Baker Lily Vanilli has created bespoke cakes for some of the biggest names in the industry, from Elton John at his White Tie & Tiara Ball, to Sadie Frost and designer Alexander McQueen.
Lily Vanilli decorating a cake at the Pinterest masterclass
"I have an eclectic list of clients," she revealed to HELLO! Online at a cake decorating masterclass with Pinterest. "What's fun about working with celebrities is that they're very creative and give open briefs, so that gives me an opportunity to create things that are unusual and unique!"
"If you're going to have a thing as indulgent as cake you want it to be exactly how you like it," she said. "That's what got me into baking, so I could really make my own kind of cake".
Lily created a cake especially for the masterclass
From edible gardens to cakes shaped like crustaceans, Lily has no limits as to what she will create. "I'm the go-to person for weird cakes!" she laughed. "I once made a lifesize replica of a client's boyfriend's head!"
"It was a surprise," she explained. "When I brought the cake I actually saw him so I had to hide. It was so weird because I'd spent 17 hours staring at photos of him to get the cake right, but he had no idea who I was!"
Lily created an edible garden for Cake Britain
The quirky baker also admitted that her own personal preferences tended to go against the trends. "I went through a phase of making Tim Burton-esque cakes," she added. "It was my backlash to cupcakes because they were so pretty, but didn't taste very good. I like cakes that are different, but delicious."
HELLO! Online had a go at decorating cakes with Lily's help
When it comes to making a bespoke cake, Lily admits that picking the flavour is one of the first things she asks her clients to do. "I ask people what their favourite flavours are and work from that," she said. "When people come to me without ideas, I tell them to look at my Pinterest to see what they like/don't like. Then the cake starts coming together".
"My favourite flavour at the moment is a beetroot, sweet potato and parsnip cake," she added. "I like it because it’s very earthy and tasty!"
Lily will be showcasing her work at the Cake & Bake Show 2014, taking place on the 3rd-5th of October 2014 in Earls Court. Check out her Pinterest board at https://www.pinterest.com/PinterestUK/handmade-cake-creations/