How did you get into baking and decorating? What inspired you to start baking?

I have been baking ever since I can remember. There is a picture of me when I was four years old helping my mom prepare a pineapple upside-down cake in our kitchen, and we also have a picture of what looks to be me holding a pink William Sonoma spatula I received for my fifth birthday. Every year since I was young I have bake and decorated gingerbread cookies for the family and have decorated custom birthday cakes for my family since I was around twelve years old. At seven years old, I received an EasyBake oven for Christmas, and that’s when I think my passion for baking really took off. I have always loved chemistry and experimenting in the kitchen, so when I got bored with broiling little cakes with the EasyBake oven lightbulb, I graduated to the oven around ten or eleven.

Do you create your own recipes for your treats?

I have created my own recipes in the past, but I find it easier to modify already existing recipes. This reduces waste in the kitchen while saving me time.

Do you work at a bakery?

Yes. I have worked at two bakeries, Gigi’s Cupcakes and Tart Bakery; both in Dallas, and have been actively working for almost a year and a half now (1 year approximately at Gigi’s and 6 months at Tart).

Why did you decide to start selling custom cakes?

I enjoy sharing my creations with others, and I wanted to provide people with the opportunity to eat delicious cake and baked goods for a cheaper price than most bakeries. It also gives me an excuse to make massive and elaborate cakes that I don’t have throw in the trash later because my family cannot physically eat that much sugar.

Story and photo by Hanna Zhang