In the Kitchen with Vero

Everything Vero churns out of her oven looks as if it was crafted by the gods. From perfectly piped buttercream to well-plated artisanal cheeses, her work bridges the gap between experimentation and tradition. Vero's inventive flavor combinations are perfectly balanced, harmonizing playfulness with French-level pastry precision, making her baking both exciting and timeless.

There’s something undeniably magical about the way Vero approaches baking. On her Instagram, @whatveroeats, the aesthetic is refined but accessible—each creation looks like a piece of art, yet there’s a warmth in her posts that makes you feel like you’re right there with her in the kitchen. I had the most wonderful time delving into her world of baking, eating, and creating.

Your baking style is enchanting— I absolutely love following along with the wonders that come out of your kitchen. Your vanilla and cherry cake had my mouth watering – not only was it gorgeous, but the flavors sounded impeccable. How do you come up with such inventive concepts for your baked goods?

First of all, thank you so much for your kind words! Honestly, I just bake what I want to eat & what sounds the best to me on that particular day! I never have a precise idea of what I’ll do. Inspiration truly comes from everywhere and at any moment! It usually starts with a little fixation I develop over a few days on a particular dessert, a flavour combo, or with whatever fruits are in season that particular week. I often get inspired by a « fun » ingredient I find while shopping at the market. I’m also heavily influenced by the wonderful baked goods of other baking accounts on Instagram. There is so much talent out there! I try to work with the ingredients I have on hand and highlight their own individual beauty in my pictures.

I love how almost spontaneous this feels, as if you’re driven by a sort of whimsy that allows you to embrace the unpredictable nature of baking. And I totally agree: it’s such a satisfying feeling to be inspired by an ingredient, color pallet, or flavor profile. Do you have a signature dessert or recipe that you feel defines your baking style?

For me, baking is a creative outlet, and my way to fulfill my constant need for change and novelty. Therefore, I don’t really bake desserts more than once, unless being specifically asked for it by friends or family. Over the years, the recipe I’ve baked and worked on the most is my brownie recipe, so if I had to choose, I would say that this desert defines my baking style best: simple, decadent and always improving.

I will absolutely be needing your brownie recipe... I can’t even imagine how good it must be. Baking has always been my creative outlet as well, but sometimes I find myself frustrated when an idea does pan (pun intended) out exactly how I had envisioned. The other day you posted a “baking fail” on your Instagram story, and while I found myself giggling, it also helped me realize that this happens to everyone. It’s always disheartening when a bake doesn’t turn out as envisioned. How do you transform those setbacks into opportunities to refine your baking techniques?

Glad you enjoyed it! I am somewhat of a beginner at baking, however, that doesn’t stop me from overestimating my ability to create deserts I’ve never seen before and take risks in the kitchen - still trying to find where that blind confidence comes from! When I have a particular vision for what I want to do with a dessert, and it doesn’t turn out that way, I’m reminded that being a baker is a real profession, and that some rules must be followed in order to have consistent success in baking. That being said, I think making errors is the best way to learn and I try to remind myself of that when I get discouraged about a baking fail.

Couldn’t have said it better myself! I personally will never be adding an extra egg to a cookie dough recipe again ‘just to see what happens’… What’s the most challenging bake you’ve ever tackled, and how did it turn out?

I have to say that the Paris-Brest I did a few weeks ago was super challenging! I thought it would be way easier than it was, but I had to re-do the choux pastry ring 3 times because it kept spreading out in the oven and collapsing after baking. That day I learned about the impact of humidity on choux dough. Also, while making it, my praline paste solids and fats split, which made me understand why my recipe called for using the most powerful blender I owned. I honestly almost gave up, but I was so happy with the final results, as it was SUPER delicious!

And thank god you didn’t give up – it looked like such a beauty! How do you stay creative when it feels like everything has already been done in the baking world?

I am truly blessed to rarely ever feel this way about baking, as my baking to-do list is pretty much infinite. I see @whatveroeats as more of a portfolio for my foodie/ pastry projects, and less about creating for the purpose of impressing others. As my little account is growing, I try to ground myself in the reasons why I started this account in the first place, as it can be a little challenging feeling like people can have expectations about your content. I’ve always baked and, for years, would share my bakes on my personal Instagram account. Therefore, when I lack inspiration, as life sometimes gets in the way, I don’t try and force it and wait for the inspiration to come back. I always try to remind myself that 1) its really not that deep, 2) people don’t care about you nearly as much as you might think, 3) I bake for fun & it should stay that way!

That is such incredible advice - words of wisdom that I need to start living by. I’ve found it can be challenging to share my baking on social media, especially when I’m surrounded by so many incredibly talented bakers. Luckily, I’ve felt that the community is so encouraging, filled with such kind-hearted and genuine people. How has your Instagram / social media community shaped your baking journey?

Before starting my baking account, I was often consuming baking content on Instagram without ever commenting or engaging with creators. When I allowed myself to open an account, I realized how challenging it was to put yourself out there, making you vulnerable to others’ opinions and judgment about your baking skills. Finding a community of non-professional bakers, has been validating to me in so many ways, and, especially in the beginning, was the encouragement I needed to continue my journey. Knowing the impact of such support is what’s motivating me to engage with others daily, but also, I’m always amazed by the sheer talent of the creators I follow! It’s fun following people on their baking journey!

Yes, that’s so true. Speaking of indulging in content, what’s your take on viral baking trends? Do you embrace them or prefer to do your own thing?

I think they are fun! I’ve done a few of them in the last few months, but then again, before starting such “trendy” bakes, I always ask myself if it’s truly something that interests me. If I don’t want to eat it, then I won’t bake it!

Vero, it’s been such a pleasure diving into your world of sweets. Thank you for your time and your tips – I can’t wait to see what incredible treats you’ll whip up next!

In a world where baking can feel like a well-worn recipe book, Vero brings a burst of fresh creativity and whimsy to the table. Her knack for blending playful inspiration with precise technique transforms each treat into a delightful adventure for the senses. As she whips up new flavors and experiments with seasonal ingredients, it’s clear that Vero’s baking journey is just heating up! We can’t wait to see what delightful surprise she pulls out of her oven next—whatever it is, it’s sure to be a gorgeous treat that leaves us all craving more!

Cheers,

Maya