Life & Work with Liz Kruger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Kruger.  

Hi Liz, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved baking. My earliest memory is me and my mom in the kitchen, I’m in a high chair and she had given me a piece of pie crust to play with. Even through my school years, into adulthood, I always got excited to bake. Around the time I was 23 I seriously started considering opening up my own bakery, but also a place where you can play board games! It was going to be the perfect thing for me. I met my husband in 2018, and on our first date, we both mentioned we wanted to open a board game cafe! We’re now in the process of turning my Cottage Food Law business, Honey Bun Bakery, into a board game cafe here in Lansing. We’re just at the baby stages though! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely been a challenge, my main focus is doing everything I can from scratch, so I had to test a bunch of recipes and find the balance between them to make my own. Also planning my day and managing my time is a huge thing for me. I remember my first event, Lansing Pride 2019, I had started baking around 10 am and I didn’t finish until 5 am the next day! Me, my husband and best friend only got three hours of sleep that night but we all learned a lot and I’ve been improving since then, 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Baking is definitely a mix of different types of work. I’m an accountant, artist, PR/Marketing, Salesperson, and the list goes on! Currently, I’m specializing in breakfast/brunch baked goods such as cinnamon rolls and scones. But I also do a lot of other types of bakes too, such as pies, cupcakes, cookies, and some bread. A lot of people know me for my scones and cinnamon rolls though. They’re always the first to go at farmers’ markets and people have started calling me the “scone lady” at a few of them. I’m very proud of the confidence in myself that I have gained through the past 4 years of baking as not just a hobby. I used to doubt myself a lot, and I still do. I’m my biggest critic, but luckily, I have a wonderful group of people to support me. I’m always trying new things. I like to take a classic item and put a twist on it. My favorite one so far is a tahini chocolate chip cookie. It has a similar flavor to a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, but it’s not quite there. Also, a buckwheat cardamom chocolate chip cookie. 

What matters most to you?
The thing that matters most to me is baking something that will bring my customer a sense of nostalgia. My whole goal with baking is to bring people back to memories with friends or family, enjoying something delicious right out of the oven with a cup of coffee or milk. A birthday party that was the best you’ve ever been to. For me, those memories are everything, and whenever I hear someone tell me “These cookies tasted just like my grandma used to make!” but their grandma had passed away several years ago I just get so excited I was able to help them recreate a memory, or look back fondly. 

Contact Info:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/honeybunbakerymi