You're reading: Ukrainian confectioner reshapes art of cake-making

Instagram users around the globe have been wowed by amazing cakes featuring unusual geometric shapes created by Ukrainian confectioner Dinara Kasko.

Kasko started posting photos of her sweet masterpieces on her Instagram account nearly a year ago, and has since gained 193,000 followers, who are impressed both by her creativity and her non-standard approach toward desserts.

“It’s very important for me to create something interesting, something fresh. I really like to experiment,” Kasko says.

But only a few years ago, Kasko, 27, who graduated from the Kharkiv Construction and Architecture University, had no plans to become a confectioner. While still at university she started working at local architecture companies, and after she finished her studies, Kasko continued working as a designer in Kharkiv and abroad in Europe.

“I really love my profession. I like creating nice interiors,” she says.

Inspired

Kasko said that her personal life circumstances and love for sweets inspired her to try confectionery making some three years ago. Several years ago she got married, gave a birth to a daughter and moved with her family to a new apartment. There Kasko started to do some baking. “I loved sweets from my childhood. It inspired me to make sweets then,” Kasko said.

Her first efforts were simple cookies. “My husband advised me to ‘make interesting cakes’ and I followed his advice,” the confectioner said. She decided to combine architecture and confectionery, and started creating cakes in unusual forms.

Kasko uses modern technology to produce her fantastic creations. “At first I draw the forms of my future cakes in 3D Max, a special computer program. Then the form I select is printed on a 3D printer and made into a silicon mold,” she says.

Confectioner Dinara Kasko combines architecture and confectionery while making her sweet masterpieces.

Confectioner Dinara Kasko combines architecture and confectionery while making her sweet masterpieces. (Courtesy)

Her cakes frequently look like futuristic sculptures, sometimes they have bizarre forms and resemble astronomical objects or modern architecture buildings. Her sweet masterpieces have received thousands of likes on Instagram.

Kasko says it may take her entire day to make one cake. “When I make a cake for the first time it can take five or even six attempts until everything is perfect,” she adds.

Unexpected ingredients

When it comes to cake-making, Kasko is self-educated. She has never graduated from any culinary college but “constantly attends many culinary courses abroad to absorb new knowledge.”

Kasko also likes to add new and unexpected ingredients to traditional cake recipes. Passion fruit is her favorite element, she says.

Unfortunately for cake lovers, Kasko neither sells her cakes, nor makes cakes to order because of lack of time and room at home. “Now it’s just my relatives who enjoy my cakes,” she says.

Kasko has not decided whether to continue making her sweet masterpieces once her maternity leave is over. “On the one hand it would be nice to have a big pastry shop, but on the other hand I love doing interior design,” she says.

Dinara Kasko uses 3D print technologies to make her cakes.

Dinara Kasko uses 3D print technologies to make her cakes. (Courtesy)

Kasko will conduct a pasty workshop at the Kyiv International Culinary Academy (1 Novovokzalna St.) on Oct. 24-26, with live streaming in English.

The workshop will last from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. and will cost Hr 10,500. To watch the workshop online will cost €55. Those interested can register for the workshop at http://en.kicapastry.com/course/Dinara-Kasko-Architecture-in-desserts/
Kasko’s silicon forms for cakes are also on sale at the Silicomart Professional store, at professional.silikomart.com