Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie McAllister
Hi Julie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Although I have been a lifelong hobby baker, it wasn’t until I had worked in the advertising field for more than a decade before I ended up with a culinary career. I knew I had a calling for doing something in the culinary space, but I didn’t know how to make that transition happen. Ultimately, I decided to start a cake business on the side, where I would only take cake orders for the weekends, and slowly over time I built that business until I was able to make the jump to doing it full time. I never would have imagined what started as a hobby would have led be down the path of being on a cake show on Netflix.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is a lot of trial and error that comes with owning your own business—you think you’ll get to spend 99% of your time creating the thing you’re passionate about, but the reality is you have to spend so much other time juggling all the different hats any business owner has to wear.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Charleston-based cake artist renowned for crafting breathtakingly lifelike confections that blur the line between dessert and art. My hyperrealistic cakes, often inspired by Southern heritage and hospitality, have captivated clients like Reese Witherspoon, Garden & Gun, and King Bean Coffee. Featured in HGTV Magazine, American Cake Decorating Magazine, Entertain & Celebrate, Southern Lady, and more, I have also showcased my artistry on Netflix (Is It Cake? Season 3), the Food Network, and Discovery+ (Holiday Wars Season 4). In addition to custom creations, I also travel nationally to teach cake artistry workshops, sharing my expertise with bakers of all skill levels. Whether creating an opulent statement piece for a luxury event or a sculpted masterpiece for a brand campaign, I transform cake into an unforgettable experience.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That I am entirely self-taught and did not go to culinary school
Contact Info:
- Website: https://juliemcallistercakes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemcallistercakes/
