Inspiring Conversations with Caroline Weingart of Lizzie’s Bakery Nut Free

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Weingart.

Hi Caroline, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Lizzie’s Bakery Story: I started Lizzie’s Bakery Nut Free, in honor of the two Lizzie’s in my life: my Mom who passed away in January 2021 and for my daughter and people like her with peanut and tree-nut allergies.

In January 2021, while sitting hospice with my Mom, I began researching nut-free bakeries in the area, or rather, the lack of them. During this challenging time, I spent hours going through my Mom’s recipes, including her infamous ginger molasses cookie recipe. She had written “Caroline’s Favorite” on the recipe card! This was the first recipe I made, sharing it with my family and my Mom’s caregivers. The feedback was very positive. Today, it is one of our top sellers at the Shaker Square North Union Farmers’ Markets.

An online cookie decorating class in February 2021 led to lots of cookies for family and friends. In April of 2021, I incorporated Lizzie’s Bakery LLC and enrolled in the Baking and Pastry Arts Program at Cuyahoga County Community College.

2022 and 2023 were full of exciting farmers markets, custom orders and pop-ups. In August 2023, I signed a lease for a space in Shaker Heights. We built out the space for our commercial bakery and café and had our Grand Opening March 24, 2024. We continue to bake custom cakes, cupcakes, decorated sugar cookies as well as gourmet cookies, breakfast items such as coffee cakes, scones, muffins and breakfast tarts and cinnamon rolls every Sunday.

We are still part of the North Union Farmers Market and are doing 4 markets a week (our 5th year). We are looking to expand our wholesale business and currently partner with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, The Coffee House (on CWRU campus), Café Indigo, and Cleveland City Hall Coffee Shop.
We are also growing our wedding and special events division and are uniquely positioned as the only nut free bakery in Northeast Ohio.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I started the bakery in my house as a cottage food business. There were many late nights decorating cookies and packing cookies for markets. At one point both of the cooling units on my Thermador ovens died–I was prepping everything in my kitchen and then driving to my best friend’s house to bake everything. Thank goodness for friends!!

Some markets were slow and then you have doubts about your products. Juggling the different aspects of a small business was hard and is still hard.

As you know, we’re big fans of Lizzie’s Bakery Nut Free. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lizzie’s Bakery Nut Free is a dedicated, peanut- and tree-nut-free commercial bakery and café located in Shaker Heights, Ohio. We specialize in creating scratch-made, high-quality, delicious desserts that are completely safe for individuals with nut allergies.

We are best known for our vibrant presence in the local food scene—from our weekly stalls at the North Union Farmers Market to supplying wholesale treats to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) Trail Mix stores. We handle everything from everyday café favorites, like our signature scones and tarts, to specialized, elegant wedding consultations and custom tier cakes.

What truly sets us apart is the rigorous standard of safety we maintain as a dedicated nut-free facility, combined with a deeply personal, family-driven mission. Before diving into the culinary world, I spent several years practicing law, working as a part-time relocation project manager and guide and raising our three children.

Transitioning to a commercial bakery required precision, dedication, and a structured approach to business leadership—qualities that now define how we scale our wholesale operations, manage our team, and professionalize our client services.

Additionally, we treat our community and clients like family because we are a family business; my husband, daughter, and two sons have all stepped in to support our growth and operations.

Brand-wise, I am incredibly proud of our ability to marry strict food safety standards with true culinary excellence. A major milestone for our brand was my completion of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga Community College. It allowed us to refine our operations and lay the groundwork for an ambitious e-commerce expansion, ensuring we can soon ship our safe, nut-free treats to families nationwide.

I am also deeply proud of the trust we have built within Northeast Ohio. Whether we are hosting local high school seniors for their capstone projects or designing an stress-free wedding tasting for a couple with severe allergies, we are proud to be a brand that brings people together safely.

We want your readers to know that “nut-free” does not mean compromising on indulgence. We offer a full suite of services, including custom wedding cake designs, specialized dessert bars, and wholesale partnerships.

More than anything, we want people to know that Lizzie’s Bakery is a place where everyone can pull up a chair, share a treat, and celebrate life’s moments with total peace of mind.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
When I was running the bakery out of my home I listened to audiobooks and podcasts all day long–How I Built This, The Forager Podcast, Sugar Cookie Marketing Group Podcast, The Daily, and the local NPR radio station.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lizziesbakerynutfree.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizziesbakerynutfree/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizziesbakerynutfree
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineweingart/