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Who is Jonny Manganello aka thejonnycakes?

Jonny Manganello is a hyper-realistic cake artist and digital creator best known for his viral cake illusions and vibrant personality. He gained widespread recognition as a contestant on Netflix’s Is It Cake? and has since built a strong online presence across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

July 25, 2025
Justine Castany
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Justine Castany

Justine Castany, a student at ESSEC Business School and currently working at Favikon, shines with her love for marketing and dedication to communications. As a dynamic young professional, she serves as Marketing Manager at Favikon, where she brings her expertise to craft and execute cutting-edge strategies. With her creativity and keen eye for trends, Justine stands out in communicating brand messages effectively and making waves on social media.

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Jonny Manganello: Crafting Hyper-Realistic Cakes and Building a Sweet Social Empire

Jonny Manganello is a hyper-realistic cake artist who became widely recognized after competing on Netflix’s Is It Cake? His cakes, which mimic everyday objects like Crocs, candles, and condiments, gained attention for their uncanny realism. Viewers are often left stunned trying to guess what’s edible. His knack for visual trickery helped catapult him to social media fame.

Before rising as a digital creator, Jonny worked professionally as a pastry chef, which gave him the technical foundation to pull off intricate builds. Unlike many food influencers, he uses real pastry techniques rather than shortcuts or props. He brings precision from the kitchen into his content, elevating it beyond surface-level aesthetics. This background sets him apart in the baking niche.

Jonny Manganello Serves Sweet Style and Sass with His Signature Heart Cake (Source: @thejonnycakes, Instagram, June 2025)

He’s not just a baker—Jonny is an entertainer. His videos are driven by comedic beats, unexpected reveals, and exaggerated reactions that reflect his background in theater and performance. Whether he’s parodying baking fails or dramatizing a cake reveal, his sense of humor is central to his appeal. This blend of cake artistry and character work makes him stand out.

Jonny has also leveraged his platform to collaborate with brands like Goldbelly and Noodles & Company, and he regularly appears in content with The Try Guys. His partnerships don’t feel out of place—they blend into the comedic and visual identity he’s crafted. His brand is clear: make people laugh, make them look twice, and always make it cake.

An Influencer Active on Social Media

With a combined audience of over 5.4 million followers, Jonny’s reach extends primarily across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, with high engagement from the US and English-speaking markets.

Jonny Manganello's Social Media Strategy Analysis

TikTok: 3M Followers and a Visual Cake Playground

Jonny’s TikTok strategy centers around visual shock value and fast-paced edits. His hyper-realistic cakes are often revealed in dramatic cuts that catch viewers off guard. This surprise factor, combined with humor and trending sounds, keeps content sharable and binge-worthy. His personality shines through in every clip, adding charm and relatability to his work.

He often uses voiceovers, lip-syncs, and comedic skits to add variety to his baking content. This keeps the audience engaged without needing to rely solely on cake builds. By leaning into TikTok culture, he ensures his posts feel native rather than overly produced. His consistent tone and visual flair make him easily recognizable in the scroll.

Posting twice a week at 6 PM EST helps him maintain a predictable presence while staying agile with trends. Although his engagement rate is modest, the platform's algorithm rewards his consistency and watchability. With 3 million followers, he’s cultivated a community that eagerly awaits his next illusion. His blend of humor and craft hits a sweet spot for viral potential.

TikTok serves as the entry point for most new followers, where short bursts of creativity make a lasting impression. The casual, approachable energy makes his account feel fun and lighthearted. It’s where he experiments most freely and responds quickly to current internet trends. This spontaneity is key to his TikTok success.

  • Username: @thejonnycakes
  • Influence Score: 82.4/100
  • Followers: 3M
  • Activity: 1.9 videos/week
  • Engagement Rate: 0.11%
  • Growth (30 days): 0%
  • Average Engagement: 3.3K
  • Posting Habits: Twice a week at 6 PM EST

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YouTube: Tutorials, Longform Challenges & Reviews

Jonny Manganello’s YouTube channel showcases his full creative process, especially for hyper-realistic cakes that resemble everyday objects like cleaning supplies, fast food, or shoes. Each video typically begins with a concept sketch or a reference item and then progresses through baking, carving, decorating, and final reveal. He often adds personal commentary throughout, making the videos feel like a behind-the-scenes conversation rather than a scripted tutorial. This format allows viewers to connect with his personality while learning about the construction of intricate edible illusions.

One standout trait is his ability to take internet trends—like viral food challenges or pop culture characters—and reimagine them as cakes. In one video, he creates a cake shaped like a Croc shoe, complete with edible charms. In another, he attempts to recreate a viral cake kit while offering commentary on the kit’s flaws and strengths. These moments don’t just entertain—they show his depth as a professional cake artist and his willingness to critique and analyze the baking tools on the market. His style balances technical skill with clear opinions, which makes the content informative without being overly formal.

Jonny’s posting cadence of approximately 2.5 videos per month is strategic. He avoids filler content and instead focuses on projects that require several days of preparation and filming. Most of his videos are released in the morning, typically around 7 PM EST, which aligns with peak engagement hours for his U.S.-based audience. With an average of 158.6K views and 7.3K engagements per video, his audience shows a high retention rate, especially for longform builds that involve multiple components or surprise elements.

