Polina's Cakes

In this edition of "Bakker in de Spotlight" we get to know Polina (34), the creative force behind Polina's Taarten in Zoetermeer. With her passion for baking and her desire to make people happy, Polina has set up a successful bakery. Her cakes are unique and bring a smile to the faces of her customers. She shares her story about the challenges she has overcome, her greatest achievements, and what drives her to enter the kitchen every day.

A passion for creativity

Polina’s love for baking began with her desire to make people happy. “I get satisfaction from creating and making people happy,” she says enthusiastically. The creative process gives her energy every time. “I design most of my cakes myself,” she adds. Her creations, whether it’s brownies, carrot cakes, or beautiful wedding cakes, are always a reflection of her creativity.

First steps and keep learning

When Polina started her bakery, she had a lot to learn. "My first steps were a long time ago," she remembers. But even now, as an experienced baker, she continues to make mistakes. "I still make mistakes," she laughs, "like choosing the wrong filling." But that doesn't stop her from continuing. Every mistake is an opportunity for her to grow and improve. "Now I know for sure that I want to keep developing."

A typical day in the bakery

Polina describes her workdays as full of energy and dreams. "I'm positive and I often incorporate my dreams into my cakes," she says. For her, the kitchen is a place where her creativity comes to life. Indispensable in her bakery are her ovens and kitchen appliances, to which she adds with a wink: "Basically everything that has to do with baking!"

An emotional wedding cake

Of all the cakes Polina has made, there is one that really stands out for her. “The most precious cake I’ve ever made was a wedding cake for a terminally ill patient,” she says. “It was for his wedding, before he passed away. I cried while making it.” It was a special moment for Polina, and it reminds her of how profound her work can be.

Inspiration and trends

Polina often gets her inspiration at unexpected moments. "I come up with it on the spot, when I see something," she explains. She especially loves making wedding cakes, which inspire her the most out of all the baking trends. But she also enjoys baby shower and birthday cakes. There is no type of cake she doesn't like to make. "No," she says simply, she enjoys everything she creates.

Challenges and dreams

Like any entrepreneur, Polina faces challenges. “Keeping track of orders can be tough sometimes,” she says. Despite these difficulties, she continues to dream. Her biggest wish? “I want to start my own store,” she shares enthusiastically. As for learning new skills, Polina feels like she’s doing exactly what she wants right now. “I think what I’m doing is perfect,” she says happily.

The importance of quality and packaging

For beginning bakers, Polina has one crucial tip: "Quality, quality, and more quality." This applies not only to the ingredients she uses, but also to the finishing of her cakes and their presentation. Packaging is therefore extremely important to Polina. "I am very satisfied with your products," she says about the boxes from Cupcakedozen.nl. "From bags to cupcake boxes and high cake boxes, everything is so beautiful and there are so many different colors. I love it!"

Compliments and word of mouth

One of the best compliments Polina has ever received was that her customers were sometimes speechless when they saw her cakes. "Sometimes they have no words," she says with a smile. Although she believes social media is important for her business, Polina prefers word of mouth. "Word of mouth is much more important," she says firmly. The trust and appreciation of her customers are what she values ​​most.

Want to see more of Polina's beautiful cakes and pastries? Visit her website PolinasTaarten.nl or follow her on Instagram via @polinastaarten .