As they say in showbiz, sometimes you’re in, and sometimes you’re out.
This is why many celebrities choose to pursue business ventures outside the industry—and for some, that means turning their passion for baking into a full-fledged pastry business.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) rounded up a list of celebrities who transformed their love for baking into successful ventures.
DAWN CHANG: DC Delights
Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Dawn Chang founded her pastry brand, DC Delights, in 2014.
She learned baking while studying in Melbourne, Australia.
Through the years, the brand has gained a following for its chewy cookies, with timeless flavors like chocolate chip consistently ranking among its best-sellers and customer favorites.
By early 2026, DC Delights has continued to flourish and expand.
It now operating in multiple locations, including a full café in Quezon City that serves specialty coffee alongside its signature baked goods; two kiosks at Greenhills Mall in San Juan and S Maison in Pasay City; and a pop-up booth at Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City.
Read: Dawn Chang on DC Delights cookie business: "We're pro-employees."
MARICAR REYES-POON: MARICAR's
Maricar Reyes-Poon launched her pastry business, Maricar’s—also known as Maricar’s Chocolate Cakes—in 2015 with the support of her husband, Richard Poon.
She began with her now-iconic wine-infused ChocoLiquor Cake, a recipe she perfected through extensive trial and error.
Since then, the brand has become known for its rich, indulgent chocolate-based desserts.
Its best-sellers include Frozen Choco Chunks, Premium Dark Chocolate Cake, Coffee Chunks, and Ube Cheese Chunks—all presented in the brand’s signature gold tin cans and jars.
As of early 2026, Maricar’s continues to enjoy strong success and has expanded well beyond online sales.
The products are now available through pop-ups, partner stores such as Everything Delicious in Manila, Quezon City, and Pasig.
AI-AI DELAS ALAS: Martina's Bread & Pastries
Ai-Ai Delas Alas launched her pastry business, Martina's Bread & Pastries, in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What began as home baking—sparked by the ube pandesal trend—soon evolved into a more serious venture after she completed formal training at the Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts.
The brand is known for its inventive, Filipino-inspired baked goods.
Among its best-sellers are ube pandesal, ube cheesecake cookies, milk buns, pineapple tarts, and its playful take on cinnamon rolls called "cindesal."
Currently, Ai-Ai’s pastry business accepts limited orders, as she balances it with her work as an actress.
In an interview with GMA-7, she shared that opening a physical store is one of her goals.
She has also been actively promoting her business at various events, including the 2025 Kapuso Food Fair.
NIKKI VALDEZ
Nikki Valdez launched her pastry business, Miss Buttercream by Nikki Valdez, in 2015, transforming her long-time love for baking into a full-fledged venture centered on custom cakes and specialty treats.
She is known for her butter-based creations, especially her rich butter cakes adorned with intricate buttercream designs and personalized decorations.
Classic butter cakes and vibrant palette-knife cakes have become particular favorites for celebrations and special events.
Nikki’s micro-bakery remains active today, continuing to accept custom orders, including eggless variations of butter cakes, brownies, and cookies.
MARVIN AGUSTIN
Mr. Vin Munchies began as Marvin Agustin’s home-based baking venture during the pandemic around 2020, offering homemade cakes, most notably the signature Kerot Cake, along with banana bread, ensaymadas, brownies, cookies, and other pastries sold mainly through online pre-orders and delivery platforms.
The products were eventually made available through Secret Kitchen’s physical store as the business grew.
Over time, the venture evolved and appears to have been rebranded or absorbed into Marvin’s Kitchen, which now serves as the primary umbrella for Marvin’s baking and pastry offerings.
Under Marvin’s Kitchen, the menu has expanded to include a broader selection of breads, cakes, pastries, party trays, and even savory dishes such as cochinillo for special occasions.
Ordering has also become more convenient through dedicated online platforms like marvinskitchen.tablevibe.co and the Marvin’s Kitchen website.
ARA MINA
Ara Mina launched her pastry business, Hazelberry, as an online dessert shop around 2017–2018 before expanding into physical stores.
Fueled by her passion for baking and custom cakes, the brand became known for its premium cheesecakes and rich chocolate treats.
Best-sellers include Oreo and other flavored cheesecakes, custom cakes, chunky brownie fudge cookies, cupcakes, and other freshly baked desserts that often go viral for their indulgent quality.
As of early 2026, Hazelberry continues to grow as a well-loved bakery-café chain with multiple branches across the Philippines, including locations in Makati, Angeles, and Tagaytay.
RHIAN RAMOS
Rhian Ramos launched her pastry business, Bas Bakes, in January 2025, after five years of perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe, inspired by her obsession with baking the ultimate treat.
Her business specializes in classic, indulgent cookies, with best-sellers including salted chocolate chip cookies and frozen ready-to-bake cookie dough balls that are soft and chunky.
Bas Bakes continues to expand its reach through steady online orders placed via its Cococart site, scheduled delivery services, and in-person availability at partner locations like Luxxe White Café, The Vibe QC, and The Vibe Arcovia Pasig.
The brand also boosts its visibility by joining industry events such as Bakery Fair 2025.
JENNYLYN MERCADO
Jennylyn Mercado launched her pastry business, Chunky Dough, in October 2018 as an online cookie shop.
The brand is known for its chunky, homemade-style cookies, with best-sellers like the Original Chunky Dough Cookie and the Chunky Chip Walnut Cookie—famous for their large size, gooey centers, and generous chocolate chunks that quickly won over fans.
Jennylyn continues to accept limited orders through the brand’s Instagram page.
LIZ UY
Liz Uy launched her pastry business, Mood Bake, in early 2019 as a home-baked cookie venture that quickly gained buzz through pop-up stalls and online sales, stemming from her rediscovered passion for baking and creating the perfect chunky treat.
The brand specializes in gourmet, chewy cookies, with best-sellers like the signature Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies and variations such as double chocolate standing out for their cakey-crisp texture and indulgent flavor that made them an instant hit among fans.
As of early 2026, Mood Bake has evolved into a broader Mood Food line that includes follow-up products like all-natural granola bars for kids and adults.
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