Candace Nelson is a Los Angeles-based food entrepreneur and accomplished pastry chef known for co-founding Sprinkles, the world’s first cupcake bakery, and most recently, Pizzana, a Michelin Bib Gourmand Neo-Neapolitan pizzeria with two locations in Los Angeles. At Sprinkles and Pizzana, Candace’s approachable, nostalgia-inducing desserts are on display, reflecting her enterprising vision for sweet and savory ventures that resonate with guests. Internationally recognized for her prowess with pastry, Candace is an executive producer and judge for the Netflix baking show “Sugar Rush” and the host of “Live to Eat,” a food-focused podcast.

Candace started baking at a young age while growing up in Southeast Asia where traditional American treats weren't available. As a result, Candace spent her free time in the kitchen, making cupcakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies alongside her mother. Baking was a way for their family to spend time together while creating a feeling of being at home regardless of their location. While Candace initially pursued a career in investment banking, following the dot-com burst, she shifted gears to attend pastry school in San Francisco and reignited her childhood love for baking. Combining her business acumen with her passion for perfecting classic desserts, Candace, along with her husband Charles, founded Sprinkles Cupcakes in 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. Sprinkles has since expanded to 40 locations nationwide, and in Fall 2016, Candace released her debut cookbook, The Sprinkles Baking Book, which subsequently hit The New York Times Best Seller list.

Following Sprinkles’ success, Candace & Charles turned their attention to pizza, conceptualizing Pizzana. The neighborhood Neo-Neapolitan pizzeria opened in April 2017 with Candace overseeing direction for the restaurant’s pastry program to complement the savory menu from Pizzana's Naples-born pizzaiolo. Signatures such as chocolate olive oil cake and salted caramel panna cotta find their roots in Italian flavors and ingredients, while still showcasing Candace’s affinity for crafting simple desserts refined through flawless execution.

Pizzana earned a spot on Los Angeles Times’ food critic Jonathan Gold's annual “101 Best Restaurants” list within its first year of opening and has since earned a place within the Michelin Bib Gourmand category. Candace served as a judge on the Food Network show Cupcake Wars and has appeared on MasterChef Junior, Top Chef Junior, Good Morning America, Today, The Chew, The Talk, Nightline and in O, Vanity Fair, InStyle, and People magazines. 

Fueled by her passion for supporting other entrepreneurs, Candace created CN2 Ventures which invests in early stage and growth stage companies. She seeks to invest in companies in the retail, food, direct-to-consumer and branded consumer product sectors, harnessing her knack for elevating simple concepts into breakthrough brands.

Candace is also a dedicated philanthropist. She co-chairs the Director's Circle group of LACMA and is an active supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and No Kid Hungry.