Home baking is a piece of cake—at least, according to Libby Ryan.
Her business, Confections by Libby, is a one-woman, one-oven operation based out of the Overland area, with a portion of the proceeds going to a worthy cause.
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
The idea for the business began with a bake sale to raise money for a mission trip to Ecuador. “I had a lot of friends and family trust me with making some desserts that were way more complicated than I had ever made before,” recalls Ryan, who launched her business in summer 2017. “Through that learning process, I grew to love baking more and grew my skill set.”
Since the catalyst for her baking business was a fundraiser, it was only natural for Ryan that her company include a philanthropic aspect: 20 percent of proceeds go to The Covering House, a local organization that assists victims of sex trafficking under age 18. “I saw this as an opportunity to continue to give back in some way and to be a part of the solution,” says Ryan, who holds a master’s degree in counseling. “I’m hopeful that one day, in a different season of life, I can work with that population.”
For now, she takes just one or two baking orders each week to ensure that she can manage her business and care for her two children. Ryan does bake macarons and meringue cookies, though she typically sticks to cakes. “That is my favorite canvas to work with, so to speak,” she says. “I really love all the possibilities.”
Many of the ideas that Ryan incorporates into her cakes are inspired by other bakers’ creations posted on Instagram. “There are so many people out there with different styles who are willing to show how they achieve those different styles,” she says. “I’ve been able to grow a lot from developing friendships through that platform.”
One of the most memorable cakes she’s ever made: an interpretation of the cake made by a few well-meaning fairies in the original 1959 Sleeping Beauty cartoon.
It typically takes between six and eight hours to create a cake, depending on the decorations, she says. Is it difficult to hand off a cake to a client after spending so much time on a cake, knowing it will be consumed in far less time? “I get a lot of joy out of making them, but I also get a lot of joy out of people eating them,” she says. “Being able to make someone happy—even if it’s just for a second—makes me really happy.”
