Mar 18, 2025 - Food and Drink

Meet the Des Moines baker behind some of the cutest macarons

Linh Ta

adorable macarons that look like bears, hello kitty and capybaras — Rose Chu macarons, $3.50 each or $8.50 for a giant macaron. Photos: Courtesy of Cua Vang

From Hello Kitty to Capybaras, a local baker is selling cute, Asian-inspired macarons across the metro.

How it started: Growing up in Des Moines as the youngest of 13 siblings, Cua Vang found plenty of occasions to bake for her family.

When she was 12, she designed her first major cake by baking a peachy-brown, four-layer ombre cake for her sister's baby shower.
After guests praised her decorating skills, Vang decided to get more serious about baking. She started sharing them for fun on Instagram and from there, customers started reaching out to her for cakes.

State of play: Now, Vang's brand, Rose Chu, regularly sells macarons ($3.50) and desserts at bubble tea shop Zenko Tea, which has locations in Ankeny, DSM, WDM and Waukee.

Vang, who is Hmong American, leans towards Asian flavors and treats she enjoyed as a kid like ube, matcha and Hot Cheetos.
She's inspired by Korean-style cafes and creates unique macaron shapes that include popular characters and animals.

What they're saying: "It's just fun to connect art with food," Vang says. "I want to bake for both looks and taste."

If you go: Find Vang's rotating menu on Instagram and her macarons at Zenko Tea locations.

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Meet the Des Moines baker behind some of the cutest macarons

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