Hello!
MY NAME IS TARA
I grew up in a family owned and operated bakery and I’m proud to say that I’m a 4th generation baker.
The family bakery business specialised in baking to food allergies and was a dedicated gluten free environment. I was 5 when our family sold the business then went on to operate a gluten free and allergy friendly doughnut and coffee van for 2 years.
My passion for baking has continued over the years In September 2022 when I was 12 years old at the time and in my first year of high school, I was taking every spare moment I could to make cakes and practice my skills.
I kept my baking skills and knowledge pretty much to myself unless it was for family or close friends until late September 2022 when I made a cake for fun and I was proud of my achievement and felt confident enough to share the images of what I had made. From this “The Little Cake Gallery was started on Instagram.
At first, my posts were simple, and I had no idea what I was doing, but over time I learned the ropes of social media, picked up tips from others, and found my own style
By April 2023 my baking expanded from mainly only making cakes and Occasionally cupcakes to including cookies. I started learning how to make fondant cookies with imbossers and debossers and that’s when I decided my Instagram page was abit more than a “Cake Gallery” so a name change evolved to become “The Little Bake Gallery” and my original logo was also upgraded to reflect the name change.
Over time with a little more social media experience I soon found myself regularly creating cakes and cookies to create content and my followers grew from more Family and Friends to people at school and extended to a wide rage of followers.
Initially I was hesitant to share my creations and skills for fear of being judged I soon learnt that if there is something you truly love, don’t let anyone stop you.
In 2024 I achieved some incredible milestones. In July I started entering my baking/art creations into competitions where won a total of 13 awards in less than 6 months. This includes 7 First places, 2 Second places and 4 Best In Show Awards for cakes, cupcakes and cookies.
Then came 2025
In March, I was nominated for three Australian Cake Oscars: Fondant Cookie Artist of the Year, New Cookie Artist of the Year, and Rising Star of the Year I became a finalist for Rising Star and travelled to Brisbane for the awards night. Even though I didn’t win, being recognised on that level at just 15 and surrounded by so many talented artists was an incredible experience.
May brought two huge moments for me. I began teaching Cupcake and Cookie decorating something I’d dreamed of for years. Sharing my skills and knowledge, especially with kids, was a dream come true. I loved seeing their excitement and showing them that they can achieve amazing things too. That same month, I invested in a 3D printer so I could design and make my own custom cookie cutters.
By June, I had officially registered my kitchen, and in July, I became fully licensed and insured turning The Little Bake Gallery into a fully operational business. On August 1st, my products hit a retail store for the very first time. Since then, I’ve been growing my business through markets, orders, events, and more teaching opportunities.
July also brought with it another 2 incredible award and nominations this time in cake decorating and baking industry awards these nominations were fondant cookie artist of the year and rising talent of the year
Now I bake and decorate hundreds of cookies each week, sharing my creations with thousands of viewers across my social media platforms and connecting with hundreds of people worldwide. Through my work, I’ve built lifelong friendships with fellow bakers, small business owners, creative makers, and other teen entrepreneurs. I love being part of such an inspiring and supportive community This journey has opened doors to so many amazing opportunities, and even though it’s really difficult to balance running a business with being in high school full-time, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
What started as a little Instagram page to share my love for baking has grown into my passion, my job, and my dream. At just 16, I’m so grateful to be doing what I love running my own business, teaching, and creating edible art that brings joy to others. And the journey is only just beginning.
Whether you’re new to my page or have been following from the start, thank you for being part of this journey. This account has become my pride and joy, from what started as a way to share my love for baking has turned into something far more meaningful.
Although my TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube platforms are still growing, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made especially considering that I’m just 16! I am beyond grateful for the support, encouragement and growth of my social’s community, the journey is far from over, and I look forward to reaching even more people, sharing my passion, and continuing to grow as an artist.
