encrusted life. Her charisma is as much the draw as the baked goods, even getting a shout out from long-time actor Michael Rapaport.
Towne first launched her pop-up business under the name Sweet Caroline’s in 2016 while in culinary school at UAA. She would experiment with Filipino flavors that she loves — like ube, pandan and mango.
“When I graduated, I found it difficult to find a baking job in town with a degree in culinary arts, but no work experience in the field,” she said. “Luckily for me, I had a connection that led me to my now ongoing job at the Space Force Station… baking for engineers and others from around the country who have been working on a $1.5 billion radar for missile and space defense.”
She began posting baked goods she was making at work, and soon enough family and friends were “begging me to sell the stuff I was making.” Then in 2020, she relaunched as Sweet Caro. She hired a graphic designer to create a logo of a cartoon Sweet Caro holding a tray of treats, and started holding pop-up events.
Towne usually does one or two pop-ups per month, often at Rage City Vintage, advertising them about a week before.
Towne said prior to her starting, there weren’t many places where you could find ube treats besides pan de ube. She created the desserts that she wanted to see. Within a week of starting, she sold out on orders for an ube dessert, and the following week, her orders doubled.
“All of the Asian flavors rippled from there and I started having way more fun with it, including making my posts very ‘Caro,’” Towne said. “Part of my rebranding was to just put stuff I liked on my posts. Hello Kitty, Goku, and Sailor Moon would often make appearances eating my ube treats.”
Towne’s next pop-up — Pista Sa Nayon, hosted by the Alaska Federation of Filipino Americans — will be June 24 at the Delaney Park Strip from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with “Filipino treats galore.”
“There will be entertainment, Filipino food that you usually can’t find around town, and just warm welcoming vibes to celebrate the large Filipino community here in Alaska,” she added. “I grew up dancing and singing in many Pista Sa Nayon events, so I am very excited to be a vendor representing my own business this time!”
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
