Alex Tyral is the owner of The Late Night Baker. She's a self taught Sydney cake perfectionist who is the master of creating decadent buttercream cakes. Her cakes are described as 'edible art'.
She's just as sweet as her cakes, so I had to get down into the nitty gritty and ask her what exactly she is all about!
She's just as sweet as her cakes, so I had to get down into the nitty gritty and ask her what exactly she is all about!
So Alex, what kind of events do you do your late night baking for?
I create cakes for all occasions. From wedding and engagement cakes, to birthday cakes, christening, communions, confirmation cakes, kitchen tea and baby shower cakes. So lots of cakes!
How do you describe your style and what's your favourite flavour?
I currently only make buttercream cakes, and my preferred cakes to make are wedding cakes with fresh flowers. I do love a good drip cake, as well as the odd chocolate overload cake.
My fave flavour is chocolate mud cake for sure, and coconut buttercream icing.
My fave flavour is chocolate mud cake for sure, and coconut buttercream icing.
Those flavours sound deelish!! So how did you get started in your business?
In short, after 4 years as a Social Worker in Child Protection, I became tired of the same drive to and from work each day. I'd lost my passion and was finding the field a little more difficult than usual. It was time for a change, and a new job wouldn't cut it - so I decided to change my career and delve into my true love of baking!
I started my business from nothing. It was very hard at first, and took at least 6 months to get into some kind of groove. But I slowly got better at the day to day running of things, and it's lead me to where I am today.
I started my business from nothing. It was very hard at first, and took at least 6 months to get into some kind of groove. But I slowly got better at the day to day running of things, and it's lead me to where I am today.
So, do you have a price guide? And what's a day in the life of The Late Night Baker like?
All my orders are bespoke, which means that each order is individually quoted. Most of my cakes are priced from $80 though.
Most my days are business focussed. The beginning of my week is usually quieter and I pretend that is my weekend - it's the only time I get to have off. The rest of the week I am baking. On Fridays and Saturdays I am decorating my orders for the weekend, doing deliveries, waiting on pick ups or setting up wedding cakes at wedding venues.
Most my days are business focussed. The beginning of my week is usually quieter and I pretend that is my weekend - it's the only time I get to have off. The rest of the week I am baking. On Fridays and Saturdays I am decorating my orders for the weekend, doing deliveries, waiting on pick ups or setting up wedding cakes at wedding venues.
Don't you have a busy schedule!! Tell me, what are your career highlights to date?
I've been lucky enough to have a few so far which I'm pretty proud of.
Number one would be making 400 West Tigers themed cupcakes for Ashfield Leagues Club.
I've also ran a cupcake demonstration and interactive workshop at Boston Consulting Group in Sydney CBD.
I'm also so proud of all of my tiered wedding cakes - it's so exciting setting them up at the wedding venues.
Number one would be making 400 West Tigers themed cupcakes for Ashfield Leagues Club.
I've also ran a cupcake demonstration and interactive workshop at Boston Consulting Group in Sydney CBD.
I'm also so proud of all of my tiered wedding cakes - it's so exciting setting them up at the wedding venues.
Any tips for looking for the perfect cake designer?
For me, everything comes down to communication.
If you are looking for a cake designer, you want to be sure that they are the right person for the job and completely understand what you are after.
Ensure that your potential cake designer knows what they are talking about and are clear with what their boundaries are.
I also recommend checking out their Terms & Conditions to make sure you're happy with them.
Reviews are a good indication too as to whether you have found a good cake designer.
If you are looking for a cake designer, you want to be sure that they are the right person for the job and completely understand what you are after.
Ensure that your potential cake designer knows what they are talking about and are clear with what their boundaries are.
I also recommend checking out their Terms & Conditions to make sure you're happy with them.
Reviews are a good indication too as to whether you have found a good cake designer.
Ok, so what questions should we be asking before booking a cake designer?
It's good to establish rapport with your cake designer, and to explain what you are exactly after (if you know what you are after).
Be clear with your designer, because being unclear can potentially make things confusing, and can make the booking process much longer than it should be.
If your designer has a website, it's good to have a look through to see what their procedures are. These can usually be found in FAQ's, but more likely in their T&C's.
Other good questions to ask would be:
Be clear with your designer, because being unclear can potentially make things confusing, and can make the booking process much longer than it should be.
If your designer has a website, it's good to have a look through to see what their procedures are. These can usually be found in FAQ's, but more likely in their T&C's.
Other good questions to ask would be:
- What is your availability?
- What's your most popular flavour? (This is for both cake and frosting).
- Can I send through some images of cakes I like? Remember that cake designers should not copy other designs, and that they should never look exactly like a picture you send through. Cake can, however, have a similar design style, just can't be an exact replica.
So once the important questions are asked, and we are ready to book you in, what can customers expect from you when working with you?
Communication is everything to me, and I try my best to make sure I have the best and clearest communication with my customers. My personality is a little bit playful, and I also aim to bring this fun when working with my customers, as well as within my cakes and cupcake orders.
Customers know that what they order is exactly what they receive, and if by some chance I make a mistake, I always rectify it.
They can also expect that their order will be fulfilled to the best of my ability, and what I make is always made with love.
Customers know that what they order is exactly what they receive, and if by some chance I make a mistake, I always rectify it.
They can also expect that their order will be fulfilled to the best of my ability, and what I make is always made with love.
Want to find out more about The Late Night Baker?
Website: www.thelatenightbaker.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.latenightbaker
Facebook: www.facebook.com/www.thelatenightbaker.com.au
AHW xx
Website: www.thelatenightbaker.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.latenightbaker
Facebook: www.facebook.com/www.thelatenightbaker.com.au
AHW xx
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