No one knows cakes quite like It’s a Cake Thing founder Daniela Pantaleo. From delicate hand-piped ruffles and handcrafted fondant flowers, to sweet Swiss meringue buttercream rosettes, Pantaleo’s custom-cake decorating techniques deliver the wow factor. “There’s nothing better than seeing someone happy, and knowing that you’ve blown them away,” says the Vaughan-based baker, who has been creating cakes, cupcakes and sugar cookies since 2009.

Recognized for her jaw-dropping displays of sweet craftsmanship, Pantaleo works with the finest of ingredients to produce elegant confections. And with baking being a science that requires mathematical exactness, her approach to every project is with discipline. “In the span of a week I’ll only take on the task of creating three to five cakes. It’s not because I don’t have the time — it’s because it takes time to produce quality,” explains Pantaleo, who especially loves to experiment with new shapes and sizes. The result is a mouthful: Victorian-style wedding cakes, themed celebratory/birthday cakes, signature ruffle styles with gum paste flowers, porcelain-smooth ceremonial cakes, sweets and candy tables.

Extending tiers of joy to every occasion, Pantaleo keeps her skills sharp by taking private lessons with leading cake designers and has attended classes at the Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts. She’s looking forward to a baking workshop in Australia this winter, proving that her craft has no boundaries. A true testament of her talent shines through when commemorating special events in unconventional ways. Pantaleo’s latest venture into food-inspired cakes displays a true artist at work, capturing real-life similarities of anything from a fully loaded pizza to a pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Receiving numerous likes on her social media pages, it’s clear that Pantaleo’s passion for cakes keeps her tuned into the latest trends in the baking world.

In September, Pantaleo will hold a fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for Icing Smiles Canada, a non-profit organization that provides celebratory cakes to families with critically ill children. As she paints, pipes, stamps, quilts and pattern-impresses her way to cake magic, Pantaleo — a volunteer project leader for the charity — ensures that everyone gets the chance to smile on special occasions. “When you look back at your old memories, there’s always a picture of you and your birthday cake. I can’t imagine the hardship parents and families go through when a child is sick,” says the mother of two. “I just hope my cakes give everyone even
just a few moments of happiness.”

www.itsacakething.ca
416-917-4897
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527 Edgeley Blvd., Unit 6, Woodbridge, Ont.
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