Hi, I’m Carol – the face (and hands!) behind Cakes by Carol.
If someone had told me years ago that I’d one day be creating wedding cakes featured in magazines or developing an award-winning cake tool used by decorators around the world, I’m not sure I’d have believed them! My journey into the world of cake artistry wasn’t exactly conventional—but it’s one I wouldn’t change for the world.
Where It All Began
I’m originally from the New Forest in Hampshire, and after leaving school, I trained as a chef at catering college. Even while training as a chef at college, I knew deep down that working in hotels or restaurants wasn’t the path for me. I had my sights set on something different—and not long after qualifying, I joined the British Army – and that’s where I met my husband Shane.
After we got married, we were posted to Germany. I worked as a civilian chef for the British Army, but it wasn’t long before I found myself baking celebration cakes for families on camp – a cake designer in the making!
I absolutely loved it!
There was something so rewarding about making cakes that brought smiles to people’s faces, especially when they were far from home.
The First Wedding Cake (and a Price I’ll Never Forget!)
When we had children, my passion for baking only grew. You couldn’t always get a good birthday cake where we were living, so like many mums, I took matters into my own hands.
I began baking for my own children and then for friends and family as we moved around with Army life.
Then came a big moment: just before Shane left the Army in 2006, I was asked to make my first-ever wedding cake – a three-tier fruit cake with handmade sugar flowers.
I was instantly hooked. The precision, the creativity, the chance to make something truly special for someone’s big day – I knew I’d found my calling.
And the price? £120.
Yes, really! I had no idea what I should have been charging back then.
It was actually Shane who suggested I start a cake business—and that simple idea changed everything.
Building Cakes by Carol
We eventually settled in Peterborough and in 2007, Cakes by Carol officially launched. In the beginning, I was still working as an agency chef while building up my cake business. I knew I had to get my name out there, so I threw myself into local wedding fayres and fetes.
Before long, I gave up the chef work and went full-time with cakes.
Then the recession hit and I had a little “what have I done?” moment – but thankfully, the business kept growing and I’ve never looked back.
Where We Are Today
From that first cake at my kitchen table to now, Cakes by Carol has grown into a multi-award-winning brand. I’ve won awards for both my cakes and the business, taught cake decorating classes, and even created the Sharp Edge Smoother® – a tool I developed out of sheer frustration while chasing that perfect finish. It went on to win Best Product at the Cake Masters Awards and is now used by decorators all over the world. It still feels a little surreal!
“I truly believe that sometimes the best inventions are born from necessity.
I just wanted a perfect, sharp edge, and when I couldn’t find the right tool, I decided to create it myself.”
But at the heart of it all, I’m still me. I still get butterflies when I’m designing a wedding cake. I still love seeing someone’s idea come to life in cake form. And I still find joy in every flower petal, every ruffle, and every sharp edge.
Why I Do What I Do
Cakes by Carol is built on passion, precision, and a real love for the craft. Whether I’m making a showstopping wedding centrepiece, recreating a childhood birthday favourite, or mentoring another cake maker, my mission is always the same: to create something beautiful, memorable, and full of heart.
Thanks for following along on my journey—and if you’ve ever ordered a cake, taken a class, or even just shared one of my posts, thank you for being a part of it.
Until the next cake,
Carol x
