Running a bakery is no easy feat. And while locals love to get their sweet-treat fixes, more often than not, there are years of baking experience, early mornings, and hard work behind every bite. Nestled in the heart of Harrington Park’s downtown area at 88 LaRoche Avenue is Lori’s Mixing Bowl. It’s a cozy, woman-owned, perfectly pink bakery with a whole lot of heart and hometown pride right here in Bergen County. Read on for more about Lori’s Mixing Bowl in Bergen County, NJ.

Photo Credit: Lori’s Mixing Bowl

About Lori

Lori Lupardi is a born and raised New Jerseyan who grew up in nearby Closter, NJ. Baking was something Lori always enjoyed, whether it was to partake in family traditions with her mom and grandmother, or just whipping up cookies or cupcakes for friends at school. As the years went on, baking continued to be a fun hobby for Lori. When her mom noticed that there was a very special skill beginning to shine through, she let Lori know that baking could be a professional endeavor for her, informing a young, teenage Lori that culinary school could be an option if she wanted. After that, the rest was history, and a career in baking was Lori’s dream.

Photo Credit: Lori’s Mixing Bowl

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Thanks to the support of her family, Lori went on to study Baking + Pastry Arts at Johnson & Wales University, graduating in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science. After school, she landed a job at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida, where she proudly worked in the pastry department, providing desserts for restaurants and events on property until the pandemic brought her back to New Jersey.

When things felt like they had fallen apart, Lori stayed positive, taking whatever work she could get at local bakeries, putting her past experience to good use, and taking everything as a learning experience. And little did she know, all of this would help her gear up for what would come in the future, aka Lori’s Mixing Bowl, which officially opened in August of 2024.

Behind The Bakery

Before the bakery, Lori ran a baking blog titled Lori’s Mixing Bowl, which was a fun way for her to share recipes and form a portfolio of her work. When it came time to prepare the branding for her bakery, she knew just what to name it to create a full circle moment.

Photo Credit: Lori’s Mixing Bowl

Lori’s Mixing Bowl is an exemplary vision of a family-run business. Lori shared with BG that her family’s deep entrepreneurial roots have been a key part of bringing her business to life. Her family owned and operated a popular Bergen County staple, Lupardi’s Nursery, for over 70 years, and were able to put their talents to good use when Lori needed a hand.

While Lori handles all of the decorating, baking, and main admin work, the behind-the-scenes operations are a family affair. Lori’s dad does deliveries and even works the counter from time to time; her uncle helped with painting the interior;  her mom, an accountant, helps with bookkeeping; and her sister creates the hand-painted window art and even designed the bakery’s logo. Lori shared that she is so grateful for her family’s hands-on support throughout this entire experience.

 

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Customers at Lori’s Mixing Bowl rave about her iconic chocolate chip cookie recipe, cake pops, French macarons, and adorably decorated sugar cookies. The bakery has rotating monthly menus available for pre-order or walk-ins during retail hours on the weekends. Aside from the usual tasty treats, Lori’s Mixing Bowl is best known for its out-of-this-world custom designs. Whether it’s a dessert table for a birthday party, custom cookies for a baby shower, or a full-on wedding cake, Lori’s baking and decorating talents have no bounds, and she loves when clients give her creative freedom. Lori shared with BG that the customs at Lori’s Mixing Bowls cover all ranges, understanding that the luxury of custom desserts should be accessible for everyone, which is why she provides several options for multiple price points to fit different budgets.

Visiting Lori’s Mixing Bowl

 

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Lori’s Mixing Bowl is located at 88 LaRoche Avenue in Harrington Park, New Jersey, and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday through Friday, Lori works hard behind the scenes baking, decorating, preparing orders, and meeting with custom clients, while Saturdays and Sundays are dedicated to the public. From 10AM-3PM on weekends, customers can pop in anytime to try treats from the pastry case. Customers can keep up with Lori’s Mixing Bowl via Instagram, and patrons interested in custom orders can inquire here.