Chalsey Symonds started a baking business for fun — and then she lost her job.

Fortunately for her, she had a hit on her hands: a line of boozy desserts that were definitely not children-friendly.

Clients gobbled up her ginger snap cupcakes infused with Baileys Irish Cream, Jack Daniels or Malibu; her Dark ‘N Stormy desserts were equally popular.

“These are definitely not for children,” she laughed. “These are adult cupcakes. While 60 per cent of the alcohol burns off, there is also alcohol in the filling and sometimes the topping. Some of them come with little mini shots.”

The 28-year-old was working as a lab technician for the Department of Health when she started Get Cake Whipped a year ago. Three months later she lost her job when government stopped renewing contracts for certain temporary public service workers.

“It was crazy,” she said. “I had to move out of my apartment. But I was so grateful that I had started my baking business.”

Ms Symonds had always loved baking. Family members encouraged her to start her business last January.

“They were impressed by some Spiderman cupcakes I made for my godson’s birthday,” Ms Symonds said. “I started the business for fun. I never thought I’d one day have to rely on it.

“I love the decorating. I can pretty much do anything in terms of theme and colour.”

She also loves creating new flavours; she gives each dessert a special name.

“I named [my carrot cupcake] after a type of carrot called a Crusader; I’d never heard of it before,” Ms Symonds said.

“I have a chocolate one I call Idris, named after [the British actor] Idris Elba, who is a delicious chocolate man.”

Ms Symonds has since found work but still runs her business on the side. She only takes orders between Thursday and Monday.

“That was a little complicated as I had clients booked for months at that point,” she said. “I had to fulfil the orders though. I didn’t want to leave people hanging.

“I was working until 2am or 3am and then making 9am at work.”

The experience taught her a lot about work-life balance.

“I used to read a lot. Now, whenever I have a spare moment, I take a nap,” she said.

“The biggest lesson I have learnt in a year of running my business is not to over-commit myself. I have learnt about the need for balance.

“At first, I accepted every request that came along. Now, I don’t like to turn people away, but I know I can’t accommodate everyone.”

Cooking runs in her genes, she believes. Her mother, Marion Symonds, was a teacher but always baked for the family; her brother Malachi runs Paddle Popped Popcorn.

“I didn’t go into cooking when I went to college, because I dreamed of becoming a paediatrician,” she said. “But after a year in university I realised I didn’t want to spend years studying to become a doctor.

“I studied chemistry and the job I have now, as a lab technician, suits me well. I never thought I would own my own baking business and it would be successful.”

•Look for Get Cake Whipped on Facebook or e-mail getcakewhipped@gmail.com.