A new, local cookbook is available, created by TLC's 2014 "America's Next Great Baker" winner Lia Holter, a St. Louis culinary enthusiast who during 2020 launched a craft bakery located in Old Town Florissant.
As she explains in her cookbook titled Made. by Lia - Everyday Craft Baking: “This book is near and dear to my heart. I’ve honed these recipes — many born at home with my kids, developed alongside my team or passed down from loved ones. They define me as a baker and fuel my bakery’s success. Cooking is my love language, connecting me to others through a single bite. When someone says my bakes recall their childhood, that’s why I do this: to bring families back to the kitchen, making memories around the table."
Lia launched the cookbook by hosting a free event at St. Louis County Library's Clark Family Branch. She even shared some of her delicious bakery treats with attendees.
The Made. by Lia Bakery offers a wide variety of from-scratch pastries, scones and sweets, along with coffee and tea options. The team also provides several gluten-free and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions.
For sure, the St. Louis food scene played a major role in Lia's success. She graduated from Fontbonne in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management. At the same time, she attended St. Louis Community College at Forest Park for her degree in baking and pastry arts.
"I based the new cookbook around how I started Made. by Lia after winning Next Great Baker, then being a brand ambassador, starting my own brand and finding community in Old Town Florissant instead of going to Las Vegas to work with Cake Boss," explains Lia.
Lia says about two years ago, AB Mauri, the company that owns Fleischmann’s Yeast, reached out to her to do a cookbook that was to be handed out to their customers as marketing materials. "It worked well to use Fleischmann yeast in my bread recipes. The vision was to eventually turn my collection into a Made. by Lia cookbook with all of my best recipes. All in all, it was the perfect opportunity because I’ve always dreamed of writing a cookbook."
She says the recipes in the new book are like her "greatest hits."
"They include recipes from childhood, as well as the most popular and fan favorites from my bakery, like the lemon blueberry scones, cherry strudels and chocolate chip cookies. It was hard to narrow down the recipes, but I think I put together the perfect variety so that everyone could find something that they’d want to bake and eat!" explains Lia.
"For the recipes I left out, well, hopefully they'll make it into the next cookbook."
Locally, her cookbook is available at Barnes & Noble, on Lia's website (shipping nationwide) or in-store at her bakery, 610 Rue St. Francois.
Lia says this first cookbook is just the start. "I’ve got so much more to share. Welcome to my kitchen, my bakery, my home.”
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MadeByLia.com
"When I started writing this cookbook, I had high hopes but didn’t know what to expect. I'm so blessed to be living my dream."