Five Basic Steps in making an Ideal Cake- Ezinne Ogbonna Founder,Duchess Bakehouse

Please let’s get to meet you. Tell us about yourself and your background

My name is Ezinne Nwanyinma Harriette Ogbonna. I have been a baker since Childhood but delved into it professionally in 2015 and established my brand in 2019. I studied English and literary studies BA and mass communication as an MA. All in the University of Nigeria. I am married and a mother of one

Can you share with us what inspired you into your line of profession?
Growing up, it was simple …. My mum is a caterer and was a professional baker, I picked interest from there and developed my craft from my mum’s and here we are today

What has been the most difficult challenge you have faced in your career path and how did you manage it?
Human management and how to manage workers should be the most tedious of them all, humans are very feeble and when it has to do with craft, you keep doing trial and error until you figure it out

 

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Confectionery business is quite competitive in Nigeria, what kind of clients does your business attract and how do you retain them
I make good cakes, and I can attest to that, the sky is big enough and not to blow my trumpets but I nicknamed my clients people with “elite taste buds “ I am sure I have answered your question.

Can you share five basic steps in making an ideal cake?

Sure, here are five steps to make an ideal cake:

1. Preheat the oven and prepare the cake pans by greasing and flouring them.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
4. Combine the flour and baking powder, then gradually mix into the creamed mixture.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake as directed in the recipe.

Are you involved in any program for skills acquisition? What kind of support do you think you’d get from the government to scale up your business?
None at the moment but I have in the past. Granted free training to people who had passions but couldn’t afford my training fees. If I get funding from the government, I would want to open a walk-in confectionery and a baking school with the necessary equipment to aid the students who will enroll

In your line of business, can you share with us your most memorable and profitable experience?
Wedding seasons have always been the most memorable times of this brand as we get to feed our yummy bites to lots of people in different locations for good pay. Being part of weddings generally is exciting

What should Nigerians and the rest of the world expect from your brand in the coming years?
Someday, Duchess Bakehouse will have an accustomed recipe known to this brand and once you taste it from any part of Nigeria,  you will know where it’s coming from unless, of course, you are seeking asylum in Nigeria