Life is a piece of cake for 19-year-old Justin Ellen. The Passaic, New Jersey native is the owner of business Everything Just Baked. His passion is creating and baking personalized cakes for clients. Ellen’s baking gift began to develop when he was a little boy. The full-time entrepreneur never let go of it. Endless possibilities of making cake creations continue to keep energizing him to do what he loves. He makes everything from realistic cakes that look like apple pies and sandwiches to grand wedding cakes.
“So ever since I was little, I loved to bake. I used to bake with my mom and grandma. I used to have all of those play ovens (like Easy-Bake), so I could avoid using the oven. But then I quickly outgrew those, and I just kept on continuing baking and baking,” Ellen said. “By the time I was in high school, I decided to start posting my work (online). And then eventually people start inquiring after seeing… the posts and that was kind of the start of the business. Per NJ.com, Ellen started cake making in his youth with the help of his grandmother, Theresa Rasmussen, and his mother, Kimberly Rasmussen.
When the budding cake decorator grew older, he learned about creating and baking cake masterpieces by using trial and error, in addition to watching YouTube videos around age 12 or 13. Today, wedding cakes are
his favorite cakes to create. Clients in New York and New Jersey are among cake fans who patronize his business. However, premium cake mix is sold online and, in some New York-based boutiques.
Cake decorating classes are also offered through Ellen’s website. Over 57,000 follow the self-taught baker on Instagram. His cake decorating process is often featured there. Brianna Ellen—Justin’s younger sister— handles his social media content.
Justin has a trick or two up his sleeve. Hoodwinking people into believing that cakes are objects is one of the baker’s trendier specialties. He appears on Netflix’s “Is It Cake” game show doing just that. Justin is one of nine bakers who compete for a cash prize while attempting to trick celebrity judges about what
is really cake, and what is merely a common object. According to the trailer, “the three best bakers will compete for a grand prize of $50,000.”
The young entrepreneur explained that he was selected to appear on the show after someone who is affiliated with it commented on a social media post to ask if he would like to audition. Justin interviewed for a spot and made the cut. When the offer was made, giving up high school prom and graduation was Justin’s sacrifice to participate in June of last year.
“So honestly, I think it was well worth it. Especially in the show, they kind of gave me my own mini graduation,” Justin said. “And many people are on Netflix. Not too many people have that opportunity, but
I definitely think it was worth it.”
Moving forward, Justin aspires to obtain a brick-and-mortar retail space. In the meantime, click here to see tempting, cake visuals. You may visit https://www.everythingjustbaked.com/social to find out more about Justin’s cake endeavors.