While it would be a rare occasion for me to pass up cake, when I talk about finding healing and joy in cake, I don’t mean the eating of (although cake is an excellent stress/depress food)! For me, it’s in the creation of the cake – it’s not just about making a sweet treat, but it’s a way to find comfort, express myself, and take my mind off things. Caking for me is an escape and a sense of calm achievement. So today, I thought I’d share a bit more about how caking could be a powerful source of healing and joy for you.

1. Comfort & Familiarity

There’s just something uniquely comforting about baking a cake. I don’t know if it’s the magic of combining a bunch of raw ingredients in a certain way under specific conditions to create something beautiful and delicious. Or if it’s in the rituals and process of baking: the repetitive measuring, pouring, mixing – when your mind is cluttered, this repetition can be rather soothing as it gives you a sense of control whilst giving you a mental break as you can just focus on one step at a time.

Then there’s that nostalgia and familiarity. For me, and for many of you, I’m sure, there are certain cakes that are tied to specific memories or people. And in my case, my mum loves baking, so I have heaps of fond childhood memories baking in the kitchen with her, particularly, making banana cakes. So, whenever I bake banana cakes now, it’s like I’m a child again and back in the kitchen with mum, mashing bananas, sifting flour, and beating eggs. And don’t even get me started on the smell! One of my favourite smells is that of a cake baking in the oven – now THAT is comfort!

2. Creative Expression & Escape

Cake decorating is a creative outlet; it’s a way to channel our thoughts and emotions, and it’s really a form of art! I used to always say that I’m not a creative person, and then one day, I realised that every cupcake, cake, or treat I made, was my creative expression! And not just that, but when I have creative freedom to decorate, the experimenting and coming up with my take on a theme/design is so liberating and therapeutic. I think that’s also one of the reasons I get the most joy from creating my kids’ birthday cakes – no pressure, no expectations, just whatever I want it to be!

3. Love & Life Lessons

Baking, for me, is a love language; one I learnt from my mum. If someone is celebrating a special occasion, if someone is down and needs a pick me up, if there’s an event where we have to bring a plate…bringing cupcakes or a sweet treat is my way of showing that I care. And even if I’m feeling down myself, I find that the simple act of offering something I’ve made with love not only brightens the recipient’s day, but the connection from that then brings me joy too!

I’ve also realised that over the years, caking has taught me some life lessons, and helped me to change and grow. As a self-diagnosed OCD perfectionist, I would stress and despair if my cakes were anything less than perfect…which, to a perfectionist, they would often fall shy of! But in time, I learnt to embrace imperfection, because that’s what makes each cake unique and beautiful. And through that, I also learnt patience and acceptance for myself, and most importantly, self-compassion. Just like my cakes, I don’t have to be perfect to bring beauty and joy to others, and it’s also a reminder that it’s ok when things don’t go perfectly as planned because life is also full of unexpected twists and turns!

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that cake making can be more than just following a recipe and putting together a yummy treat! In this chaotic and emotionally demanding world, caking can be a warm, welcoming space to heal, express, and nurture ourselves and those around us. So the next time life feels heavy or if you're feeling down, I’d like to invite you to get out your mixer, and try one of my go-to mental health therapies! And I pray that caking will bring you the same healing and joy that it’s brought me <3