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Claire Ptak
Photo Credit: Kirstin Perers


A California native, Claire Ptak worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley before moving to London in 2005. She staged in restaurants including Moro and St. John before starting Violet, her stall on Broadway Market in east London. Claire opened the Violet Bakery in 2010. Jamie Oliver said Claire is ‘his favourite cake maker in the whole world’. Claire is also a food writer and stylist whose work includes Ottolenghi’s weekly Guardian column, Observer Food Monthly, Jamie Magazine, Kinfolk, and Vogue. She has published three cookbooks, The Home-Made Sweet Shop, The Whoopie Pie Book and Leon: Baking & Puddings.

Books by Claire Ptak

Love is a Pink Cake

From the hit Instagram baker of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake comes a new cookbook full of delicious show-stopping cakes, biscuits and savoury treats that mix British tradition with Californian flavours.

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The Violet Bakery Cookbook

Wholesome and indulgent - these are recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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The Whoopie Pie Book

Meet the new cupcake - whoopie pies. These delicious little treats are baking's latest trend.

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