Meet Adeline Tan, a final year student pursuing a degree in Communication Studies. The 22-year-old undergraduate is also a freelance, self-taught baker and the founder of @dee_bakes. Her Instagram feed is testament to her talent and is filled with creative flavours ranging from cheesecake brownies to ondeh ondeh cupcakes — you may start drooling just by looking at them!
Adeline Tan, Year 4 Communications student & Founder of @dee_bakes
Interview By: Celine Koh, Justlyn Yeo
Written By: Celine Koh, Justlyn Yeo
Photo by: Justlyn Yeo
“Baking makes me think of more creative, out-of-the-cake-box ways to make my creations unique and special.”
How did you start baking?
It wasn’t a planned start, actually. I started baking in secondary school when my sister and I would bake for fun. I used to help out in my church ministry where we baked and raised funds.
I started to bake a bit more in junior college (JC) because it was a form of destress and I really enjoyed giving my friends food (laughs). Subsequently, after I graduated, I created my Instagram account (@dee_bakes) because at that time, it was a trend to have an Instagram account for food. So I started baking whatever I wanted! It wasn’t to sell but rather I just wanted to try my hand at creative bakes.
When did you start selling what you baked?
I used to work at a frozen yoghurt shop, and my colleagues knew of my baking Instagram account and they told my boss. The shop had cakes as toppings for the yoghurt, so my boss engaged me to bake cakes as toppings for the yoghurt. He ordered from me every 1-2 weeks, and that’s when I started selling my cakes and earning from this passion.
My first proper external order was from a JC acquaintance. She wanted a huge chocolate lava birthday cake with a molten centre. It was a tough request as chocolate lava cakes are usually small because of heat distribution during baking. So I had to think of another alternative, and I decided to fill the middle manually with chocolate ganache so that when you cut it, it’ll flow out. Over time, baking really challenges me to think of creative ways to make interesting cakes, but the accomplishment from every successful bake keeps me going.
Is your family supportive of this hobby?
Yes! When I used to do delivery at the start, my dad will send me and he’ll drive slowly so that the cake wouldn’t topple. There was also once during Chinese New Year where my dad got slightly drunk and he starting telling my relatives: “I’m going to buy the neighbour’s house so that I [Adeline] can have 2 ovens.” (Laughs) It was really funny.
When I was feeling down in my first year of university, my mum offered to pay for my school fees if I decide to pursue baking overseas after completing these 4 years in university. Even though I didn’t have plans for that, it was really nice knowing that my mum supports me in this. My sister will also always tell her friends about my baking so that’s nice too.
Also, the most tangible form I support I got is the cupboards in my kitchen — they weren’t there previously. My parents built a shelf so that I could put my things when I got busier.
Will baking remain a hobby or do you plan to make it into a full-time business?
Honestly, I haven’t truly sat down to think about it. I do think about continuing to bake after I graduate, but it is very difficult to sustain this business in Singapore. There are a lot of cafes or bakeries in Singapore that don’t last very long as the hype will die down. So it’s something that I will consider doing if I decide not to pursue journalism. Ideally, baking as a career will be the “dream”!
What was your biggest hurdle you had to overcome?
The most challenging order was a birthday cake order that I messed up. It happened about 2 years ago and the order was for a senior’s 21st birthday. She wanted a black and gold cake, and I thought that it would be fine because I made one for my friend’s birthday previously. But when I did it again, it just didn’t work. It was already 2 in the morning and she needed it in the afternoon. It was a big 2-tiered cake and I remember spraying it gold — but everything started dripping. I didn’t know what went wrong, so I couldn’t fix it no matter how hard I tried.
In the end, I had to throw the whole cake away and re-bake it, which took about 2 hours because it’s 2-tiered and each tier has 4 layers. I texted her to suggest placing gold elements instead of spraying the cake gold, and thankfully, she was super chill with the idea.
That was probably the scariest experience I had. So now I’ll plan my schedule and do things in advance in case I mess up towards the end.
Also, when I just started @dee_bakes, it was very hard for me to say “no”, so I would take in a lot of orders. As I had a lot of school stuff too, it was absolutely stressful during that period of time and I didn’t get much sleep.
Which is your favourite or most successful piece in contrast?
I feel satisfied each time I bake tiered cakes. Recently, I found a new love — making letter cakes! I think it’s really pretty and it’s easier than a tiered cake.
Personally, I prefer baking brownies and cookies. I don’t really like baking cakes because there’s a lot of room for error, but I guess baking cakes are the most fulfilling projects? The end product has the highest ‘WOW’ factor.
How do you hope to see @dee_bakes grow over the next few years?
I hope to come up with a proper menu and website, and track how much I’m earning. Ideally, I want to open my own shop!
If that doesn’t work out, I can just bake as a side job as baking is not something I intend to give up. Even if I get a job, I’m sure I can still do it on the weekends. So I hope that I can sustain my passion and hopefully get more orders.
How has baking changed you in any way, if it has?
Baking has helped me improve in certain aspects, one of which is definitely time management. I have to plan ahead when I have to do each step by — when to buy my ingredients, when to let the customers collect the cake, when to bake and schedule my other commitments around it, and so on.
In some ways, it also makes me more creative so that my cakes don’t look like anyone else’s.
I’m also pushed to talk to people and learn how to communicate with customers professionally. So, I’ve actually learnt quite a bit from pursuing this passion alone!
Do you have any advice for others who are passionate about baking?
Just do it. If you’re afraid of not being able to bake well — don’t be! There’s honestly not much risk involved and no harm trying when starting baking as a hobby. I feel like baking is something that you can definitely improve on the more you practise. It’s not like singing; you don’t have to be gifted, per se, with a nice voice. As long as you practise, you’ll master it, and it’ll be just fine!
You can also discover more about Adeline’s baking at https://www.instagram.com/dee_bakes/ and https://www.femalemag.com.sg/lifestyle/singaporean-bakers-follow-instagram/?slide=6.
——
