Meet Daphnne Laurent | Cake Artist & Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daphnne Laurent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daphnne, how does your business help the community?
It’s always been a one woman show for me. Officially stepping into the baking industry (circa 2019), I had to fend for myself. In the baking industry, I found it was hard to get advice and ask for help. Reaching out to an experienced baker was intimidating and finding community took some time! Being a rather timid person, it only made my experience worse! As I’ve grown more confidence in my work, I started to pick up a knack for helping people in the same shoes I’ve been in. More recently, I have been getting more “how” questions: how to make buttercream smooth, how to make chocolate drip, how to dip a strawberry in chocolate, etc. I feel it’s my turn to extend a hand to those in need and offer mentorship for the bakers and makers like me!
Guidance was the only thing I needed in starting my business when I did. I didn’t know that then, but a family outside of family is what I needed. Having one now has helped me in ways I would’ve never expected, so I encourage creators of any experience level to reach out to me via dm on Instagram should they have any cake, decorating or video content related questions. This helps me get to know people and connect with them, as well as referring them to one another.
Now knowing that I am skilled enough, I encourage others to grow their confidence in not only their craft, but themselves as well. I now offer 1-on-1 cake and treat classes virtually, specifically for the creators who need help in the basics of cake decorating or treat making.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a young girl, I have always been creative… I just couldn’t draw or paint how traditional artists could. My interest was in the kitchen. Becoming a baker showed that art is subjective and comes in all forms. I express myself in ways I wouldn’t be able to on a canvas, but I learned that cake IS my canvas! My goal when was to share my capability and talent with the world.

I would never think some 5 years from today that I’d be where I am now. I placed my talents in the right places and pursued them, no matter who tried to sway me away from doing so. Like many other people, I honed in on my craft during lockdown in early 2020. I’ve never made a custom cake or buttercream prior to then, but once I started I never looked back. It was not the easiest thing in the world, of course, being that I had no experience. Youtube and TikTok helped me so much.

In February of 2022 is when I finally registered my business, Delights D’Laurent LLC, in the state of New Jersey. I taught myself most of what I know about business, and it’s only the surface! I have a long way to go and grow through. I haven’t had the easiest experience, nor has it been perfect and I’ve learned from the peaks and valleys I’ve experienced so far. Within the past year or two, I taught myself to pick myself up when I feel myself tumbling. I picked up journaling and mediation as a habit and it has helped me bring myself back to earth. I constantly reminded myself that as much success or failure I experience, neither define who I am as a person. I always encourage others to remind themselves of their own humanness, it goes a very long way. There’s always room to grow and learn!

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.
By the time this is uploaded, I would have just moved to Houston from Linden, NJ… I’m a Jersey girl for sure! I haven’t experienced Houston enough to know any spots, so let me take y’all to Jersey real quick!

I’m a Taurus who surely lives up to the stereotypes… I loveeee solo dates and brunchin’, so of course we’re gonna eat, and we’re gonna eat GOOD!
I love a good soul food spot, so I’d go to Delta’s in New Brunswick, NJ or Sweet T’s in Montclair, NJ either for brunch or dinner.

For a cute solo date, I’d go to for some carribean food and creative cocktails at Harry’s Daughter in Jersey City, NJ. I’d need something sweet after, so I’d head to The Cookie Connect for a warm Cinnamon Toast Crunch cookie then go to walk the pier admiring amazing views of NYC.

To get some work done, I always go for brunch at Turning Point in Westfield, NJ. Their French toast, chai latte and omelettes are always on point! After I finish my food, I’d kick it in their Laptop Lounge with my AirPods in, most likely responding to emails. Fun fact: I created a majority of my website there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have an amazing support system that motivate me so much and keep me grounded. I have felt support from my family since the day I shared the idea of starting my business and I am forever grateful for that. So many people have inspired me to keep going, whether intentionally or not.

I want to acknowledge my family and friends who have turned into family over the years:

Of course I’m shouting out my mom, Dixa. Without her faith in me, I doubt I’d be as far as I am today. Whether it be a listening ear, an extra hand with delivery, referrals, or a simple Facebook post, the support never goes unnoticed.

My lovely grandmother, Mariana, for always allowing me space in her kitchen to learn the basics of baking and cooking as a child. She’d allow me to make mistakes and fix them; she walked me through the kitchen from cracking eggs without shells, overflowing cake/brownie batter, how to flip a pancake or letting cakes cool before decorating them with canned frosting.

Special thanks to my best friend, Cho-Dayah, for being my rock, never allowing me to think or feel small and showing up in whatever way she can, be it physically, emotionally or mentally.

Big thanks to my cousins Brianna, Zoie and Zoryah for supporting me since day one! My cheerleaders on the sideline! Every post of mine became a repost which exposed me to new audiences. Always sending inspiring messages and videos and designs for me to recreate.

My siblings, Amanda and Gianni, aka my taste testing guinea pigs since before my business was even thought of! They never stopped motivating me, sharing their thoughts or critiquing my work in the best ways possible.

Last but certainly not least, my aunts Lorraine and Stephanie for always sending encouraging messages. They always remind me to care for myself first physically, mentally and spiritually.

Website: www.delightsdlaurent.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/delightsdlaurent?utm_medium=copy_link

Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPd6oShoV/

Image Credits
Cho-Dayah Davis Edil Arvelo