A MYSTERY baker dubbed “the cake fairy” has been leaving sweet treats in their building for neighbours in the dead of night.
The lucky residents of Chapel Lane in Leith, Edinburgh have been treated with tasty themed baking with hand-written packaging since January this year.
The anonymous baker has made valentines treats, tasty easter fudge and even rainbow coloured cakes to celebrate Pride.
Fionnlagh McFarlane, who lives in the same building where the anonymous chef is thought to live, was surprised by the treats one morning after he and his boyfriend moved in in January.
But, despite multiple attempts to solve the puzzle of who the baker is – the bar tender has not been able to identify them.
Fionnlagh, 25, has left flowers and a thank you note for the “cake fairy” – who then responded in a letter explaining they love the thought of their neighbours eating cake for breakfast.
However, to their dismay they left no clues to their identity, gender or location.
Residents in the block of the flats believe the mystery baker must live in the same building, due to the cakes being left in the middle of the night.
Social media users were quick to praise the “community spirit” and “amazing” effort from the baker.
Taking to a local Facebook group, Fionnlagh wrote: “I moved to Leith in January with my boyfriend to a gorgeous wee flat in the old mill building just behind the shore.
“Within the first few days – above the communal letter box areas and in the dead of night – a hand decorated box appeared filled to the brim with individually wrapped bags of caramel fudge and beautiful hand drawn labels with the instruction to help yourself.
“Let me tell you – it was incredible (if not for the post Xmas diet).
“Anyways, over the coming days and months – and always in the dead of night – the box is replenished with cup cakes, meringues and other goodies.
“We started asking around but none of our neighbours knew who was leaving it there.
“I decided to leave out a bunch of sunflowers to say thank you with a card to show how grateful we were for the thoughtful morning surprises.”
Fionnlagh explained that the flowers disappeared and were replaced with rainbow coloured cakes and a letter.
He added: “The letter explained that the mystery cake baker just loved the joy of their neighbours eating cake for breakfast – but to my frustration left no clue about their identity, gender or location.
“Over the following days other people started to leave little cards and presents for out cake fair and it continues to this day.
“No thanks or praise required for this most generous and giving person. Ingredients are expensive and in this world today how often do we help others or do something so altruisitic with no want for anything in return?
“This little note is a thank you if you are reading this cake fairy.”
Fionnlagh also shared photographs of the perfectly packaged cakes with handwritten signs.
The “Jammy Bugger” – a cupcake with a Jammy Dodger on top – can be seen packaged in a small cardboard box.
Other treats dished out by the anonymous cook include fudge with the label “Oh for fudge sake” and a “rocky rubble”.
On social media, one local wrote: “That is so lovely – real community spirit.”
Another added: “That’s fantastic. What a lovely place to live.”
One user theorised: “Assuming the outside door is locked, it must be someone who lives in or visits someone in the block.”
While another user said simply: “Amazing.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Fionnlagh said: “You have to get there pretty fast because the baking is so good.
“There is one cupcake ‘the jammy bugger’ with a jammy dodger on top that is my favourite.
“At valentines we got love heart themed stuff, and at Easter and also gay pride.
“It’s kind of set other things in motion as well.
“There is a book exchange and people leave unwanted furniture and things there for a few days, before binning them incase anyone wants it.”
Asked if he thought the baker was professional or an amateur, Fionnlagh replied:
“A really keen amateur but the cakes taste professional. So yum.”
The letter left by the mystery baker for Fionnlagh is written in delicate handwriting and is decorated with hand-drawn love hearts and a rose.
Left alongside a vanilla layer cake, it reads: “Thank you for the lovely flowers. Super kind of you.
“I love to bake and knowing folks (besides my partner and I) are (maybe) having cake for breakfast makes my inner child incredibly happy.”
