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Most of us know kek batik as that easy, no-bake chocolate biscuit dessert that shows up at birthdays, open houses, and basically any Malaysian gathering
But for Nurliza Mohd Jonis, it's also a canvas.
Through her brand Crazepop, Nurliza transforms kek batik into edible art by hand-drawing intricate batik-inspired designs directly onto each cake.
The 46-year-old, originally from Johor and now based in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, first began baking as a hobby back in 2013 while working full-time as a graphic designer
She doesn't even consider herself a baker at heart, but more as an artist who just happens to work with chocolate.
In fact, Nurliza says the idea behind Crazepop came from her love of art rather than cooking.
"The idea was born from a customer's simple request.
"Taking it seriously, I challenged myself to transform kek batik into a true work of art, creating a design that embodies the essence of Malaysia's heritage through creativity in edible art," she shared with SAYS.
One look at Nurliza's creations and it's easy to see why people often mistake them for paintings rather than cakes
Each design starts with a concept, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours to finalise, depending on its complexity.
Once the design is locked in, she draws everything by hand straight onto the cake.
For a standard seven-inch kek batik, the decorating process alone typically takes between one and two hours, and even longer for more intricate motifs.
And because everything is hand-drawn, no two cakes ever turn out exactly the same
Of course, it's not all as simple as it looks.
One of the biggest challenges, she says, is helping customers understand the time, detail, and craftsmanship behind each piece.
"The price reflects the craftsmanship, artistry, and premium ingredients behind every batik cake," she explained.
"Each design is hand-drawn and carefully crafted using quality ingredients, resulting in a unique, non-mass-produced edible masterpiece"
Her signature seven-inch batik cakes start from RM120, with prices depending on complexity and customisation.
One of her creations even made its way to royalty.
She was commissioned to create a cake for the birthday celebration of the Sultan of Kedah.
"Among more than 30 cakes presented at the event, it was the only cake selected by the palace to be served and enjoyed."
"It was a proud moment that validated the artistry, craftsmanship, and attention to detail behind every kek batik I create," she said.
Her dream is to create a grand batik wedding cake
"My dream is to create a four-tier batik wedding cake, beautifully adorned with intricate batik-inspired designs from top to bottom," she said.
"It would be a celebration of Malaysian heritage, transforming the traditional batik cake into a grand centrepiece worthy of a once-in-a-lifetime occasion."
Given the level of detail in her current creations, it's not hard to imagine the show-stopping masterpiece such a cake could become.
Interestingly, Nurliza never really set out to become a baker. She just kept following the art.
"Behind Crazepop is a woman who doesn't enjoy cooking but has always loved creating art," she said.
With just a microwave at home and chocolate as her medium, what started as a hobby has slowly grown into a full-on edible art business.
You can check out more of her designs on Instagram.
