Baker by Nature

Ashley Manila / New York, New York

Ashley Manila is practically a blogging expert. She joined the blogosphere nine years ago and has been posting mouthwatering recipes ever since on her blog, Baker by Nature. Ashley’s recipes—from her ultra-creamy cheesecake to her Chocolate Zucchini Cake and Butter Pecan Cookies—are unpretentious and approachable yet undeniably decadent. This certain je ne sais quoi, coupled with Ashley’s in-your-face food photography, has earned her a cult following and drives her recipes to go viral across Instagram.

Ashley has turned her influence as a blogger into a platform to empower home bakers. Before developing a new recipe, she engages with her followers to find out what common frustrations and problems they run into with a certain recipe. Then she includes tips and tricks with her recipe posts as a problem-solving tool for her followers’ issues. “My goal is to take the fear out of baking,” she says. “I want to inspire every baker to feel more confident in their kitchen.” 

Must-Bake from the Blog: “If you’re a chocoholic like me, you have to try my Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake. It’s so creamy and indulgent that I always have a few slices stashed away in the freezer.”