Ipswich’s best cake decorator revealed as Katie Young’s Cakes

In our search to crown Ipswich’s best cake decorator, the result was overwhelming, and we can now announce the winner. Check out our interview with the regions best.

Cakes by Katie Young graphic

We recently asked our readers to let us know who was the region’s best cake decorator, and the response was overwhelming.

Winning by a complete landslide was Katie Young’s Cakes, and its not hard to see why!

We sat down with Katie Young to find out more about the woman behind the cakes.

Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes

Tell us a bit about yourself, the woman behind the cakes?

I’m Katie and I own Katie Young’s Cakes. I am a Mum of two children.

A 21-year-old Son, Jett and a 16-year-old daughter Indianna and wife to Mark.

I grew up in Karalee and completed a diploma in Childcare after leaving High School.

I then worked in Childcare as a teacher in a few different Childcare Centres in Brisbane. After having my daughter, I was a stay-at-home mum.

How did you start Katie Young’s Cakes and how has your business grown?

Katie Young’s cakes was started in 2009. When my daughter was two, I wanted to start doing something to earn a little bit of money whist still being at home.

My mother-in-law was a cake decorator most of her adult life and I loved watching her create her beautiful cakes.

Cakes designed and created by Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes. Photos supplied by Katie Young's Cakes

As gifts for a few friends and family I made a few cakes under her guidance. I posted photos of these on Facebook and friends said I should make a page for my cakes.

I had no idea what this was but went investigating and found how to make a page. When it asked me to name my page, Katie Young’s Cakes was born!

A made a few cakes for friends and through word of mouth and posting on Facebook it went from there. It was never a business plan and I just taught myself as I went.

I’ve had no formal training to this day. Facebook was absolutely fantastic for growing a hobby business and in no time, I was getting regular orders.

I converted a spare bedroom in our home into a commercial kitchen space and this is where the magic happens. I am licenced with the council and have a 5 star eat safe rating.

What is your favourite thing about being in the business and about the work you do?

I love that I am able to be creative.

I love that I am my own boss and create my own rules and work in my own time.

I have always been at home with my children and could attend events they had on at school and care for them in the holidays.

Cake designed and created by Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes. Photo supplied by Katie Young's Cakes

I have gained so much satisfaction from learning to run my business and am very proud of what I have achieved solely on my own.

I have won multiple awards for my cakes over the years, and I can’t believe I get to do this as my job.

Do you have a favourite cake or design that you have completed, or a favourite story behind

a cake order?

I make cakes for all occasions and work with both buttercream and fondant. From beautiful wedding cakes to car cakes to Giraffe cakes you name it I have made it.

I love to make sculpted novelty cakes as it provides a challenge. To make something that doesn’t even look like a cake is fun and rewarding when it’s done.

One of my favourites would be my Baby Giraffe cake I made many years ago for one of my first cake competitions.

Cakes designed and created by Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes. Photos supplied by Katie Young's Cakes

He won 1st prize, and I was able to keep him for years as he was made from Fruit cake.

He even visited Blair Preschool for a show and tell day with the children.

The Children asked all sorts of questions about how he was made, and they were able to get up close and even touch him.

Wedding cake deliveries have also allowed me to visit so many stunning wedding venues. From the Gold Coast hinterland to the Scenic Rim up to Yandina.

I have made many lovely friendships with the staff and owners of these venues and other vendors that I work with at the weddings. I am constantly blown away by the breathtaking views and styling of these venues.

I wish I could get married all over again.

What is your dream order/client?

I am so incredible blessed to have amazing customers.

In 14 years of Katie Young’s Cakes, I have not had one horror story or Bridezilla’s.

I often get a text message just hours after a wedding or party has finished, thanking me for their cake and telling me how much they loved it.

I get so many hugs when customers collect their cakes and a few tears of joy when they see it.

It’s just so heartwarming and makes the 18 hours days so worth it.

Cake designed and created by Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes. Photo supplied by Katie Young's Cakes

This is not your first recognition of your incredible work, but how does it feel to be voted the

region’s best?

I am so grateful for being recognised as Ipswich’s best cake decorator. I work very long hours 6 days a week or more and put my whole heart and soul into all of my cakes.

To have my customers and supporters vote for me just makes me so happy.

Without their support I would not get to do what I love every day.

Cake designed and created by Katie Young of Katie Young's Cakes. Photo supplied by Katie Young's Cakes

What is something you wish people knew about the industry?

Cake decorators don’t sleep much, my cake studio light will be on till 3am most mornings.

I can easily work 16-18 hours and I’m on my feet for all of that time.

I don’t make a lot of money making cakes as the hours that go into creative work like this is hard to put a big price on.

People see it firstly as just a cake, but everything is handmade by me, not a machine.

Prices have skyrocketed in the last year for ingredients and equipment, so I’ve been forced to up my prices.