Morning strolls through the Village at Sunriver offer up familiar aromas of cinnamon, coffee and warm pastries luring tourists and locals alike to Hot Lava Bakery, a Central Oregon staple serving up delicious breakfast, baked goods and specialty coffees. The wait in line passes quickly as eager customers feast their eyes on beautiful custom creations, from pastries and breakfast sandwiches to desserts and wedding cakes, another specialty of the 30-year-old business. Bend Lifestyle magazine caught up with Hot Lava Bakery owner and operator, Cecilia Barrenechea to talk about her life’s work and extension food truck in Bend.
Tell us about yourself and how you got to Central Oregon.
I’m a pastry chef originally from Uruguay. Baking has been my passion since I was a little girl. I studied pastry and Business Management, but my career didn’t begin in a bakery. I spent ten years working for a software company before deciding it was time to follow my dream. Before moving to the United States, I owned two coffee shops in Uruguay for about two years while we prepared for our move. We came to the U.S. because of my husband’s job and after visiting Bend, we completely fell in love with the area. We knew that if we were going to build a new life in the United States, Central Oregon was where we wanted to call home.
How did Hot Lava start in Sunriver?
Hot Lava has been a beloved part of the Sunriver community for more than 30 years. We purchased the business in January 2021. At the time, it was known primarily as a donut shop, and while we’ve introduced many new products, we wanted to preserve the tradition and history that people already loved. Today, we have a team of about 30 incredible employees, including bakers, baristas, decorators and production staff. They are truly the heart of our business, and everything we’ve accomplished is because of their dedication and care. Since taking over, we’ve expanded our menu with South American-inspired desserts, plenty of dulce de leche creations, French-style pastries, croissants, artisan desserts, custom wedding cakes and catering services. Our goal has never been to be the biggest bakery, we simply want to make food we’re proud to serve to our own family, using real ingredients, made from scratch, bringing together the traditions of South America with classic European pastry.
What has been the best thing about having a small business in Sunriver?
One of the things I love most about Sunriver is its rhythm. Summer is incredibly busy, and I genuinely enjoy the excitement and energy that comes with it. The quieter months allow us to slow down a little, develop new recipes, improve our products and spend more time with the local community that supports us throughout the entire year. People here have been incredibly welcoming, and we’ve built relationships with customers who have become friends.
What is the biggest selling item at the bakery?
Our cinnamon rolls are definitely our best-selling item. Right behind them is our Mt. Bachelor breakfast sandwich, made with bacon, egg and avocado on a croissant, followed by our lemon blueberry scones.
What do your busy seasons look like?
We create cakes, desserts and cater for around 20 events each year, as well as bake specialty cakes for hundreds of events ranging from weddings to birthdays, corporate events and private celebrations. Wedding season is certainly our busiest, especially with events at Sunriver Resort and the Great Hall.
What is your favorite thing about living and working in Central Oregon?
Living in Central Oregon has been everything we hoped it would be. We love the mountains, the forests, the changing seasons and all the outdoor activities. The biggest impression on us is the kindness of the people. We live in Sunriver, just minutes from the bakery and being part of this community has been incredibly rewarding. Owning a business in a seasonal destination certainly has its challenges, yet every season brings something different, and we’ve learned to appreciate each one. We’re grateful to call Central Oregon home and excited to continue growing here for many years to come.
How did the concept of the empanada food truck start and how is business doing?
In July 2025, we opened our empanada food truck in Bend, bringing authentic South American flavors to a whole new audience. Along with our empanadas, we serve favorites like flan, alfajores, brownies with dulce de leche and meringue, and other traditional desserts. Empanadas are one of the most iconic foods in South America, especially in Uruguay and Argentina. They’re baked, filled with high-quality ingredients and are something I grew up eating. When we started thinking about expanding into Bend, a food truck felt like the perfect first step. It allowed us to introduce people to our culture and our food without immediately opening another brick-and- mortar location. Authenticity is incredibly important to us. We import several key ingredients directly from Argentina, including our empanada dough, dulce de leche, quince paste and churros, so we can offer the most authentic experience possible. Our location at Silver Moon Brewing has been wonderful. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see people discovering empanadas for the first time or telling us they remind them of home. The food truck is just the beginning. We have bigger plans for Bend, and our goal is to eventually open a brick-and-mortar location there as well.
What would you like readers to know about your businesses?
More than anything, I want people to know that we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from our community. Every pastry, loaf of bread, cake and empanada is made by hand by an amazing team that genuinely cares about what we do. Whether someone stops in for a morning coffee, picks up breakfast for their family, orders a wedding cake or visits our food truck, we hope they leave feeling welcomed and cared for. Creating those experiences is what makes all the hard work worthwhile. We’re excited to continue growing our catering business and expanding our wholesale partnerships so that more people throughout Bend can enjoy our products.
HotLavaBakery.com
"Hot Lava Bakery has been a beloved part of the Sunriver community for more than 30 years."
— Cecilia Barrenechea, Hot Lava Bakery owner and operator
" Every pastry, loaf of bread, cake and empanada is made by hand by an amazing team that genuinely cares about what we do."
— Hot Lava Bakery owner and operator, Cecilia Barrenechea