Alumnus: Khairunnisa Koorowlay

Khairunnisa Koorowlay’s journey from law books to layer cakes.

Thirty-year-old Khairunnisa Koorowlay is living proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. After finishing matric, Koorowlay trained as a paralegal but never forgot her passion for baking. In 2023, at the age of 34, she made the bold decision to finally follow her heart and enrolled in a Professional Patisserie course at Capsicum Culinary Studio's Cape Town campus.

“It has always been my dream, and I believe in going after what I want. My heart was in this,” she says.

After graduating in 2024, Koorowlay immediately started turning her passion into a profession, and today she runs a small but thriving home bakery in Parow, crafting made-to-order cakes, pastries, desserts and treats and regularly sells at local markets.

She’s also been on television, having appeared on both the cooking show Proe – where she made her delicious eclairs and, more recently, on the Expresso Morning Show on SABC3 where she demonstrated how to make and decorate cupcakes.

Koorowlay’s days are full and fast-paced, blending the demands of motherhood with the creativity of baking.

While she’s constantly experimenting and learning, Koorowlay already has a unique signature: her very own invention, the Sweetiepie Brownie - a decadent fusion of nostalgia and indulgence.

And she’s not done yet. “I’d love to master croissants and entremets and I definitely want to attend some chocolate workshops,” she says.

Koorowlay’s story is a reminder that passion, when pursued with courage and determination, can reshape a life. From law books to layer cakes, she’s proof that sometimes the sweetest success comes later, and tastes all the better for it!