Cakes, cupcakes, brownies… hungry yet?
Why wait to buy them when you can bake them yourself? In Baking
Mantra – Cakes, baker and culinary expert Shilpa Seth Bhambri opens
the doors to her kitchen and shares the simple, reliable techniques that
have shaped her journey from a passionate home baker to established
professional in the world of desserts. Clear, practical and deeply rooted
in the Indian kitchen, this book shows you how great cakes are built,
step by step, with con dence.
Whether you bake for family or for celebrations, or dream of turning
your passion into a business, Shilpa’s hard-earned insights come from
years of hands-on experience. Featuring recipes for modern dietary
needs, including vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free and egg-free options, this
book o ers smart, workable solutions using easy-to-access ingredients.
A trusted companion for every aspiring baker.
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Shilpa is a prominent content creator and the Head Culinary at Baskin Robbins India and founder of The Cakeline, and listed among the top 80 culinary influencers globally. She has had the opportunity to shape and launch recipes that reach thousands across the country. Her experience stretches from commercial product innovation to homegrown dessert experiments, from developing ice cream sundaes and milkshakes to crafting and styling cakes that tell stories through sugarcraft. But no matter the platform – a 1,000-store product rollout or an Instagram post to her food-loving community – Shilpa is ahead of the curve to inspire aspiring bakers and food enthusiasts through her creative ventures, thought leadership and engaging content.
If you ask me where this journey began, I would say it started in the warm scent of my large childhood home kitchen, where curiosity met creativity and flour-dusted marble tops became my first cake canvas. What began as fascination grew into a full-blown calling – one that has led me to dedicate over two and a half decades to the art and science of baking. Baking Mantra – Cakes is not just a cookbook; it is the culmination of this beautiful, ever-evolving path. It was born out of a gap I sensed keenly – a lack of curated cake knowledge that spoke directly to the Indian baker. Much of the literature available catered to the Western kitchen, with ingredients we can’t always find, ovens we don’t always use and tastes that don’t always match our memories. I wanted to write a book that felt rooted in our soil, in our palate and in our love for celebration. From tea-time cakes to vegan bakes, mawa cakes to matcha madeleines, this book carries the soul of India, while embracing the global.
Every chapter, recipe and photograph here is personal. The cakes featured are not just tested – many are lived. Some are heirloom
recipes that I’ve treasured; some were born out of trial and error;
and some became signature bakes I’ve made for friends, family and
clients, time and again. A few of these creations have even travelled
far, both in geography and nostalgia, connecting Indians across the
globe to the flavours of home.
As a baking instructor, product developer and food content creator,
I’ve worn many hats, and each has taught me something that has
found its way into this book. From styling cakes in street-side setups
in Mumbai to crafting 3D sugar models, every experience has been
a layer in the sponge cake of this career.
But more than technique, this book is about belief. The belief that
a perfectly risen cake can uplift your day. That eggless baking isn’t a
compromise, it’s innovation. That ghee, ragi, jaggery and other staples
from our pantry deserve space in contemporary cake conversations.
That even a novice, with the right tools and inspiration, can create
magic in the oven.
So whether you’re a home baker, a dessert enthusiast, a young
entrepreneur or simply someone who loves the smell of freshly
baked cake wafting through your kitchen (I also include in this list
many of my established chef friends and cake business owners),
Baking Mantra – Cakes is my heartfelt offering to you.
You will find a recipe here for you – make it your own!
Here’s to a journey where baking becomes your business, your
meditation, your celebration, your mantra.
Warmly,
Shilpa
ISBN No: 978-81-993948-8-9
No. Of Pages: 252
Language: English
Cover: Paperback
Year Of Publication: 2026
