Here's why Hyderabad-based homebaker Sampada Nadagouda takes the cake when it comes to quality and freshness 

True story. Two dessert jars arrived out of nowhere and we had the chance to steal a few spoonfuls from the red velvet cake jar and were absolutely floored. The rich, creamy texture of the cake was full of flavour. We had to get in touch with the baker to thank them, of course. It turns out that this pâtissière-level baking was the work of young homebaker Sampada Nadagouda. This 23-year-old, who was born in Hubbali and is currently living in Hyderabad, left her job at Amazon to give baking a shot, an ambition that she's nursed in her heart for a long time. But instead of plunging right into the sweet world of cakes and cupcakes, she sensibly took a step back and pursued a diploma course in baking and cake decoration from White Lotus School of Cake Decoration Arts, Pune. "Taking up the course gave me more clarity in terms of my goal, which was to bake," says Sampada, who officially quit her job in April last year and launched Yours Cakely in November. And before we turn into the grammar police and quiz her on the wordplay around 'Yours Truly', she says endearingly, "I know it's technically not right, but it felt so right to me."  

Flashback mode: Sampada is an alumna of Bhavan's Vivekananda College from where she pursued her BA in Mass Communication | (Pic: Sampada Nadagouda)

On the menu of Yours Cakely are cakes, cupcakes and brownies, all of which are eggless! Sampada has rented a one bedroom flat near Neredmet where she and her mother Mamata whip up tasty treats that tingle our sweet tooth. The space is equipped with a 50-litre Morphy Richards OTG, turntables, double door freezers and more. "Currently, I am working on advertisements for social media and I'm gearing up for orders," says Sampada. And that is one of her biggest challenges right now, reaching out to more and more people. But she has a few fans already, especially for her chocolate cake. "Oh yes, a few kids I know do not prefer to order from anywhere else already," she gushes. 

Yours Cakely has received as many as 25 orders till date

Though Sampada is not a cake-person herself, she loves to bake for others and advises that "If you have decided to eat the cake, might as well not think about the calories." And we totally agree! So what else is she going to put on the menu? "I want to bake bigger cakes and maybe even fruit cakes too," she says. Sounds fruitilicious! 

Some of her cakes