Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Vavra.
Hi Nikki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Pastry has always been a part of my existence. I grew up in the kitchen with my mom, and in high school I attended a culinary arts program that truly changed my life, shoutout Chef Bob. From there, I dove straight in and spent the last 16 years working professionally in pastry.
Two and a half years ago, I had my daughter. I tried going back to my corporate executive pastry chef role, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t the right fit anymore. I had already been doing cakes for family and friends, so I decided to go all in.
Now, for the last two years I’m creating cakes and pastries full time, and last year alone I was honored to be part of 212 celebrations. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do what I love every day, building this business while having my little one right there beside me.
Right now, I’m really focused on pushing my creativity , expanding my flavor profiles, leaning further into artistic cake design, and bringing more pastry offerings into my work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Very unexpectedly, I lost my mom just two weeks after starting my business. She was my rock and my number one supporter, so learning how to move forward without her has been incredibly hard. Not just in business, but in simply living life, she was always the first person I turned to.
Navigating grief while building something from the ground up, becoming a mother, and learning how to hold all of that at once has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. But in many ways, it’s also shaped how much heart and intention I put into my work
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the heart of what I do is creating custom cakes and pastries for life’s most special moments. weddings, birthdays, showers, and milestone celebrations. I specialize in highly personalized designs that feel both artistic and intentional, with just as much focus on flavor as there is on how the cake looks. My pastry background really allows me to push beyond standard cake flavors and bring a more elevated, chef-driven approach to what I create.
I’m known for cakes that feel unique, designs that tell a story, whether that’s through texture, color, or a very specific aesthetic. What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me to bring their vision to life, often for their life’s most precious moments.
What sets me apart is that I approach cakes the way a pastry chef approaches dessert, with technique, balance, and creativity. Rather than just decoration. Every cake is made from scratch, thoughtfully designed, and created with a lot of heart behind it
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Kansas City is the sense of community. The people here truly show up for one another, and the creative and small business community. Especially the vendor community- who has welcomed me with open arms. There’s a real spirit of collaboration here, and that support has meant everything as I’ve grown my business
If I had to pick something I like least, it would probably be the never-ending construction. But that is just part of living in a growing city. I’ll happily take that in exchange for the heart KC has.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikkivavcustomcakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkivav.customcakes
- Yelp: https://share.google/yJwTXyEiLkd7pivVA
