Sunday Sweets Spotlight: Elena Gnut Cakes

I'm doing something a little different this week, Sweets fans:
All of today's cakes are by the same baker.

Why?

Because after ten years of searching out the best cakes the web has to offer, it takes a lot to impress me. And Elena Gnut, a culinary artist from Kaliningrad, Russia, knocks my sugar-loving socks off. Her cakes are pure art, incredibly unique, and I think you're going to love them.

Here, just look at her hot air balloon cake topped with floating butterflies:

That's all hand-painted! And her soft watercolors on the butterflies make them feel like something out of a dream.

More surreal sweetness: this leaping goldfish:

Everything here seems to defy gravity - and you KNOW those chocolate orbs are filled with something delicious.

I love the 3D sculpted wings on this fairy/angel:

And speaking of sculpting... this is cake:

WOW.

This one should be on a marble plinth in an art museum:

In fact, Elena could sell photos of this, right? I think I could stare at those textures all day.

Have you picked up on the subtle Gothic vibe to Elena's work? If so, then it probably won't surprise you that she's a big Tim Burton fan:

And can we talk about the genius of a Tim Burton-inspired Snow White and Little Mermaid?!

Most of Elena's cakes are pure whimsy, though, light and sweet:

D'awwwww. I may have squeed rather loudly over this one.

Another gravity-defyer:

Look at those feathery clouds! They must be cotton candy, but they look so much like real down feathers its messing with my brain.

This one has a kind of rose petal wind chime on top:

Again, dreamy and beautiful.

This one caught my eye since my parents are currently touring the midwest on their Harley:

I adore that soft color palette - so rustic and peaceful.

And finally, one last show-stopper (can you tell I'm binging Great British Bake-Off?) that literally made me gasp:

Absolutely stunning.

Elena is the only baker I follow on Instagram, and that's some of the highest praise I can give. Go give her follow for more eye candy like this in your feed, and be sure to browse the rest of her account, too, because dang, you guys. DANG.

Just to be clear, this post is not sponsored in any way, and Elena has no idea who I am. I just wanted to share something Sweet. :)

Happy Sunday, everyone!

*****

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And from my other blog, Epbot:

Comments

[missalg]

Thanks for sharing these incredibly beautiful cakes. I definitely can't pick a favorite--each time I try, a detail of a different one pulls me in a different direction. Love them all!

[Jules]

Ok, when I first read the title of the post, I thought "Elena Gnut" was going to be some play-on-words for elegant. And I'm still not convinced otherwise because holy WOW these cakes! So I followed your advice and went down the rabbit hole that is her instagram and I don't know how you managed to decide which cakes to feature because they are all astounding!!!

[Tamara]

Those are beyond beautiful! 😍

[Noreen McKechnie]

The lace lace lace on the bottom of the dress in the last cake. The pages, the flowers oh my!

[dbc]

Awwww-- the rose petal one reminded me of your cherry blossom nursery mobile!

[dutchgirl]

Absolutely stunning. And I found myself channeling the GBBO too! Just finished watching Season 5.

[Caircair]

As a voracious reader - I WANT THAT LAST CAKE!!!

[carisa]

Such delicate and delightful talent.

[Juin]

Wow is about all I can say. You've had some amazing cakes on before, but Elena Gnut's are truly above and beyond. What brilliant skills to make those artworks from cake, frosting, fondant, and sugar blows my mind!

[Maureen]

Jen,

Did you notice that stork cake looks a lot like the one from Pixar's Partly Cloudy?

Maureen

P.S. It was great to see you in Pittsburgh!

[Debbie Culpepper]

I looked at the Instagram, but I was too distracted by all the hair touching to enjoy some of the cakes. Do they not have the same hygiene restrictions for bakers?

[mindy1]

OMG those are amazing. How?!?!?! :O

[SuzG]

I want to live in that last cake. OMG

[Allegra]

I never knew until today that I needed a cake with a windchime topper in my life.

[KatydidCakes]

I think I love her and hate her at the same time....she's as beautiful as her cakes! My new favorite too!