Cynthia L. Herzog 
Don’t all great gifts come in little boxes?
Since starting his business The baker in 2010, Jordan Puck has brought its cult favorite cakes to the masses with its ridiculously easy to make and dangerously delicious to eat cake kits.
The New Zealand beauty, easily recognizable by her chic face-framing hairstyle and penchant for eyeliner, has effortlessly transformed into an It Girl of Los Angeles.
From her pet peeve in cake decorating to the cake flavor she currently can’t get enough of, read below for the scoop on what’s new with the baker!
How did you discover your love of baking?
I have early memories of when I was maybe 4 years old cooking with my grandparents in their small Paris apartment.
We used to make jams, pies and pastries together and I remember being so enamored with the aromas and the sheer magic of how you could combine ingredients to form a miraculous creation that would undoubtedly bring people joy. who you would share it with.
What prompted New Zealand’s big move to Los Angeles?
New Zealand is an amazing place to grow and start a business, but due to its small size and distance from other countries, you end up hitting a ceiling there.
I knew that in order to grow The Caker, especially on the cake kit side, I needed to expand internationally, and Los Angeles made the most sense for several reasons!
How would you describe The Caker?
The Caker is an inimitable brand with a cult following, led by me as a leader, that has grown into an empire built around homemade cakes that taste EVEN better than they look.
Seriously, how many cakes do you eat daily?
I don’t eat cake every day. I’d rather sit down and eat a nice slice of cake from a plate with a fork, served with yogurt, and enjoy it to the fullest rather than picking it all day long. So I eat cake maybe 3 times a week and my love affair with him is stronger than ever!
What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to decorating cakes?
I don’t understand the urge to make a cake look like anything other than a cake! There are ways to theme a cake without using fondant or food coloring, and I think it’s very important when decorating a cake to never compromise the taste, so I never use anything edible which does not taste delicious.
What’s the most unexpected cake topper you keep in your arsenal?
To make colored icings I use fruit purées and freeze-dried fruit powders. These ingredients taste amazing and give colors from nature.
What is your process for creating new flavors?
I first look at what fresh fruits are in season and create a concept around that. For example, if it’s fall when pears are in season, I’ll think of spices, nuts, seeds, herbs, tea leaves, floral extracts, or other ingredients that I’m passionate about that would work with pears. I like to work with 3 or 4 flavors in a recipe, so with juicy pears in mind, I’m thinking something like Nutmeg Orange Pear Cake with Honey Mascarpone .
Flavors you absolutely hate and won’t work with?
Just anything in fake taste, especially where you could use the real thing instead.
Which cake kit do you like the most right now?
My Coconut Raspberry Lime Cake Kit is my favorite of the bunch right now! The accompanying freeze-dried lime leaf adds a lovely freshness and unexpected flavor. We worked with the amazing Tezza on this one to create custom packaging and a pretty backdrop, which comes inside the box for you to photograph your finished cake on!
What are your biggest tips for a budding home baker?
Have fun with it! I love the science of baking but as a completely self taught baker I have learned to push the boundaries, be creative and a bit more free and I think all home bakers will have more fun if they take this approach.
What occasions other than birthdays should we celebrate with cakes?
Cakes always commemorate something special, big or small, happy or sad. They are a symbol of celebration, a public display of affection, which bring joy no matter what and are usually the star of a special moment. Cakes sometimes say what words can’t, so they should be present at all kinds of celebrations, from “congratulations on the new job” to “Happy Mother’s Day” to “thank you for just being you “.
What are you most excited about next?
My collab with Chrissy Teigen, my side step into the beauty industry (more to come!) and wedding season in full swing because I love baking wedding cakes!!
[Photos courtesy The Caker]