YouTube also serves as his primary platform for promoting his custom cake kits and product collaborations. In longer videos, he explains how to use specific tools, walks viewers through kits he’s developed or reviewed, and gives clear feedback based on actual use—not scripted talking points. This authenticity increases viewer trust and improves conversion rates for sponsored content. Unlike TikTok or Instagram, YouTube allows him to give proper context and depth, making it his most valuable space for turning audience attention into customer action.

  • Username: @thejonnycakes
  • Influence Score: 84.7/100
  • Followers: 1.3M
  • Activity: 2.5 videos/month
  • Engagement Rate: 0.56%
  • Growth (30 days): 0%
  • Average Engagement: 7.3K
  • Posting Habits: Once a week at 7 PM EST

Instagram: Highlighting the Artistry Behind the Cake

Jonny Manganello’s Instagram (@thejonnycakes) serves as a curated extension of his cake artistry, where every post highlights the visual punch of his hyper-realistic creations. His feed is tightly edited, featuring cakes that look like Crocs, cleaning spray bottles, or burger meals—each one designed to spark curiosity and second glances. Unlike his TikTok or YouTube channels, Instagram focuses on clean, direct presentation, often showing side-by-side comparisons of real objects and cake versions. These static image posts build his reputation as a precise visual artist rather than a behind-the-scenes educator.

He posts approximately once per month, a low volume offset by extremely high-quality production. The combination of sharp lighting, studio-style framing, and strategic object placement makes each upload feel like a gallery piece. His average of 93.1K views and 6.1K engagements per post signals a loyal following that responds strongly to minimal but impactful content. Even though his engagement rate is modest compared to TikTok norms, it’s above average for a visual-focused platform like Instagram—especially given his niche.

Instagram is also where Jonny promotes partnerships more visibly. He frequently tags and collaborates with brands like Goldbelly, who distribute some of his cake kits, and The Try Guys, with whom he’s shared challenge-style baking content. His tagging strategy is intentional, often linking collaborators directly in the photo and caption to drive conversions. Additionally, he uses Stories to tease upcoming drops or behind-the-scenes footage from brand shoots, making Instagram his go-to channel for product placement that still aligns with his visual identity.

Compared to the spontaneity of TikTok or the longer narratives of YouTube, Jonny’s Instagram is a static, high-impact portfolio. It’s where he builds brand credibility—demonstrating what a finished product looks like when working with him. Because of its aesthetic and commercial polish, this platform is especially attractive for food, kitchenware, or event-focused sponsors. For Jonny, Instagram isn’t about quantity—it’s about showcasing the most impressive parts of his work in the most flattering format.

  • Username: @thejonnycakes
  • Influence Score: 85.1/100
  • Followers: 1.1M
  • Activity: 1 post/month
  • Engagement Rate: 0.57%
  • Growth (30 days): +1.11%
  • Average Engagement: 6.1K
  • Posting Habits: Once a week at 12 PM EST

TheJonnyCakes’ Social Media Influence Summary

Jonny ranks within the top 1% of baking influencers in the United States, holding the #22 spot nationally and #90 globally. On Instagram, he’s in the top 3% both in the U.S. (#10679) and worldwide (#53643). These high-performance rankings reflect his strong niche authority, particularly in food content, and mark him as a go-to creator in the cake and baking space.

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Content Strategy: Blending Illusion, Humor, and Cake to Keep Audiences Hooked

Jonny’s strategy is clear: entertain, surprise, and delight. His short-form videos work well for TikTok and Reels, where visual punchlines and quick reveals drive engagement. On YouTube, he expands into longer formats to retain attention and build a deeper connection with viewers. He keeps his tone cheerful and inclusive, with zero political involvement, making his content highly brand-safe. His visual style is bright, colorful, and polished, which adds to his appeal for culinary brands and family-friendly sponsors.

Reachability and Partnerships

Jonny Manganello is highly reachable for collaborations through his professional email and link-in-bio platforms, often responding to campaign requests tied to baking kits, food brands, and media appearances. He has previously partnered with Goldbelly to create and sell his signature “illusion cakes,” demonstrating his ability to execute product-driven campaigns with national reach. His collaboration with The Try Guys also shows a strong presence in crossover content with other YouTube creators. Brands looking for visual storytelling in the baking or novelty food space will find his track record consistent and proven.

An overview of Jonny’s top influential connections across key industries. (Source: Favikon)

His content avoids polarizing topics, making him a safe partner for family-friendly or mainstream campaigns. He is selective about partnerships, often featuring brands that align with his creative process or personal style—such as showcasing custom cake kits or testing baking tools on camera. His fan base is most responsive to products they can replicate at home, making DIY and instructional collaborations especially effective. For sponsors, his multi-platform presence offers flexible formats—from detailed YouTube integrations to high-impact Instagram reveals.

Conclusion: Turning Cake Illusions into a Scalable Creative Brand

Jonny Manganello is more than a cake artist—he’s a full-fledged creator with a defined niche, strong audience rapport, and brand-friendly content. His steady presence across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram offers value to brands and fans alike, balancing entertainment and education. With high rankings in baking, an engaged network, and visually impactful content, Jonny is one of the most promising creators in the food content space today.

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