A Look Behind the Scenes at The BakeLair
Ever wonder how your cake goes from a vague idea to a centerpiece? Here is a peek at the messy, fun process behind every order I bake.
Watch the process of me painting Van Gogh's "Starry Night" with buttercream. It took two hours, a lot of patience, and many piping bags, but the result was so worth it.
Here I am adding the final touches to a two-tier first birthday cake. Placing the balloon topper is the last step before it's ready for the celebration.
This video shows some of my favorite piping techniques for creating vintage cakes. I love the process of building up the delicate ruffles and roses.
A satisfying video of me creating different textures and patterns on a vintage-style cake using just buttercream and a few piping tips.
The first step in building my popular chocolate raspberry cake: piping a dam of rich chocolate ganache to hold the delicious raspberry filling.
The best part. Here I am adding a generous layer of my homemade raspberry compote inside the chocolate cake.
After frosting the cake, I add some simple but elegant piped details on top to finish the look.
A short video showing how I decorated this sweet baby shower cake, from piping the clothesline to adding the final balloon toppers.
Crafting the tiny details for a themed cake is one of my favorite parts. Here's how I made the miniature tennis racket from fondant for a 30th birthday cake.
The grand reveal of the "Starry Night" cake. After two hours of painting, here is the finished, two-sided masterpiece.
About A Look Behind the Scenes
I don't believe in perfect cakes that look like they were churned out by a machine. When you order from me, you're getting a cake that’s been hand-painted, sculpted, or piped with real, slightly messy, and very human effort. Whether it's the two hours spent on a buttercream Starry Night or carefully placing handmade fondant details, that time is what makes your cake feel like it was made just for you—because it was.
How I Work
I’m not a factory. When you see a cake on my table, you’re seeing at least a few hours of piping, painting, or sculpting. I start with the core of the cake—the flavor—and build everything else around it. Whether it is piping a dam of chocolate ganache for that raspberry filling or meticulously crafting a tiny fondant tennis racket, every step has a purpose.
Why Buttercream Painting?
I’ve recently become obsessed with painting directly on cakes. Yes, it takes patience (and a lot of piping bags), but there is a texture and depth to buttercream art that fondant just can't match. It’s messy, it can be unpredictable, but I think that is where the magic happens. It’s like putting a little piece of my own creative energy into the dessert.
Keeping it Real
I know people have questions about how these things are made, especially regarding dietary needs. Whether you need a gluten-free chocolate cake or something eggless, I handle the baking in small batches. This means I can control exactly what goes into the batter and how the final design comes together. If you have an idea, even a wild one, just tell me. I’ve done football logos, unicorns, and even a fondant camel family, so I’m usually game to try anything once.
Still looking for the right cake style?
Search my past work to find inspiration for your own celebration.
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