Your favorite works of art, now in frosted cake form

Harvard University junior Emily Zauzmer has an unusual hobby.
 By 
Laura Vitto
 on 

Emily Zauzmer has an unusual hobby.

When college breaks roll around, the 20-year-old Harvard University junior carves out time to create a highly detailed cake recreation of a classic painting. Then she posts photos of the finished product to her Instagram account, cleverly titled @girlwithapearlicing.

Zauzmer's cakes can take anywhere between 12 hours and four days to complete, during which she spends long stretches of time on her feet, bent over her piece.

So, why does she do it? She tells Mashable via phone: "I really look forward to it, because, with school there's so much work at all times, and it's so much fun that I give myself several days where I just focus on making a cake. It's a great way to unwind."

In recent years, she's baked seven art-inspired desserts, including one batch of cookies, one batch of chocolate cupcakes and five vanilla cakes. As for which pieces she chooses to replicate, Zauzmer goes for the classics.

"I try to go for a mix of things that will be really recognizable even if I get it really wrong, and also things that'll look good on a cake," she says. So far she's tackled Vincent Van Gogh's "The Starry Night," Grant Wood's "American Gothic" and Roy Lichtenstein's "Oh Jeff ... I love you, too ... But ..." among others.

As for how the finished product tastes: "They're not the best cakes you'll ever have," she laughed. "The worst tasting one was 'American Gothic' because I made it right before I went to school, and I didn't want my family to eat it without me so they froze it until Thanksgiving. It wasn't inedible, but it also was not a great cake."

Topics Instagram

Mashable Image
Laura Vitto

Laura Vitto was Mashable's Deputy Culture Editor.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
CES 2026: Razer's AI gaming assistant, Project Ava, has a physical form now
Holodeck device with generated gamer girl in green blouse and skirt



Owala Tattoos add a new layer of customization to our favorite emotional support FreeSip bottle
the Owala Tattoos customization options on many water bottles and a dog bowl, displayed on a table together with a neon "open" sign in the background

Supreme Court denies case seeking copyrights for AI-generated art
The exterior of the US Supreme Court building.

More in Life
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!