Meet Nina Chonin | Baker & Cake Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nina Chonin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business stemmed from a deep rooted passion for baking that I’ve had since childhood. I would always experiment with new recipes and try different designs I would see online. As I got older and life got busier, I found myself wanting to reconnect with that joy and passion that I felt as a young girl. Creating my own bakery, not only reignited my love for baking, but also allowed me to share this with others. It truly has been a journey fueled by creativity, and a pure desire to pursue what truly makes me happy and fulfilled.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I specialize in creating customizable vintage-style cakes that are tailored to each customer’s vision, ensuring that each creation is unique. I strive to create not just desserts, but edible works of art that resonate with each customers, unique vision what sets me apart is my meticulous attention to detail and the use of premium ingredients, ensuring that every cake is not only visually pleasing, but also delicious I have built my brand and clientele through Instagram which has resulted in a growing community of over 1600 followers within the last year this platform has not only allowed me to showcase my cakes, but also connect with fellow bakers all over the world who share my passion for creating cakes.

Alongside Sunbaked, I also have a full-time job at a branding agency working as a Brand Analyst and Creative. Every day after finishing work, I throw on my apron and switch to working on the weeks cake orders. Navigating the demands of a full-time job alongside my cake business has been both challenging and rewarding. Although I am only 23 years old, and still learning every day, it has taught me invaluable lessons in resilience, time management, and the overall drive to persevere, even when the workload seems overwhelming at times. This challenge fuels my motivation and deepens my commitment to my craft.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that behind every cake is a labor of love and dedication. Each creation, to me, is a piece of art crafted with care, and tells a story about my genuine love for what I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend visiting from out of town, I would say the following are non-negotiables: – a day at the beach with some Publix chicken tender subs
– authentic Cuban food at Islas Canarias or Versailles
– a day to explore Little Havana, eating ice cream at Azucar and listening to live Cuban performers at Ball and Chain
– Chevré for amazing gourmet sandwiches and foreign cheese & wine
– a night out in Downtown, with the first stop being Lost Boy for a southern “saloon” ambience and then ending the night at Mama Tried for great music and dancing
– lunch or dinner at Flanigan’s, the best sports bars in town with delicious food
– Smorgasburg, a weekly food festival in Wynwood
– a walk across the Key Biscayne bridge and a trip to Flour and Weirdoughs which would be like if a bar and a bakery had a baby

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a heartfelt shoutout to my dad, who unknowingly was the catalyst behind my passion for baking. In the midst of change and uncertainty after my parents divorce, his apartment became a safe haven where I could truly express myself and try new things that kept life exciting and fun. From Publix runs for ingredients to experimenting with new cupcake designs, he was always been by my side nurturing my newfound passion and encouraging my creativity. What may have initially been a way for my dad to keep me entertained during this hard time turned out to be the spark that ignited a lifelong passion for baking within me so thank you to my dad for fostering my creativity and being an unwavering supporter from the very beginning.

Instagram: sunbaked_bakery