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Sydney Cake Queen Katherine Sabbath’s Guide to Layering
If you’ve ever sliced into a decadent multi-layer cake and admired the contrast of textures, colours, and flavours, you’ve already experienced the magic of great layering design. And no one knows this better than Katherine Sabbath, celebrated Sydney cake artist, colour enthusiast, and all-round creative queen.
Known for her vibrant, sculptural cake creations, Katherine brings the same joyful approach to her home, proving that layering isn’t only for beautiful desserts, it’s a design philosophy that works in every room.
In this article, she shares her vision for layering—how it shapes her interior styling, sparks creativity, and brings personality into every space. And, in true Katherine style, reveals her exclusive layered chocolate mousse cheesecake recipe: a showstopping dessert inspired by her King Living 1977 Sofa, and the perfect expression of her bold, multi-layered design philosophy.
Ready to bake now? Jump to the recipe
Meet Katherine Sabbath: Queen of colour, cake, and creativity
Katherine Sabbath is not your average baker. With her unmistakable visual flair and sculptural, gravity-defying creations, she transforms cake design into a joyful form of edible art. Best known for her whimsical use of colour, texture, and unexpected shapes, Katherine’s cakes are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the tastebuds.
A former high school teacher turned full-time cake creative, Katherine now runs a successful business that includes workshops, brand collaborations, and a vibrant online presence that inspires bakers and design lovers alike. Her loyal community follows her for both her boundary-pushing bakes and her refreshing, playful approach to self-expression.
Based in the lush Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, Katherine’s home and studio are surrounded by natural beauty—and bursting with personality. Every corner reflects her love of colour, her knack for styling, and her deep belief in the power of creativity to bring joy.
Let’s take a peek into Katherine’s creative process, both in her baking and her interiors, and explore 5 ways you can layer like a true creative (and bake like one too).
1. Design layers that speak to the sense
In interior design, layering creates depth, character, and personality in a space. From textiles and textures to tones and shapes, layering in design invites you to build a room that feels cohesive yet deeply personal. It’s what turns a room into an experience. And according to Katherine, cake design is no different.
“In the same way that layers create depth, texture, personality, and dimension in interior design, I use layers in my cakes to build exciting flavour profiles and create visual impact. There’s something just so mouth-wateringly satisfying about cutting into a cake that has multiple layers, and seeing the flavours burst to life. Layers in cakes are a true feast for the eyes and tastebuds!”
Much like a beautifully curated living space, a layered cake tells a story, from the foundation to the finishing flourishes. It captures your attention, invites you in, and reveals more the longer you look (or taste).
2. Take the opportunity to express yourself
Whether you’re decorating a living room, building a wardrobe, or baking a showstopper dessert, layering in any design offers a kind of creative freedom that’s endlessly refreshing. It’s a design principle that thrives on individuality.
“Layering is timeless because it offers so much versatility and endless variety. In the same way that style never goes out of fashion, layering allows us to express our interests and personality in creative ways that bring us joy. One of my favourite things about layering is that you can change one small element, and you have a whole new look and feel! When it comes to baking, if I’m leaning towards loving strawberries that week, then I’ll add a strawberry element (or layer) to my cake designs. Layering is a creative process that can be practiced over and over, simply by switching things up.”
The beauty of layered interiors, or layered cakes, is that you don’t have to start from scratch to evolve your style. A new throw, a bold cushion, a shift in flavour… one thoughtful change can make the whole composition feel brand new.
3. Use colour as a creative cue
As any designer or baker knows, colour is more than a decorative choice. It’s a mood, a message, an emotional nudge. Katherine understands how colour can shape perception, whether it’s in a living room or on a dessert table.
“I definitely think that colour is a huge mood influencer! It evokes such a broad spectrum of feelings, associations, and memories. I use colour in my work to create levels of visual excitement (rainbow cakes for playful occasions, and neutral coloured creations for more luxe or formal events), but also to create delicious visual cues (pink to evoke strawberry flavours, or earthy tones for chocolate or caramel). When it comes to my home, I use lots of colour and texture for visual excitement—it helps to stimulate my creative ideas! I also love earthy tones to create a feeling of warmth and comfort. The earthy ‘chocolate’ and ‘caramel’ tones of my King Living 1977 Sofa are so relaxing and grounding.”
For Katherine, colour is storytelling. A raspberry-hued layer promises fruitiness, while a caramel tone signals richness and warmth. And just like each layer in her living room, each colour choice brings intention and feeling to the forefront.
4. Style with intention
Whether she’s layering mousse or mixing paint swatches, Katherine approaches her creative projects with a designer’s eye. It’s not just about beauty, it’s about composition.
“I usually go by what I think would look more visually interesting or what colours (or flavours) would work well next to each other. In this case, with my layered chocolate mousse cheesecake, I wanted to achieve a lovely ombre effect. The ombre layering also allows the dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate flavours to be distinguishable and not be too overpowered by one another.”
