Meet Anabel De Bruijn | Baker and Owner of Wildflour Cakery Atl

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anabel De Bruijn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anabel, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My love for baking cakes started in 2011, my daughter was 3 years old and I had lost a pregnancy at 20 weeks. I took time away from work to grieve and recover from the loss during this time I started experimenting in the kitchen with dessert recipes as a way to distract myself. Little did I know that this distraction would become a love that would take over my life. I began with creating elaborate cakes for my daughters birthday parties, then I eventually started to branch out and bake cakes for family and friends. It was during this time that I developed a deep love for baking, finding joy and fulfillment in creating delicious desserts. Experimenting with different recipes and techniques sparked the idea of sharing my creations with a wider audience. I developed signature recipes and a distinctive baking style that set me apart from others. Recognizing the uniqueness of my creations, I saw an opportunity to turn this talent into a business.

I have always had the desire to be my own boss, build something from scratch, and pursue a passion as a livelihood. The idea of creating a business that aligns with my interests and values was my motivation. Baking is not only about creating delicious treats but also about bringing joy to others. The thought of sharing my cakes with customers and being part of their special occasions—birthdays, weddings, celebrations—is incredibly rewarding.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Wildflour Cakery is essentially the manifestation of my love for beautiful desserts, unique style and dedication to using high-quality ingredients. I take pride in my ability to create intricate designs and provide customers with personal touches. Those personal touches are where I set myself apart from other bakers, specifically in the creation of flowers which I make in different mediums such as wafer paper, sugar paste and hand pipped buttercream flowers. The art of creating flowers whether it be out of sugar paste or wafer paper is time consuming but so rewarding and fulfilling for me. I get so excited to see the smiles on my customers faces and their reluctance to want to cut the cake because it’s too pretty!

It has not been an easy road to get to where I am today. I began baking and selling cakes in Miami where I am originally from. I began this business in 2012 obtained my customers through word of mouth and referrals. That iteration of the business ended when my family moved to the metro Atlanta area in 2019. Being new to the area and not knowing the lay of the land as well as living through the pandemic made launching a business a little scary. I had the passion to continue following my dreams but Covid did not make it easy. So I decided to put the cake business on the back burner for the time being. During the pandemic I realized that this life isn’t promised to us and that we need to live everyday to our fullest. So during a spring break trip to Oregon on a hike I was surrounded by all these amazingly beautiful wild flowers their beauty, strength and fragility gave me the idea for the name of the business. With this inspiration I pushed through made some connections within my neighborhood and in late 2023 decided to go all in and launch Wild Flour Cakery.

Some of the lessons I have learned during this process is that you should never stop following your dreams and passions. When I took a hiatus from baking I felt empty like something was missing in my life. I was missing that challenge and creative process which I know now fuels me. This journey has taught me to follow that drive and intuition it will never lead you astray.

I would like to world to know is that cake designers are artist and the sugar art that we create is a piece of our heart. Every cake and dessert I create is an expression of my love for beauty and delicious food and I want all of my clients to feel that love with every bite.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Atlanta it’s vibrant, real and so much fun. I live outside of the perimeter in Alpharetta but it’s a quick 35 minutes to the city which makes it so convenient. Since I am a foodie I like to make sure we start with the getting our bellies full, so a trip to any of the food halls around the city is where I like to start. Ponce City Market is always a good idea with great food options and shopping nothing makes me happier. The Works is also another great place to get some awesome food with lots of options. I am a huge art lover so a trip to the High Museum is always on the list especially on the first Fridays of each month when they have a DJ and drinks in the evening. A little closer to home I enjoy the dining options and shopping at Avalon in Alpharetta and now that the weather is getting warmer there will be lots of live music in the downtown area which is always a great time!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my husband Gerald De Bruijn, my biggest supporter. Gerald has seen me at my worst up at 1am trying to figure out why a design won’t work in tears. He has also seen me produce my best work and has always encouraged me to push my creativity.

His belief in my talent and passion for baking has been a constant source of motivation, propelling me forward even when doubts crept in. His confidence in my abilities has emboldened me to pursue my dreams with determination and perseverance.

So here’s to you, my dear husband, my partner in life. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader, my sounding board, and my rock. Your unwavering love and encouragement fuel my creativity and inspire me to reach new heights.

As I mix, knead, and bake my way towards success, I do so with profound gratitude for your unwavering support. Here’s to many more delicious adventures together, hand in hand, whisk in whisk.

With all my love and appreciation,
Anabel

Website: www.wildflourcakeryatl.com

Instagram: @wild_Flour_Cakery_Atl

Other: Tik Tok @wildflourcakeryatl

Image Credits
Photography by Gerald De Bruijn