Designer cakes by this volleyball player-turned-home baker are smash hits

Designer cakes in extraordinary designs, forms and patterns are shining in the limelight lately. It was quite unexpectedly that Neenu Aju Chris, an athlete turned into a cake designer. Now, Neenu, a native of Thiruvalla is one of the busiest and best-reviewed cake artists in Kerala. A talented home baker, Neenu has specialised in theme-based cake making that is garnering admirers both on and off social media.

Neenu is a former volleyball player and holds an MPhil degree in Physical education. She turned to cake baking after she got married and reached Doha. In the beginning, she baked cakes in a pressure cooker and gifted them to her friends. When she received great comments, she began baking more cakes, with the encouragement of her husband as well. Neenu says she had learned the basics of baking by watching video tutorials on Youtube.

She began by doing simple and elegant floral designs. Foreigners who reside in Doha often enjoy tasty homemade cakes. So, Neenu began receiving more orders from them for her homemade designer cakes. Now, she is an experienced cake designer who can carve out even the most complex designs or forms in delicious cakes.

Neenu didn’t forget her passion for baking even when she moved back to Kerala. Now, she does at least one cake a day. Neenu insists on using the best quality ingredients while preparing the cakes. From beautiful peacocks and a plate of dosa that looks sumptuous to funny cartoon characters and puttu and fish curry, Neenu makes the perfect home-made theme cakes. 

When she moved backed to Kerala, Neenu surprised her mother by gifting the perfect retirement cake. The event was organised at a school in Ernakulam. Neenu found out which saree her mother had planned to wear for the event and baked a cake according to that. 

Superhit hen cake

The pictures of a 3D hen cake that Neenu prepared for the second birthday of a boy who loved hens had become viral on social media. The netizens were impressed by the spectacular detailing of the cake. 

Neenu admits she feels happy when customers who had ordered cakes for their kids’ first birthday orders cakes for their second or third birthdays. Besides, there are loyal customers who come back for the same design and flavour.

Neenu is a mother of three and she effortlessly balances her family life and her homegrown business. She usually bakes the cakes during the day time and does most of the designing work after the kids have gone to bed in the night. Neenu mostly uses the facilities and equipments that are available at her home.

She credits her parents in law for their strong support and their unending help, especially in taking care of her kids. Even her parents who stay at Vaniyampara in Thrissur are curious to know about her latest designer cakes. Neenu too loves to challenge and surprise herself and keeps looking for unique designs and ideas that inspire her.