Take a glance at even one of Jenna’s cakes and your jaw will probably drop because her creations are THAT stunning! This week we’re excited to introduce you to a talented local ‘cake artist’ who designs exquisite masterpieces that taste incredible.

Meet Jenna Malloy of Paints & Pans…

So Jenna, how did you get into cake artistry?? 

Growing up, I always enjoyed art. It was a passion of mine. I was first introduced to cake decorating after graduating from the Pratt Institute—an art school in Brooklyn, New York. I interned at a custom cake shop nearby, where I learned the fundamentals of cake decorating. I fell in love with the work. 

And then you become a cake decorator full-time. What made you want to open your own shop?

When I moved to the Seacoast in 2012, I found a job at a custom cake shop where I worked for three years before leaving to make custom cakes on my own from my home. Flash forward to today, I thought if I really wanted to cement myself as a professional cake decorator on the Seacoast, I needed to take the next step in my business. I moved into a cake studio in Kittery, Maine a few months ago and couldn’t be happier!

What do you like most about creating custom cakes?

I really enjoy being able to use my fine art background to create sculptural pieces of deliciously edible artwork. I’m able to combine my love of food and making art for a living—how cool is that?? I always enjoy it when cake designs are particularly challenging. I’ve made animal cakes, food cakes, and purse cakes, to name a few, and I like trying to get the cakes to as close to the original item as possible—all while being 100% edible! 

Can you describe your process from initial consult to the final product?

The process of ordering cakes varies depending on the client, occasion and vision. I usually meet in person with those ordering cakes for events that serve over 100 people. Smaller orders are simply emailed to me with a photo or received by phone.

What else would you like people to know about Paints & Pans?

Aside from looking beautiful and realistic, my cakes taste delicious as well. I tend to adhere to more traditional flavors (chocolate, vanilla, carrot, red velvet), but other than that, Paints & Pans is far from a traditional bakery—I like to call it an Artist’s Cakery!

We were fortunate to have enjoyed one of Jenna’s custom creations to celebrate Seacoast Lately’s 4th Birthday last month, and we were thrilled with the entire experience of working with Jenna, and receiving the final product—a cake that was both visually appealing and tasty as can be. Thank you Jenna!