Whitney DePaoli (Sugar & Sparrow)

I am Whitney DePaoli, the recipe writer, photographer, content creator, and self-taught cake artist behind Sugar & Sparrow, and the author of Anyone Can Cake: Your Guide to Making & Decorating Perfect Layer Cakes. Cake is my very favorite way to spread joy in the world, which is why I am so passionate about sharing approachable recipes and captivating cake designs that anyone can recreate.

I became fascinated with baking from a young age, and when I realized that cake could be an artistic medium it quickly became my favorite. Self-taught every step of the way, I went on to operate a custom cake business for nearly a decade, making everything from fun birthday cakes to incredibly detailed tiered wedding cakes. This is where I perfected my first recipes, learned tons of decorating techniques, overcame my fair share of cake fails, and fell in love with the idea that cake could make someone’s day, whether they’re the baker or the recipient.

I started sharing my cakes and creative process on my Instagram @sugarandsparrowco and discovered a love for teaching people how to make pretty cakes and offering my recipes. I launched my blog Sugar & Sparrow in 2018 to do just that, and little by little it became a full time job. I’ve since had the amazing opportunity to publish a book, Anyone Can Cake, and the privilege of helping hundreds of thousands of people worldwide learn how to make pretty cakes that spread joy.