XOXO desserts: Baking with passion

Rakshinda Ansari, the designer and founder of XOXO Desserts, is trained in chocolates, desserts and fine pastries from the Institute for Culinary Education, New York.

Her venture XOXO Desserts has been pleasing the residents of Pune and Mumbai with a delightful collection of delicate, luxurious desserts, cupcakes and cookies. Each product is personally crafted by Rakshinda with the freshest and purest, fruits, cocoa, essences and creams. And since they contain no preservatives, she stands by their quality.

The Punekar caught up with her as she talks about XOXO Desserts, her passion for baking and much more.

How did you get into this profession? Have you taken any formal education in this field?

Baking has been my passion for as long as I remember. My travels around the world and my fun filled summers in New York City, is what brought out the art in me. Broadway shows, ballets, operas, Sundays at the Metropolitan Museum, I was surrounded by art and creativity and baking became my form of expressing it all. I have trained in chocolates, desserts and fine pastries from the Institute for Culinary Education, New York and Divertimenti, London.

How long has XOXO Desserts been around?

XOXO Desserts was formally launched in January 2010.

Why the name XOXO Desserts?

XOXO stands for Hugs and Kisses and is named after what the delicious cakes and desserts embody: Love, Happiness and Celebration!

Could you list out the products that are sold at XOXO Desserts?

You envision a cake and we craft it for you!

Customers come with colour themes, their children’s toys, and their husbands favorite football team logos, bags etc and all these expressions get converted into sugar craft.  XOXO Desserts also has a delightful collection of delicate luxurious desserts, cupcakes and cookies personally crafted with the freshest and purest, fruits, cocoa, essences and creams. The menu is available on their website.

Are all the products made at the same shop or do you have another workshop that you work out of?

All the products are made at the same venue. Every product is closely monitored as most of the cakes are customized. It is a labour of love and the XOXO team occasionally works all night to create some of the art pieces.

Will there be another branch opening up soon? What about expanding to other cities?

XOXO Desserts wants to retain its cake boutique and personalized customer interaction approach for now.

What are the future plans for XOXO Desserts?

XOXO Desserts wants to reach out to every school, college and family and create the cake that these people have only dreamt of but never had.

You can visit XOXO Desserts at
15 Konark Enclave,
22 Bund Garden Road,
Pune 411001
Phone
+91 9158175858
Website:  www.xoxodesserts.com
Email: xoxodesserts@gmail.com

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