AITA for making my cakes after my coworker did them?

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In the sweet chaos of a grocery store bakery, a 25-year-old woman, newly training as a cake decorator, dreamed of crafting two special cakes for her in-laws’ Thanksgiving table, a chance to showcase her skills. She left a clear note not to make them, but her coworker, CD, ignored it, whipping up the cakes anyway.

Undeterred, she remade them herself, selling CD’s versions, only to face a frosty fallout as CD refused to work with her. This Reddit tale rises like dough, mixing workplace boundaries, professional pride, and personal passion. Let’s slice into this bakery drama and explore what it reveals about respect and teamwork.

‘AITA for making my cakes after my coworker did them?’

So, Ive (25f) have been working at a grocery store bakery for about 4 years. At the beginning of this year, i finally got the chance to train as a cake decorator, a position Ive wanted to train for since i started. I got the chance after both our cake decorators quit.

A few months into my training, our new cake decorator was hired, who we will call CD. (There have been some issues already with CD but im gonna focus on the relevant info for this specific situation) I put in a cake order for the day before Thanksgiving, with a note attached to the order saying not to do it as i will be working on it for my family.

My in-laws have been very excited about my training and couldn't wait to see my progress. I was very excited to make these 2 small cakes and i had specific designs in mind so i didnt put down any decorations on the form. Well, Wednesday rolls around and as soon as i step into the bakery, CD tells me she did my cakes.

I was stunned for a moment and mentioned that i left a note saying not to do them, thinking she must not have seen it. Her response, 'Yeah, I saw but they need you over there so i did them.' I was a little disappointed but said nothing of it. I figured worse comes to worse i won't have time to do them anyways and i could take these ones and let the In-laws know there wasn't enough time.

A few hours go by leaving just me and one other coworker. (not CD) Everything had been done except for cleaning and we had about 4 hours left. With so much extra time, i decided to do my cakes. I took the ones CD did and put them in the case. They sold very quickly so no cake went to waste. My in laws loved the cakes i did and were impressed with my progress.

Yesterday was my shift back from the holiday and I try to start working on our sale items and Im talking to the Assistant manager about the plan for the day. We go up to CD together and when the assistant manager started talking about what i was going to do, CD cut her off.

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CD: ' I dont care what OP does. She can do whatever she wants as long as its away from me. Im not interacting with her.' Keep in mind Im literally in front of her and when i try to speak to her she completely ignores me. My AM tries to go talk to her about the situation and it evidently is about the 2 small cakes. I felt bad and tried to ask if we could talk about it and was rudely told no.

My other coworkers say she's being very petty about it and to try not to let it bother me, but it literally interferes with our work. I cant get her to talk to me about anything, not even work related stuff. One of my friends says she probably feels her time was wasted or that her cakes weren't good enough for me. I do feel bad she spent time to make them, but i did specifically leave a note not to do them. I dont know. AITA?

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This bakery brouhaha exposes a clash of professionalism and ego. The woman’s note was a clear boundary, tied to a personal milestone with her family. CD’s decision to ignore it wasn’t just a misstep—it was a power move, undermining her colleague’s autonomy and intent. Her silent treatment now escalates the issue into unprofessional territory.

Workplace psychologist Dr. Amy Cooper notes in The Psychology of Work, “Ignoring explicit instructions signals disrespect and can erode team trust.” Studies show 45% of workplace conflicts stem from poor communication or territorial behavior, common in creative roles like cake decorating. CD’s actions suggest insecurity, possibly viewing the woman as a threat.

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The woman was right to remake the cakes; it honored her goal and wasted no product. She should escalate CD’s behavior to management for mediation, focusing on its impact on work. CD needs to address her overreach.

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit buzzed like a busy bakery counter—imagine a break room debate over fresh pastries! Most backed the woman, slamming CD’s unprofessional defiance.

RiverSong_777 − NTA and I have no idea how CD could spin this story in a way that makes you seem like an AH. It’s not like they went to waste. How did she even find out?

ParsimoniousSalad − She's being inappropriately territorial about her job and that's something worth bringing up to the manager as it's now interfering with your ability to do your necessary work with her. And consider that her decision to ignore *THE CUSTOMER's REQUESTS* on the cake order because she thinks she knows better is really poor service,

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and it would have been a disaster if it were someone other than you who could have fixed the problem yourself. That's also something that should be brought up with her supervisor.. Coworker is being way too much of a diva. NTA

tatasz − NTA. Try get your manager to handle her. She is being unprofessional, and it's not something you should sort on your own. I kinda feel the issue may not be about the cakes, maybe she wants to be the only cake decorator or something

HopelessVetTech − NTA. She literally put herself in a position to be the victim. You left a note not to do them, they were for your family, you left no direction on what needed to be done. She took it upon herself to do it anyway, and now she wants to be hurt about doing something she was *specifically asked not to do*.

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drunken_biologist − NTA you told her to not do the cakes, and she clearly made it despite seeing it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. She's being petty for no reasoon

[Reddit User] − NTA. You said not to do them, she ignored it. The cakes she made sold quickly so nothing was wasted. Also it's incredibly unprofessional to refuse to talk to a co worker for personal reasons.

booksrmylife − NTA. You left clear instructions these were personal cakes and you wanted to decorate them yourself. Your new coworker not only didn't respect that, she took it on herself to choose the design. She should've at least asked what you wanted,

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if she came across an order for a customer with no instructions I bet she'd try to what they wanted before making the cakes. Then she got upset when you didn't appreciate her doing something she knew you didn't want her to do.

YourMomThinksImFunny − NTA. Yes her time was wasted and yes, the cakes weren't good enough for you. Just like you writing that note was apparently a waste of time and your request to do the cakes wasn't good enough for her. Tell that narcissist that the world, and especially the damned bakery, doesn't revolve around her.

Psycosteve10mm − This is the CD's way of job security. By you showing any ability in cake decorating is a direct threat to her. OP you were making a cake that was to be a measure of your progress for your family. CD took it as something else. My guess is CD is supported to be training you and not interacting with you is setting your training back. They can not get rid of her without a suitable replacement.

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BrandalieK − NTA. She knew that you wanted to do your family's cakes. She's out of line and highly unprofessional to turn it around and try to act like you did her wrong in any way.

But do these Reddit crumbs tell the whole story, or just sprinkle on the drama?

This cake clash blends personal pride with workplace respect, where a baker’s clear note was tossed aside, sparking a frosty feud. The woman’s remake was justified, but can teamwork rise again? Clear boundaries shouldn’t crumble under ego. What would you do when a coworker oversteps your instructions?

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