Prachi Dhabal Deb, based in Pune, creates edible art that showcases India's cultural heritage. She transforms traditional designs into intricate cakes and cookies.
From Finance to Edible Art
As a child, Prachi loved painting and baking. She even made cakes when she was ten. Later, she worked in finance, but her creative side remained.
In 2011, Prachi left her corporate job. She spent six months in Australia, which helped her reconnect with her creativity. She took her first cake order in 2012.
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Start Your News DetoxPrachi's creations are more than just desserts. Each piece tells a cultural story through its motifs, textures, and details.
Inspired by India's Beauty
Prachi finds inspiration in India's everyday beauty. This includes temple architecture, traditional jewelry, textiles, and rituals. She reimagines these elements into fresh, familiar designs.
She uses royal icing to recreate intricate architectural patterns. These patterns come from Mughal jaalis and Rajasthani palace carvings. The delicate icing becomes structured and sculptural in her hands.
Indian textiles also inspire her work. She pipes textures and motifs that mimic Banarasi brocades, Paithani silks, Patola patterns, and Chanderi weaves.
Each piece reflects a different part of India. For example, she captures Gujarat’s bold folk designs, Tamil Nadu’s temple symmetry, and Bengal’s softer aesthetics. This shows the country's diverse culture through edible art.
Prachi doesn't just copy traditional designs. She interprets them, translating cultural elements into modern edible forms. This allows heritage to evolve while keeping its original spirit.
Mastering Royal Icing
Royal icing is a challenging medium. It requires complete control, precision, patience, and steady hands. Prachi says artists need a deep understanding of both technique and design.
After training with Eddie Spence, Prachi created a vegan, eggless royal icing. This makes the art form more accessible to artists worldwide.
Prachi Dhabal Deb has now been appointed as an Associate Artist at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. She is the first Indian royal icing artist to receive this recognition from the University of Oxford.
