Lara’s Cakes and Bakes, located in downtown Blue Springs, is not your typical bakery. Do they have cinnamon rolls and cookies? Yes, but they have so much more than that! So what makes them unique?
Owner Lara says, “Our bakery is 100% gluten free and celiac safe. I want everyone to feel welcome and safe to eat their pastries from our shop.”
Lara gained a love of baking at a young age from watching her mom bake from scratch. As she got older, her love for baking only grew. Lara found any opportunity she could to bake for her friends and family. During the pandemic, she wanted to bake some sweet treats and deliver them to her co-workers. Once she heard a couple of them were vegan, she made it her mission to include them as well. She experimented and tweaked a chocolate chip cookie recipe, and they were a big hit. "I kept making them, playing around with the recipe and that is what became my vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe that I bake and sell weekly," she said.
So what can you find at the bakery today?
“We make large macarons in a variety of flavors. I try to keep 10-12 flavors in the case every weekend. We are also known for our coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, poppy tarts (hand pies), chocolate cake, and vegan oatmeal raisin cream pies. You wouldn’t know the oatmeal cream pies are vegan at all. The cookies are soft and chewy and the buttercream filling is so good. Our chocolate cake is very moist and perfectly chocolatey. Flavor and texture are very important to us.”
Lara has a huge heart and wants everyone to enjoy delicious baked goods, no matter their dietary needs. Anytime she hears someone say they miss a specific treat since going gluten-free or vegan, she heads to the kitchen and gets to experimenting. She says this is how a lot of her recipes have come about.
And the best part? Not only is it all gluten free, it’s locally sourced!
Lara began selling her baked goods at the Blue Springs Farmers Market and has since continued the connections she made there. Including buying fresh eggs from a local family farm. Even the chives in her cheddar chive scones are harvested straight from her garden.
If you haven’t tried Lara’s Cakes and Bakes, or if you’re a regular, you won’t want to miss what’s in store for this fall and winter season. Lara says, "We will have some fun new cookies coming out soon along with all our fall and holiday flavored items. I’m hoping to have time soon to start working on some croissants and other French pastries." She shared that she is excited to introduce her famous pies to the bakery this season too.
And while you’re there, be sure to check out Amazing Graze KC, a local charcuterie business owned by Susie Wright. Susie offers a variety of stunning charcuterie boards, boxes, catering opportunities, and classes.
Lara’s Cakes and Bakes is open:
Thursday 4 PM - 8 PM
Friday 11 AM - 5 PM
Saturday 9 AM - 2 PM
1121 W Main St, Blue Springs, MO 64015
816-298-0607