Bury St Edmunds baker Grace Giffin makes exceptional wedding cakes at just 18

A talented cake maker from Bury St Edmunds is to venture into the world of wedding cakes - all at the age of 18.

Grace Giffin has always had an interest in baking since a young age, but in 2020 during the pandemic, Grace channelled her love of baking into her new business, Grace’s Baking Box, at age 16.

It all started when she was working at the Bay Tree Café and her boss’ friend wanted a birthday cake for her daughter which was Grace’s first celebration cake order.

From there, the young entrepreneur set up an Instagram page and started taking more orders while studying for her A-levels at County Upper School.

What would usually take a baker years to learn the skills for decorating cakes, Grace has mastered within the couple of years of starting her business. For her, picking up cake decorating came naturally.

"I did A-level art at school so I’ve always been quite arty. I’d say I’m more of an arty person than an academic person.

"I feel like this is my natural talent to decorate cakes. I’ve watched the odd few YouTube videos, but other than that it’s just practice really."

Grace had been focusing on celebration cakes, cupcakes and cake boxes, but as of this year the 18-year-old is aiming to solely work on intricate wedding designs, specialising in painted creations.

"Last year I would have said I was a celebration cake maker, now I’d say I’m just a wedding cake maker. I love those type of designs and it’s more my style.

"I do want to specialise in painted wedding cakes just because I did oil painting quite a lot and I’ve done portraiture. I really enjoy transferring those skills onto a cake.

"At the moment I still work from home so eventually I would like to rent a kitchen unit and then perhaps employ an apprentice."

Grace had planned to go off to university to study business enterprise, but once orders starting coming in thick and fast, she decided to pursue her business full-time.

To other young people she offers this advice: "If you do have a goal and a dream, follow it. Dream big - I know that's cliché but don't just dream about it, take action on it.

"If you do you'll have a chance of succeeding."

Grace’s business can be found online here or on her Facebook.