It’s this consideration of form and function, flavour and flow, that gives Katherine’s work and her home its signature wow factor. Each layer is crafted with care, creating harmony without homogeneity.
5. Anchor with statement pieces
Every well-layered space needs a centrepiece, and for Katherine, that’s her King Living 1977 Sofa. Inspired by an iconic 70s King Living sofa, with a focus on softness and flexibility, the 1977 Sofa is a design that celebrates the same values Katherine brings to her baking: personality, practicality, and playfulness.
“The 1977 Sofa looked INSTANTLY inviting to me! The ergonomic and organic shape of the sofa, as well as the divinely soft and textured fabrics made me just want to snuggle myself into it forever. I also love that it offers versatility with individual modules that can be switched into different configurations. Not to mention the machine washable covers, which are so handy in a busy and playful household! I bought an extra set of covers in a different colour way, which means I can easily freshen up the look and feel of our entire lounge room.”
Comfortable, changeable, and utterly stylish—just like her cakes.
Exclusive layered chocolate mousse cheesecake recipe
Recipe by Katherine Sabbath for King Living
Calling all chocolate lovers! This decadent creation is made up of three divine layers of dark, milk, and white chocolate cheesecake, all with a lusciously smooth mousse-like consistency. The crumbly biscuit base gives an extra element of textural excitement, while also adding to the striking ombre effect. To decorate, I chose to create an edible version of my King Living 1977 Sofa (because I can’t help myself - the idea was just too cute!), but this dessert is just as delicious when topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings!
Serves 16-20
Please note: This recipe uses standard Australian measurements
Ingredients:
- 39 Oreo cookies (approx 358g) or 3 sleeves
- 100g unsalted butter
- 1kg cream cheese, softened
- 300g thickened cream
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 220g dark chocolate
- 220g milk chocolate
- 240g white chocolate
Optional decoration:
- 300mls thickened cream (whipped)
- 60g chocolate shavings
Method
1. Grease an 23 cm (9 inch) round spring-form cake tin and line the base with baking paper. Put the cookies in a food processor and process until finely crushed. Add the melted butter and process until well combined. Spoon into the cake tin and press over the base. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
2. Put the cream cheese, the cream, and vanilla into the clean food processor bowl and process until smooth (you can also use a hand held mixer for this part). Divide the mixture between 3 bowls.
3. Melt the dark chocolate in a heat proof bowl (you can use the double boiler method on the stove, but I simply heat in the microwave at 30 second bursts until melted). Add the melted dark chocolate to one of the bowls of cheesecake mousse, and mix until combined. Pour the mixture over the base and gently tap the tin on the kitchen bench to smooth the surface. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until just set.
4. Repeat with the remaining milk chocolate and white chocolate layers, ensuring the milk chocolate layer is refrigerated and has set before the white chocolate layer is poured on top.
5. Transfer the cheesecake to the freezer for at least 1 hour (this will firm up the cheesecake and help it come out of the tin without splitting). Carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin and place on a serving platter. Allow to thaw for 30 mins, or you may choose to enjoy this dessert when still slightly frozen.
6. Just before serving, decorate the cheesecake (if desired) with the whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Storage
This cake is equally as delicious when served straight from the fridge or at room temperature. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or stored in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Make ahead
This impressive and decadent dessert doesn’t take as much effort as you might think! You can easily make it a few days before hand and have it ready to go in the fridge. If you’d like to make it even further ahead of time, simply keep it tucked away in the freezer and allow it to thaw at room temperature before decorating and serving.
Dietary notes
This recipe is suitable for vegetarians. To make this recipe also gluten-free, simply substitute the Oreo cookies for a gluten-free chocolate biscuit.
Customisation
Want to add even more personal flair to your creation? Here’s how Katherine recommends making the recipe your own:
- This layered mousse cheesecake would also work well with fruit flavours! Simply follow the recipe steps for the white chocolate cheesecake layer, and add in your choice of fresh fruit puree to create a rainbow or ombre effect.
- The biscuit layer base can also be switched up to suit your tastes! Instead of the Oreo biscuits, you can use shortbread biscuits, wheat (digestives) biscuits, butternut snap cookies, or even Tim Tams.
- Decorative ideas for this cake are endless! You can use dollops of fresh cream topped with fresh berries or sliced up fruits, swirls of buttercream topped with sprinkles, or a pretty adornment of edible flowers.
Whether you’re styling your living room or assembling a triple-layer showpiece, the takeaway is the same: layer your designs with intention, joy, and a touch of personality. With Katherine Sabbath as your guide, you’ll be inspired to add more colour, texture, and flavour to every corner of your life.
Follow Katherine on Instagram for more inspiration.
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