Many bakers claim their secret ingredient is love, and for Vanessa Liguori, owner of Arianna’s Bake Shoppe, that definitely holds true. A home baker with a certified kitchen, Vanessa spent years baking delicious treats for her loved ones before taking their advice to spread the love by selling her homemade delights.
A former teacher, Vanessa transitioned out of her educational career following the births of her daughters, Aria and Gianna, finding enjoyment in time spent with her family. Despite this, she also wanted something that was just for herself. Ultimately, she found it in her kitchen. With the encouragement of her friends and family, she opened Arianna’s Bake Shoppe in 2022. In the years since she’s grown to be a local favourite.
“It’s what I love to do; it’s been a passion of mine,” shares Vanessa. “I took a chance three years ago in January, and so far, it’s been great.”
Along with being the Bake Shoppe’s namesake, Vanessa’s daughters are a source of inspiration and motivation. As a woman-run business, her goal is to set an example for her daughters to “follow their dreams, take risks, and do what they love.” Of course, they also have an important role to play in Vanessa’s product offerings, serving as testers for new products.
The menu includes a wide variety of traditional bakery items, including cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, and sourdough boules. Still, in a town filled with bakers and dessert makers, Vanessa has carved out a niche for herself by offering “healthy treats” and gluten-free offerings.
“I’ve been gluten-free for over 10 years, so I wanted to come up with a menu that those who are also gluten-free could enjoy – I know it’s hard to come by,” explains Vanessa.
When creating a menu for those with gluten sensitivities, Vanessa’s priority was making sure each item was just as delicious as standard items. In fact, some of the most popular items on the menu are her gluten-free bagels, available in six unique flavours. Sweet lovers can also find gluten-free versions of Vanessa’s beloved zucchini muffins, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and cakes. Another popular pick? Flourless brownie muffins and carrot oat bars – both part of her menu of healthy sweets.
Alongside her standard menu and seasonal offerings, Vanessa also gives back to the community with special-themed treats. For Pride Month, she offers rainbow buttercream-filled sandwich cookies and donates a portion of the proceeds to Pflag Halton, an organization that works to build safer spaces for queer and trans folks. Often, you can also find her desserts at events near and dear to her heart, including the Halton Women’s Place fundraising gala.
“That makes you feel really good – it makes you continue to push and do things for other people – they love it because I love it, right?”
For Vanessa, the community support goes both ways. Throughout her three years in business, she has built a loyal following of repeat customers, giving her the confidence to continue growing her bakery.
“Those consistent people coming back because they enjoy my baked goods means more to me than getting just 100 one-offs – that’s something that I pride myself on,” shares Vanessa. “I’ve learned to be able to take on more as the years have gone on. In the beginning, I kind of played it safe, taking only a few orders because I wasn’t sure how long it would take me.”
While she’s happy with Arianna’s Bake Shoppe’s success, she dreams of one day opening a brick-and-mortar location. For now, she plans to continue focusing on her family while providing her cult classic treats from her home kitchen.
As for her daughters, they might just end up following in her footsteps.
According to Vanessa: “I asked my youngest, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and she said ‘I want to make sourdough.’”
Interested in trying some of Vanessa’s baked goods for yourself? Stay tuned for her upcoming seasonal goodies, including special Easter and Pride Month cookies, or explore the full Arianna’s Bake Shoppe menu on Instagram and Facebook.
