From dough to dusk

Dessert Masters star Reece Hignell shares his busy schedule balancing life between his bakery Cakeboi and restaurant Acacia Dining.

Morning

Since opening his famous bakery CakeBoi in 2021, Reece Hignell has welcomed early mornings as a core part of his routine. “Mornings are always super rushed,” he says. Before 8am, Reece and his team of bakers have already completed most of the day’s work. With a rotating carousel of delicious treats, the masterminds behind CakeBoi are always thinking of what to do next. Spending each morning carefully planning the day’s baking schedule and brainstorming potential ideas for future creations. Reece loves to share the process with the CakeBoi fans, making sure to keep the socials updated.

Midday

Days for Reece look a little different to a normal schedule as he manages to balance his time between two businesses, TV appearances, meetings and writing. According to Reece, midday is peak time for productivity. “Whenever people ask when they can grab me, I always say I am everywhere but nowhere at the same time,” he says. He can often be found running between CakeBoi and his newly opened Maitland restaurant Acacia Dining. The business manages to transform itself from daytime casual café to an intimate fine dining location by nightfall, keeping Reece very busy.

Afternoon

With the wellbeing of his staff being Reece’s highest priority, he always makes time in the afternoon to check in on his beloved employees. “Lately I’ve been finishing my days at Acacia, just making sure all the staff are okay and going through everything we need for the night,” he says. Another priority he holds high is sustainability and decreasing waste across all his businesses . Regularly visiting Harris Farms’ ‘imperfect section’, Reece makes regular use of produce which would otherwise be thrown out. “We cook the fruits in cakes, so we don’t need them to look stunning,” he says.

Evening

Despite his overflowing calendar, Reece always manages to find time for self-care and exercise. Most days Reece can be found training hard at his gym in Mayfield, as well as on the court playing tennis with his friends later in the evening. “It just helps me unwind,” he says. In between his workouts Reece enjoys a homecooked, healthy dinner, an integral part of his schedule. “If it’s not done this way it doesn’t work,” he says.  Finally, to finish the day he enjoys a quiet night of relaxation and TV, watching his favourite Netflix documentaries.  

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Story by Olivia Goeldner