This Woman Empowered Thousands To Share Their “Subtle Asian” Recipes, Which Are Both Adorable and Delicious

The internet has its fair share of downsides. Fortunately, Facebook cooking groups are a bright spot.

There’s nothing that reinforces my faith in unity more than a group of strangers who come together to exchange recipes and cooking tips purely out of goodwill.

One of the most popular online culinary communities today is Subtle Asian Baking, a group of dessert and pastry lovers that has grown to over 155,000 members since its creation in May 2020. True to its name, the group serves as a platform for sharing classic recipes that feature Asian ingredients or baking techniques.

Imagine matcha tiramisu. Pumpkin butter mochi. Or Hello Kitty-inspired dim sum.

The journey of the group started when founder Kat Lieu began feeling nostalgic for Asian baked treats during the pandemic. Mytour had a conversation with Kat to learn more about how the group has evolved since its inception.

Like many people, Kat found herself stuck at home in the spring of 2020, missing her mother’s Cantonese desserts and the baked delicacies she had enjoyed during a recent trip to Asia. She longed to experience those flavors once again, so she began searching online in hopes of finding a space where she could gather recipe ideas for Asian baked goods.

"There was a group called Subtle Asian Traits," Kat shared with Mytour. "There was also Subtle Asian Cooking and Subtle Asian Eats, but none that focused on baking. I just wanted to connect with fellow bakers who were passionate about baking the Asian way."

Kat took matters into her own hands and launched her own group. And that’s how Subtle Asian Baking came to life.

Kat invited a hundred of her closest friends to join the group, and from there, it quickly gained traction. "It exploded to thousands of members within a week," she shared. "By the summer of 2020, it reached sixty thousand members." Clearly, it was an immediate success, attracting people from around the world to exchange recipes, food photos, and cooking tips.

"Things have evolved in the past few years, and the pace of change has only picked up in recent months — Subtle Asian Baking is now more than just a small group of bakers sharing recipes, it’s a movement driving culinary innovation. I mean, seriously, a mochi in a muffin? Who wouldn’t want that?" one member told Eater in 2020.

Recognizing that she now had a platform capable of inspiring change, Kat took the initiative to organize Subtle Asian Baking's first fundraiser. The group hosted a mukbang, a live-streamed eating event, where viewers could donate money through a link shared during the broadcast. Thanks to their efforts, the group raised over $4,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto.

"It felt like such a triumph for us. Initially, we were just a small Facebook group," she shared. "And we were able to raise an incredible amount of money and bring so many people together."

Building on the success of their first charity event, Kat then initiated more projects in 2021 aimed at supporting Asian-owned businesses.

The group hosted a bake sale, raising $15,000 for Welcome to Chinatown, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting New York City's Chinatown community.

Kat's goal goes beyond fundraising—she envisions the group fostering a global love and respect for Asian cuisine.

"My main objective is that when I bring something Asian-related or an Asian-inspired treat to my son's classmates—he's 9—they'll say, 'That's so awesome,' instead of how I felt as a child in the '90s when people would make faces or mock my food," she explained.

Kat stressed that anyone, regardless of being Asian, can participate or share a recipe, and she encourages everyone to give back in ways that are meaningful to them.

"I want everyone to savor these flavors, but also acknowledge the origin—if you're creating a Chinese dish inspired by another, make sure to give credit where it's due," she said. "Don't just enjoy our food, but also appreciate our community and our people," she emphasized.

The group will keep hosting live bake-offs and fundraising events, so don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

For now, I'm planning on figuring out how to make matcha tiramisu. 😌🎂