About Me

Hi, I'm Ella!

I'm the professional baker, blogger and food photographer behind Alpine Ella! I currently live in London but grew up in Switzerland and Colorado. I love creating recipes that look impressive but are actually super easy to make! There is truly nothing better than someone going "wait, did you make this from scratch??"

At Alpine Ella you'll find easy yet impressive desserts, baked goods and breakfast recipes!

From the beginning..

I've been baking for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory is of receiving my very first Easy-Bake Oven, only to be disappointed by the mix that came with it! I thought "I can create something better than this!" (spoiler alert: my first homemade recipe turned out to be more of a chocolate omelet - not exactly an improvement!)

When I left for university in London, the very first item on my shopping list was a trusty stand mixer (that I still use today!). During those first years, I worked on my baking skills by experimenting with recipes from blogs like Joy the Baker and Smitten Kitchen, as well as exploring every baking cookbook I could lay my hands on.

I did baking and cooking classes in the evenings and on weekends. I learned how to decorate cupcakes at Peggy Porschen of London, took baking workshops at Bread Ahead and made Italian feasts at La Cucina Caldesi!

Once I started working a corporate job, I kept baking and bringing in my baked goods for my colleagues. One job brought an unexpected twist - a workplace Bake Off! To top it off, the showdown was judged by none other than Frances Quinn, a former Great British Bake Off champion. Thanks to my salted caramel peanut macarons, I was the winner!

The Pandemic

At the beginning of 2020, I realized I wanted to leave the corporate world and do something more creative - and something that was my own! I enrolled in a food photography course and in July 2020 I took a leap of faith and launched Alpine Ella.

What you'll find at Alpine Ella

I focus on creating comforting and indulgent baking recipes that you can easily make at home. I've tested these in my kitchen and help you by providing step-by-step pictures, videos and detailed instructions!
Recipes come in metric and US cup measurements and each recipe has been tested multiple times.
I provide frequently asked questions and top tips to help you in the kitchen as well as substitutions where possible. I want to make sure whatever you cook or bake in your kitchen is a success!
I have an email newsletter where you can find out about new recipes first, so sign up!

A slice of chocolate cake with vanilla frosting being lifted up with a cake server.

Facts about me

I started this blog when lockdown first happened! This gave me time to learn all about photography, how to build a website, and develop recipes.
I will eat dessert every single day - it might be a slice of cake or it might be a square of chocolate - I just can't have dinner without dessert after!
I have been making my own recipes since I first got an easy bake oven as a kid - sorry mom and dad, I think those first few cakes weren't too good!
When I'm not developing recipes or photographing them, I love to cross-stitch, craft, and read.

More about me!

Where does the name Alpine Ella come from?

I'm originally from Switzerland and grew up at the bottom of the Swiss mountains. When trying to come up with a name for my Instagram account, my mom suggested Alpine Ella and it stuck!

I'm new to baking, what should I make first?

I think a simple cookie recipe is the best way to get started! Something like a chocolate chip sugar cookie, which only needs 8 ingredients, or a lemon blueberry cookie which is made in 1 bowl.

Who takes your photos?

That would be me! Along with making the recipes, I love the food photography aspect of running this food blog. I use a Canon DSLR and a 50mm lens to take all the photos you see here.

Do you make vegan or gluten-free desserts?

Since I don't have any specific dietary requirements, I don't tend to make vegan or gluten-free dessert recipes. If there are substitutions that you can make in a recipe, I will let you know in the blog post and recipe card!

What do you do with your leftover desserts?

I will always eat some, but I also give them to friends, family and neighbors. I also use the app Olio to give away leftovers in my neighborhood.