Bake a Way Today

05/03/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month has me thinking about how healing can show up in the smallest ways. Sometimes it’s a conversation. Sometimes it’s feeling seen. And sometimes… it’s someone handing you a slice of cake. 🤎

As a therapist with a heart for baking, I’ve learned that desserts are rarely just desserts. Baking creates comfort, connection, and a way to care for people when words don’t always come easily. There’s something powerful about giving something homemade to remind someone they matter.

“You bake for a reason.”

This month, I hope we all find small ways to show up for each other. With kindness, softness, or even just a slice of cookie and cream cake.

05/02/2026

Watching the bakers carry their cupcake boxes out of this week’s sessions with huge smiles was the best part of our week. 🧁💛

This week at Bake a way, the kitchens were filled with every kind of cupcake flavor, frosting, and creativity you could imagine. Some kept it simple, some went all out, but every baker left knowing they created something from start to finish.

There’s such a strong sense of accomplishment that comes from baking. Following the steps, problem-solving along the way, and finally seeing the finished product reminds teens they’re capable of more than they think.

That’s what Bake A Way is all about, helping them make a way for themselves, one recipe at a time. 🥹

Scroll through to see some of the incredible flavors our bakers created. From mixed berry cheesecake and banana pudding cupcakes to chocolate pretzel and peach oat cupcakes. We really made it all.

Erie Center for Arts & Technology
Inner City Neighborhood Art House

04/25/2026

This week in one of our Bake A Way workshops, we made raspberry cream and Oreo cream pies. One of our bakers shared he hadn’t baked since 6th grade. Now a senior, he stepped in, took the lead, and found his confidence again.

You could see the shift as the class went on. He was smiling more, moving with confidence, standing taller, looking calmer… and at the end, he said he was proud of his pie. 🥹

In case you didn't know, there’s real science behind it. Hands-on activities like baking help build confidence by strengthening problem-solving skills, creating a sense of accomplishment, and even boosting mood through feel-good brain chemicals.

That’s what this space is about. A chance to try, to be supported, and to realize: the secret ingredient to success is already within you.

Erie Center for Arts & Technology

04/16/2026

New group, new energy, and something special happened in the kitchen today at Erie Center for Arts & Technology.

While we were making no-bake cookies (chocolate PB + Biscoff 😍), one of our bakers opened up about being an introvert. One by one, everyone shared that they, too, feel more on the introverted side. It could have stayed quiet… but it didn’t.

Instead, something shifted.

The kitchen became a space where those “introvert” labels softened. There was laughter, spontaneous conversation, people offering help without being asked, sharing ideas, and even a little playful chaos. These are all traits we often associate with being an extrovert. Yet, every single baker showed glimpses of that today.

It was a reminder that we’re never just one thing. With the right environment (safe, creative, anddddd a little messy) we can all access different parts of ourselves.

The kitchen didn’t just make cookies. It made space for voices, confidence, and connection to grow. New group, new energy, and something special happened in the kitchen today. 🤎

Of course, we are always using local ingredients when possible. Pot O Gold Dairy Specialties Inc. 🥛

04/16/2026

🎉🎊🥳

Good morning friends!

Our business card winners of the week for our 38th Street location are...Bake a Way Today AND Sweets by Meriska!!

Congratulations! Please make sure to call our catering number at (814) 456-8098 to pre-order your free dozen bagels for you and your coworkers. 😊 Redeemable this week only!

04/13/2026

Bake away the heavy.

Not everything needs to be solved today. Some things just need warmth, patience, and a little time to soften. So I let the oven do its quiet work, baking chocolate chip cookies.

Turning something so simple into something comforting, reminding me that I can do the same.

Healing isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s this. Choosing to stay, to breathe, to keep going in small, gentle ways.

Bake away the heavy… and like spring, trust in new beginnings, in softness returning, in lighter days finding their way back to you. 🍪🤎☀️

03/24/2026

In the BAW kitchen, we practiced grounding.

Bakers tuned into their 5 senses while making funfetti and s’mores cookie sandwiches.

Sight: Bright sprinkles and gooey marshmallow layers coming together.
Smell: Sweet vanilla and toasted marshmallow.
Touch: Soft cookies and sticky, melty chocolate.
Sound: The hum of the mixer and laughter filling the room.
Taste: Sweet, gooey layers.

A reminder that being present can turn something simple into something meaningful.

03/16/2026

Calling all teens!

Need a break after school? Come hang out and bake with us! Join Bake Away Today for a 3-week class for high schoolers on April 14, April 21, and April 28 at Erie Center for Arts & Technology.

Baking is a great way to de-stress and reset after a busy school day. Measuring, mixing, and creating something from scratch helps you slow down, stay in the moment, and take a break from school pressure, phones, and everything else going on.

No experience needed! Just come ready to bake, chat a little, and have some fun.

Sign up here: https://www.hisawyer.com/erie-center-for-arts-technology/schedules/activity-set/1837102?source=semesters

03/10/2026

Layers on layers on layers… and a whole lot of patience.

At Bake A Way, our bakers created two poke cake beauties: Oreo and Strawberry Crunch. Each one built with care: the cake, the filling, the topping, and the final garnish. Every layer mattered.

The lesson? We’re layered too. Each experience, strength, flaw, and moment adds to who we are becoming. And just like baking, rushing the process only ruins the recipe. Patience ISN’T optional, it’s part of getting the outcome just right.

Real moment from today: one of our bakers dropped his slice of cake on the way out of the kitchen. He mentioned to me that would’ve normally ruined his whole day. But he paused, laughed, and reminded himself that he’s learning to be patient, especially when things don’t go as planned and mistakes happen.

One layer at a time. 🤍

Inner City Neighborhood Art House

02/26/2026

This week at Bake a Way, our bakers made peanut butter pie and strawberry cream pie. While the kitchen smelled amazing, the real work was happening in the conversations.

We focused on healthy communication. How to say what you mean without snapping, how to actually listen, how to ask for help when needed, and how to handle small kitchen stress without it turning into big drama.

The kitchen got busy and loud, but it was also thoughtful and supportive. It’s pretty amazing what can happen when you give teens a safe space, some ingredients, and a little guidance.

What flavor would you like to enjoy?

Inner City Neighborhood Art House

02/16/2026

Did you know that spending time creating in the kitchen can boost creativity and problem-solving skills? There’s something powerful about turning simple pantry staples into something new.

This week, our bakers were challenged to make two different Rice Krispy treats using only pantry ingredients. The results? Maple Cinnamon and Chocolate Peanut Butter (pictured).

The kitchen isn’t just a place to follow recipes. It’s also a space to explore, experiment, and express yourself.

What flavor would you try?

Inner City Neighborhood Art House