Meet KICA Bakers

How KICA Academy Transformed My Baking Journey 🍰✨ My journey with KICA Academy began in 2021 when I stumbled upon The Russian Honey Cake course by Marusya Manko. I was instantly excited, I wanted to make one of those cakes so I grabbed the opportunity. From the very first lesson, I was hooked. All the recipes were delicious, the cakes turned out beautifully (even I was surprised!), and the teaching style was clear, detailed, and inspiring. That course opened up a whole new world of baking for me. I began attending every webinar KICA offered—each one deepened my knowledge of techniques, flavors, and pastry creativity. And most importantly, it fueled my passion to keep learning. 🍯 Now, when I walk into a room with a tray of my baked creations, faces light up. People ask, “What did you bring?” and “Where did you learn to make this?” and “WOW…that looks amazing”, I always smile and say, “KICA Academy.” KICA didn’t just make me a better baker—it also made me a different one. Over the years, the team at KICA has come to feel like more than just instructors—they’re baking friends who genuinely want to see me succeed. 🧁💕 Read More

I don’t even remember how many years ago it was but I can still remember my first encounter with KICA. I was in a baking group on Facebook and someone shared a tart they had made and said they learned how to make it from a class through KICA. I was stunned at how beautiful it was and immediately did a search to find out what KICA was. As I scrolled through their website I saw beautiful dessert after beautiful dessert and thought this had to be classes for working pastry chefs. But then I read that their classes were designed for all levels. I decided to give it a try and took their tartlet course. Every tart I made turned out amazing and, despite being some advanced techniques, the instructions were so clear and the videos so thorough that I was able to complete each and every tartlet and they all looked stunning and tasted even better! I learned so much, from proper techniques to working with new ingredients to the secrets the pros use for add stunning visual appeal. I was thrilled with the results and had to try more things so I took more classes and bought several of their e-books. I had been baking for years but I was now creating bakes way beyond anything I had ever made before. I made cheesecakes, madelines, macarons, croissants, etc., etc. Every recipe was so precise and made it so easy to be successful. When I did come across a problem or a question, I would just reach out to KICA with a message and they always got back to me with an answer. I never felt like I was all alone with the recipe, there was always someone to reach out to if needed. I kept bringing my desserts to holidays and gatherings and time and time again I heard “That is the best ____ I have ever had!” Anyone who loves to bake knows just how great those words are to hear! I am now asked to bring a dessert every time I go anywhere. I have gotten a reputation and, since I don’t want to lose that reputation, I almost always look to KICA first when I want to try out a new dessert because I know their recipes won’t let me down! Read More

Thank you so much to the entire KICA team! Your instructions are incredibly detailed and the proportions are always perfect, which takes all the guesswork out of baking and leaves me with only successful and delicious outcomes. So far, I've tried around fifty of your recipes, and I am already looking forward to exploring even more of your fantastic cakes and pastries. This precision is especially evident with my favourite creation—macarons! For years, I struggled to make them, but with your clear guidance, the results have been consistently stunning. I follow you on social media and am constantly inspired by the beautiful and professional appearance of your creations. Seeing that I can achieve similar results at home is a huge motivation. The taste and flawless look of the desserts I've made using your recipes are truly amazing! Thank you for sharing your passion and expertise; you have completely transformed my baking journey.

I’ve always been intimidated by making baking cheesecake. I always feared what the end result would be after I put the cheesecake in the oven. Then as I was scrolling through Instagram I came upon the KICA ACADEMY post showing how to make a cheesecake step by step. I bought “the big cheesecake book” and found it to be so helpful. Simple instructions on what tools and ingredients to use, how to weigh the ingredients, mix the batter and techniques to decorate the cheesecake from start to finish... Watching the videos made all my fears disappear. My confidence was soaring. I was ready to make the chocolate cheesecake. I gathered the ingredients and prepared the pans and tools. I watched the video numerous times, pausing and replaying as I went along. I started baking the shortbread crust and creating a stunning crust that made the cheesecake unique and appealing. Then I began mixing the batter in the exact weight measurements the chef in the video wrote out in the recipe. I set the temperature on the oven and placed the cheesecake in with anxiety and excitement. I started to prepare the ingredients for the decoration. My mind was always on the cheesecake in the oven. I was always checking to see if it was changing shape or just exploded. But as I turn on the oven light I can see it was holding its shape and baking properly. My chantilly cream and chocolate glaze were chilling in the fridge and I was ready to remove the cheesecake from the oven. Sure enough I can see the baked cheesecake was jiggling in the center and the sides were set properly. After letting the cheesecake cool to room temperature I put it in the fridge to chill and set. The next day I was anxious to decorate the cheesecake. I warmed the glaze and poured it over the cheesecake. Filling the piping bag with the chantilly cream my hands were shaking with excitement. I watched the video carefully to see the technique. When the glaze was set I began piping the cream ruffles. I topped each ruffle with a chocolate pearl and stood back to admire my creation. I was so proud of myself. I immediately cut a slice for my myself and I was so happy with the way the cheesecake turned out. I was rich, creamy and delicious. I have overcome my fears of baking cheesecakes. Thank you KICA ACADEMY for giving me the confidence I needed. Read More

I first met KICA in the summer of 2022, at that time there were three free online lessons every week, seeing new lessons every week was exciting, I bought the first book made to help Ukraine, then I took video lessons and your books, you enabled me to access original recipes, I learned how to make a good lemon tart, wet cake from you, you taught me high-quality pastry, you translated french recipes into English and published great service.