CELEBRITY
Taylor Swift Commissions Sydney Baker to Create Treats During Eras Tour Stop: ‘It Feels Unreal’ (Exclusive
Taylor Swift had some special sweet treats made during the Sydney stop on her Eras Tour!
Gabriela Oporto, a baker and the founder of Bakealicious by Gabriela, based in the Australian city, tells PEOPLE that she received a very surprising commission from “the team that does the catering for Taylor and her back of house crew” earlier this month to create some treats for the “Blank Space” singer and her team.
The request led to Oporto creating a special “Bakealicious Eras Cake” for Swift, 34, and her team. The baker says it took around two hours to create and was designed with the singer’s tastes in mind.
“I researched a little bit and found out her favorite color was purple, hence why I decided to add a beautiful purple flower in the middle of the cake,” she reveals.
“Also one of her favourite cakes in America is from the Milk Bar Store so I used that as a base and then added my personal South-American touch by using dulce de leche and puff pastry layers,” Oporto adds.
She explains she then “finished off” the cake “with puff pastry horns filled with dulce de leche Swiss-meringue buttercream.”
Luckily, Oporto had the freedom to be creative with her cake for Swift, as she says that the singer’s team was “very flexible with the flavors.”
They] just wanted me to cater for vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as [baking] normal cakes of course,” she adds.
Along with the special Eras Cake, which she describes as “Taylor’s cake,” Oporto made an array of other delicious treats for Swift and her team, including gluten-free brownies, vegan cupcakes in a mix of six flavors, her best-selling Victoria sponge cake and her Scrumptious Chocolate Cake.
Oporto also added in some gluten-free Lamington cakes, a traditional Australian baked good that consists of squares of cake that are coated in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut.
“I thought I would send something Aussie for the team,” she explains.
Swift isn’t the only global superstar Oporto has baked for. In early 2023, she was commissioned to create cakes for both Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran during their tour stops in Sydney. Sheeran’s tour stopped off at the harbour city in February last year, while Styles brought his show there in March.
When asked if the cake she made for Swift was different to the ones she has previously made for Sheeran, 33, and Styles, 30, the baker says that this sweet treat “was a very special cake designed just for Taylor and her team.”
As to whether either of the stars had recommended Oporto and her bakery to Swift, she responds: “Maybe? Who knows!”
And while the Sydney baker hasn’t received any feedback on her cakes from Swift and her team “as of yet,” she has made the cake available to buy on her website, along with Taylor Swift-themed cupcakes.
“It feels unreal, [I’m] still pinching myself. I feel so proud and grateful to have achieved my dream of having a successful cake shop,” Oporto says, adding that she is “So happy, words can’t describe it.”
Swift performed her third Eras Tour show in Sydney on Sunday night local time, when she expressed her delight at the reception she has so far received there.
This is honestly … you guys … I don’t know if I’ve known this level, that you’re on,” Swift told the audience, adding, “I might be in uncharted territory here. I’m very happy about it. I’m just stunned. Thank you so much.”
As to whether Oporto has been to a show or will be attending the singer’s final performance in Sydney on Monday night, the baker reveals that she “unfortunately” has not.
“[I] have been too busy baking cakes and running the shop!” she explains.