Meet Me at The Lanai

🎉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEKKI!!! FROM ST. DENIS MEDICAL  🎉 T his September, I had the joy (and challenge!) of baking a birthday cake for St. Denis Medical star Mekki Leeper . If you’ve watched the show, you know his character “ Matt ” has his fair share of quirky moments—but one of my favorites was when Matt broke out a full-on magic act for the talent show on Season 1 Ep13. It was unexpected, awkward, and completely hilarious… basically perfect birthday cake inspiration. Every cake I make is special, but this one was a chance to get extra creative—and I couldn’t resist leveling up with a buttercream transfer for the cake décor. Frosting + Funny Business = Buttercream Transfer To honor that magician moment, I found a still from the show, turned it into a cartoon rendering, and then recreated it on the cake using a buttercream transfer. Yes, you read that right—I basically painted with frosting. It involved mixing colors like I was back in art class, only this time the medium was sugar ...

This week’s St. Denis Medical crafty menu is filled with buttery goodness and a few fun twists. I’m mixing up the lineup and bringing shortbread cookies into the spotlight. Each one is tender, crumbly, and melts in your mouth in that classic shortbread way—but with flavors that take them to the next level. And just wait until you meet the brand-new Biscoff Cinny Roll !! Whether you’re searching for gluten free cookies, a fresh take on shortbread, or a cozy artisan cinnamon roll, this week’s menu has something warm, delicious, and homemade: Gluten Free Cherry Chocolate Shortbread  🍒 GF Cherry Chocolate Shortbread with Melted Chocolate Drizzle A tender gluten free shortbread cookie that brings together the tartness of dried cherries and the richness of chocolate. To finish, a swirl of melted chocolate drizzle adds an elegant touch. Perfect for anyone craving a little indulgence without the gluten. Macadamia Shortbread with White Chocolate Drizzle 🌰 Macadamia Shortbread with White C...

  Introducing: The Lanai Cottage Bakery Corporate Cookie Jar  Been wanting to do this one for a while … and now it’s officially here: The Lanai Cottage Bakery Corporate Cookie Jar ! Think of it as your new office BFF, quietly waiting in the breakroom, stocked with freshly baked cookies. It’s the perfect mix of “cottage home cozy” and “yes, I’m actually excited about the office kitchen.” And let me tell you, this isn’t just any jar. It’s a clear glass beauty with a wooden cap, the kind of thing that gives your office breakroom an instant glow-up. Think: clean, country, cozy… like a little piece of cottage charm parked right next to the coffee machine. Because let’s be honest—cookies taste better when they’re served out of a jar that looks like it belongs in your grandma’s kitchen (but chic enough to fit in a modern office). What’s Inside 🍪 Each jar fits two dozen cookies—because one dozen is never enough. 🍪You pick four flavors from the menu each week. 🍪Each cookie is indiv...

Birthdays are like sprinkles—there’s no such thing as too many, and they make life sweeter. This summer wrapped up with three very different (but equally delicious) cakes leaving my kitchen: a Gluten Free Tres Leches , a Coconut Cream Cake , and a Hostess Cupcake Cake . Each one came with its own story, flavor adventure, and honestly, that’s why I adore baking custom cakes—every one comes with its own challenge, and its own little piece of happiness. Gluten Free Tres Leches Cake When a client told me the one cake he missed most after going gluten free was Tres Leches, I knew it was time to try something new. This was my very first attempt at making a gluten free version of this iconic dessert, and let me tell you—I had way too much fun. I followed this recipe as my guide, and what I loved most was watching the sponge cake do its magic. The moment it soaked up that glorious trio of milks (evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream), it felt like science and art in one pan. I may or may not...

One of the things I love most about running my cottage bakery is that there’s always something new to learn. Cake decorating, like any art, is endless—you can always discover new techniques, refine your skills, and find fresh inspiration. Recently, I had the chance to take a piping workshop at The Sweet Spot Workshop , led by the wonderfully talented decorator and instructor, Mia.  Mia has a gift for teaching. Her classes are fun, welcoming, and completely pressure-free—exactly the kind of environment where creativity flows. She breaks down complex piping techniques into easy steps, guiding you through each design until you realize, hey, I actually did that! This particular class focused on succulent and plant-inspired piping designs, which was both a challenge and a joy. We explored a variety of piping tips and methods to bring these little buttercream beauties to life: 💚 Rosette Succulents: Using a star tip, we piped layered spirals that mimicked the plump leaves of an echeveri...

💚From The Lanai kitchen To Their Celebrations: August’s Birthday Cakes🎂 🌟 August has been one of those months where my kitchen feels less like a kitchen and more like a nonstop celebration. It seems half the world has birthdays in August — and honestly, I couldn’t be happier, because nothing makes me feel more at home than baking cakes that will become part of someone’s special day.🌟 This month, peanut butter and chocolate were the stars of the show. The first was for Sarah Stouffer , a dear friend of St. Denis Medical’s  star Kayhun Kim . Sarah also happens to be someone I had the joy of working with on a Christmas movie years ago (A Cinderella Christmas — what a cozy little full-circle moment!). The cake was a deep, rich chocolate base, layered with silky chocolate ganache that melts in your mouth, and then covered with the dreamiest peanut butter buttercream you can imagine — light, creamy, and just the right amount of nutty. I decorated it with dainty gold sugar pearls an...

While the St. Denis Medical crew gets back into the swing of TV magic, I’ve been cooking up my own set of plot twists — all starring butter, sugar, and a dash of summer mischief.  Strawberry Pretzel Rice Crispy Treat, Star Crunch Rice Crispy Treat This week’s menu is equal parts summer sunshine and “let’s try something new just because we can.” 💚Here’s what’s coming fresh from the Lanai cottage kitchen: 🍥 Jumbo Cinny Rolls Our signature cinnamon rolls, big enough to share… but let’s be real, you won’t. 🍑 Peach & Jumbo Cobbler Cinny Rolls Like summer and comfort food fell in love and eloped in my oven. 🍫 Rice Crispy Treat Variety (most GF) Cookies are taking a break, so I’m serving up six crispy, chewy stars instead: 🌟Brown Butter – Classic, but with a grown-up twist (and a nutty, toasty flavor that says “I’m sophisticated” while sticking to your fingers). 🌟 Strawberry Pretzel – Sweet, salty, and a little retro. 🌟 S’more – Campfire nostalgia without the mosquito bites. ...