Lizzy Cohen is different from your typical artist. Forget about brushes and palettes; flour, sugar, and butter are her medium of choice. While other artists might dream of gallery showings, Cohen finds her joy in creating edible masterpieces that take center stage at children’s birthday parties, weddings, and other celebrations.
A quick peek at her Instagram, @LizzysLittleBakeShoppe, reveals a wonderland of elaborate cakes, each more impressive than the last. The more intricate and challenging the design, the more Cohen thrives. It’s a far cry from her previous role as catering manager at the Seafood Shop, but a career change that allows her to embrace her creativity fully.
Cohen, a 2007 East Hampton High School graduate, is now a full-time baker, juggling her passion with the demands of motherhood to her two young children, Violet and Jack. “Being able to do what I truly love is amazing,” she beams. “Catering was good financially, but there’s nothing quite like using your creative talents to make something people are excited to buy.”
She reveals that the most rewarding aspect of her profession is being part of people’s special occasions. “I’ve been making cakes for some of these kids for years now,” she says with a smile. “It’s always a happy time.”
While unicorns, rainbows, and cartoon characters are popular requests, Cohen is fearless in stepping outside the box. A plague-themed Passover cake with fondant cicadas? Check. A pizza cake so realistic it could fool anyone? Done. A giant, juicy cheeseburger cake? You bet. “I love watching ‘Is It Cake?’ on Netflix,” she admits. “It inspires me to keep pushing my boundaries. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and I can’t resist a good challenge.”
While she offers classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, and carrot cake, customization is her specialty. An edible ink printer lets her translate virtually any design or theme onto the cake’s surface. Fresh flowers, a trendy addition to wedding cakes, are also part of her repertoire. Ideally, a one- to two-week notice is recommended for custom orders.
Cohen’s journey to baking began after high school when she majored in education at Five Towns College while working at the Montauk Childcare Center. However, her heart yearned for a different path. Inspired by her great-grandmother, Janet Norton, who nurtured her love for cooking and baking from a young age, and her mother, Rhonda Daniels, a Bostwick’s and Bonfire Coffeehouse baker, Cohen enrolled in the culinary arts program at Suffolk Community College.
“Our family always bonded in the kitchen,” she reminisces. “We’d gather around the table, snapping green beans, shucking corn, peeling potatoes – whatever was on the menu for that night.”
The pandemic became a turning point, prompting a shift from catering to baking. Initially, she spread the word about her newfound passion through family and friends. Soon, requests started pouring in from friends of friends and then from strangers.
Beyond her artistic talents, Cohen possesses a generous spirit. She’s the official birthday cake donor for Hamptons Community Outreach, an organization dedicated to providing underprivileged children with unforgettable birthday celebrations, alongside essential services like feeding the homeless and assisting with home repairs. Marit Molin, the organization’s founder, applauds Cohen’s kindness and talent. “The children adore her cakes – they’re truly works of art,” Molin says. “We rely heavily on volunteers, and Lizzy always goes above and beyond to help.”
As Cohen looks towards the future, she envisions a dedicated commercial space to expand her business and cater to a broader clientele. A cheerful sign on her front door, a gift from her mother-in-law, reads: “The joy is in the journey.” These words perfectly capture Cohen’s philosophy. “When I finish a cake and take a step back to admire it, there’s this incredible rush of adrenaline,” she confesses. “The sense of accomplishment is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in any other job.”
