Baking for Well-Being: A Sweet Recipe for Self-Care
By Ella Stewart, Wellness and Resilience Coach & Founder of Bake Well Being
Hi, I’m Ella, the Wellness and Resilience Coach with a passion for mental wellbeing and cake! For as long as I can remember, my love for baking has been intertwined with my advocacy for mental health awareness. These passions collided in 2020 when I founded my social project, ‘Bake Well Being’, a community where baking and mental health go hand-in-hand.
As I approach the 4th anniversary of this project, I find myself reflecting on how baking has shaped not only, what I now consider, my mission in life but my own mental well-being too.
It all began when I was just four, standing on a stool in my Nan’s kitchen, mixing cupcake batter (and sneaking in spoonful’s of it). Those moments planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong passion. As a teenager, I honed my baking skills and started making cakes and cupcakes for friends and family, a side hustle that gave me a sense of purpose, pride and creative fulfilment. But it wasn’t until later that I realised how baking had become my personal lifeline, a practice that supported my mental health through life's inevitable ups and downs.
In 2020, as the world was thrown into the chaos of the pandemic, my passions took on a new significance. Like many, I faced intense anxiety and uncertainty which manifested in frequent panic attacks. And once again, it was baking that brought me back to centre. The simple, mindful act of measuring flour, kneading dough, and watching cakes rise became more than just a hobby - it was my form of therapy.
It was in those quiet, solitary moments in the kitchen that I understood the deeper, mindful connection that baking offers. Every step, from cracking eggs to the final decoration, became a meditative practice, offering comfort and stability when the world outside felt so overwhelming.
Baking for Mindful Self-Care
When it comes to mental well-being, we often talk about self-care, but it’s not always easy to know what that looks like in practice. Baking is a powerful way to engage with mindfulness, creativity, and resilience. The process requires focus and patience, helping you stay in the present moment. It’s also deeply rewarding, from the physical act of creating something with your hands to the emotional satisfaction of enjoying and sharing the fruits of your labour.
In fact, baking has been shown to reduce stress, provide a sense of accomplishment, and even improve mood. It’s an ideal activity for relieving anxiety, as the repetitive actions (whisking, folding, kneading) are calming and almost meditative. It’s a gentle reminder that even during times of stress, we can create moments of joy and comfort.
World Mental Health Day: A Reminder to Check-In
As we mark World Mental Health Day on 10th October, it's a perfect opportunity to focus on nurturing our well-being. Just as we care for our physical health, it’s equally important to make time to nurture our mental health too. When life feels overwhelming, stepping into the kitchen can offer a simple yet profound form of relief and an opportunity to check-in with yourself and loved ones too. Baking allows us time to pause, breathe, and ground ourselves.
Whether you're baking with Whitworths Sugar to create yummy bakes or simply kneading a comforting loaf of bread, remember that each moment in the kitchen is a chance to take care of yourself. The sugar, spice, and everything nice are not just ingredients in your recipes, they’re also ingredients for self-compassion, resilience, and mindfulness.
So, the next time life feels a little too much, why not reach for your mixing bowl? Let’s bake our way to better mental health, one delicious creation at a time. And don’t forget, sharing those baked goods with others can bring even more happiness into the world.
Join me on this delicious journey of self-care and mental well-being. You can connect with me and follow along @bakewellbeing. Let’s get everyone talking, baking and eating cake for our mental health.
Your Stories: We asked our baking community to share their stories!
April, Port Talbot, Wales @mindfulnessbaker “I set up my baking page after the loss of my mother. Grief is such a tricky thing to navigate and can be all consuming. My mother was always baking, and the house was often filled with delicious scents and piles of homemade goodies! I never caught the baking bug; I enjoyed taste testing too much. After her passing I decided to start baking, to honour her and to help with my wellbeing. Baking offers me escapism, a mindful break for me away from the struggles of grief. It’s been 3 years since my mother passed and I still bake regularly. Sharing with my sister, friends and family”
Jenny Gilson “I started my cake business (that I went on to sell years later) after suffering with post-natal depression. Baking helped me to be mindful and got me through a really tough time in my life. I managed to get a start-up loan for my business from The Princes Trust and went on to make HRH Charles and Camillia’s first wedding anniversary cake. Baking has got me through some of the hardest times in my life”
Brianna Shaver, Montana, USA @gardenboxbaking “Baking for me has always been a natural stress relief. I love everything about getting my hands dirty in the kitchen and emerging covered in flour, chocolate, butter, you name it. I now get to share this love of mine with my two kids and that has been the most special thing to me about baking.”
Caitlin Rice, California, USA @caitsbakes331 “Baking has a unique way of grounding me. When I feel overwhelmed—whether from the emotional toll of infertility or a painful flare-up—I find solace in the kitchen. The act of creating something from scratch, of measuring ingredients and watching them transform, feels like magic. It allows me to channel my feelings into something beautiful and delicious. Through my experiences, I’ve discovered that finding joy—even amidst challenges—is possible. Baking has taught me resilience, creativity, and the importance of nurturing oneself. As I continue this journey, I hope to inspire others to find their own outlets for healing and joy, no matter the circumstances they face.”
Capri S Cafaro, Ohio, USA @capriscafaro “Baking and spending time in my kitchen preparing something delicious has always helped me slow down and reconnect with myself and with those I love. It’s a tactile practice that stimulates all the senses and gets me grounded if I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I believe in the power of baking to improve everyone’s well-being.”
Dr. Altreisha Foster, Minnesota, USA @caketherapyfoundation “Baking offers more than just the joy of creating something delicious—it’s a form of mindfulness that grounds us in the present moment. Each step, from measuring ingredients to watching the dough rise, can quiet the mind, reduce stress, and provide a therapeutic escape. Through Cake Therapy, we harness these benefits to help individuals manage stress, express creativity, and find emotional balance. On World Mental Health Day, let’s remember that even simple acts like baking can nurture our well-being and remind us of the healing power in everyday rituals.”
Lexie Grech, London, UK @lexiegrech “I started baking right after I found out I couldn’t have gluten anymore. What was on offer in the supermarkets 12 years ago was truly terrible and I decided I could do better. I have to say, that gluten-free baking is an entirely different sport. It can be incredibly temperamental, and results can easily vary for the randomest of reasons. Although I don’t particularly find it relaxing, gluten-free baking has allowed me to be more open to experimenting and has helped me build resilience for ‘failure’; two resources that are fantastic to have in my mental health toolbox!”
Leah Brown, Utah, USA @the_bakingtherapist "After being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, I was told it was due to the specific stress of supporting my loved ones with mental illness, namely caregiver burnout. With no treatment available, I was told to reduce my stress levels by finding something I loved and to do it mindfully. The one thing that really worked for me was baking! When baking- my hands were busy, my body was grounded in the moment, my mind was clear and focused, and my senses came alive! Even when everything around me was out of control, baking was something I could control! It relieved my stress; it helped me manage my feelings of uncertainty, confusion, anxiety, loneliness and loss of identity. It allowed me to be creative and to build confidence, resilience, gratitude and optimism. Baking became the medicine I needed! The bonus I received from baking was that as I shared my creations, my relationships were strengthened, and my desire for social connection returned and even increased!"
