Made by Lia.
Every great bakery has a story. This one begins long before the storefront, long before the cookbook, and long before the smell of fresh bread filled Old Town Florissant. It begins with one baker, a dream, and the belief that food has the power to bring people together.
After graduating from Fontbonne University with a degree in Business Administration while simultaneously earning a degree in Baking & Pastry Arts from St. Louis Community College, Lia Holter began building Made. by Lia one order at a time from a small one-bedroom apartment. What started as a Facebook page in 2012 quickly grew into a thriving small business, supplying handcrafted pastries, desserts, and wedding cakes throughout the St. Louis area while steadily earning a reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and genuine hospitality.
In 2014, Lia's career reached a national stage when she won the final season of TLC's Next Great Baker alongside Buddy Valastro, better known as the Cake Boss. While the opportunity opened doors far beyond St. Louis, she chose a different path. Rather than leaving home to pursue opportunities elsewhere, Lia invested in the city and community that had supported her from the very beginning, continuing to grow Made. by Lia into a brand rooted in family, craftsmanship, and meaningful human connection.
That dream eventually found a permanent home in Old Town Florissant, where Made. by Lia has become far more than a neighborhood bakery. It has grown into a gathering place where handcrafted pastries, family traditions, and genuine hospitality bring people together every day. From custom wedding cakes and nationally recognized pastries to seasonal celebrations, community events, and everyday conversations over coffee, the bakery reflects Lia's belief that food has the power to create lasting memories.
That same philosophy inspired the release of Made. by Lia: Everyday Craft Baking on September 4, 2025—a project that transformed years of recipes, family traditions, and bakery favorites into a cookbook designed to live on kitchen counters for generations. More than a collection of recipes, the book captures the story of a baker, a family, and a community that continue to grow together.
Made. by Lia has never been simply about baking. It is a story of perseverance, craftsmanship, family, and community—a story that continues to unfold every day. This collection preserves one chapter of that journey through the moments, people, and experiences I have had the privilege of documenting along the way.
