For Char Miller, baking is more than a business. It is a family tradition, a creative outlet, and now a way to bring something sweet to the Lake Forest community. In 2023, Char began creating desserts for friends and family and soon decided to turn her passion into a business. That idea became Sweet Charlotte’s Confections LLC, a home based bakery creating everything from seasonal treats to homemade breads.

Sweet Charlotte’s Confections can be found at farmers markets, pop-ups, hospital fundraisers, school events, parties, or even those days when you simply need something delicious to make an “awful Monday” a little better. The bakery offers cookie cakes, cookie kits, brownies, sourdough breads, cinnamon rolls, and plenty more.

Char’s goal is to create treats that keep customers coming back. Sometimes that means trying the latest food trend, and other times it means making something that tastes just like grandma used to make.

That connection to family recipes runs deep for Char. She was fortunate to grow up with an incredible baker and cook for a grandmother, affectionately known as Oma, who taught many members of the family how to bake. To this day, the family agrees that there is no better cherry pie than Oma’s. Both of Char’s parents were also wonderful cooks, and her uncle worked at a local St. Matthews bakery. As a little girl, Char thought he had the best job in the world because he always smelled like doughnuts.

Her love of baking eventually led her to Sullivan University’s Culinary School, followed by time working at a bakery. Those experiences helped turn a childhood appreciation for baking into the business she has today.

For anyone in Lake Forest looking to try their hand at baking, Char has some simple advice: find a great recipe and make it your own. And when searching for inspiration, she recommends starting somewhere especially meaningful: Grandma’s old recipe box.

Char and her husband, John, have lived in Lake Forest for about two years, although John’s parents have been part of the neighborhood for more than 30 years. The couple has been together for more than 30 years and has four children. Their family has also grown in a very special way recently, with three precious grandchildren joining the family in the last two years.

Char describes herself as a true “Army brat.” Born in Germany, she spent her childhood living and traveling in many different places. When asked where she is from, her answer is fitting: “I would say that I am from everywhere.”

And while baking may be at the heart of Sweet Charlotte’s Confections, Char has another passion that has become part of her life in Lake Forest: animals. She loves most dogs, cats, and horses because, as she puts it, “They give the best snuggles and don’t talk back.”

The Millers no longer have pets of their own, but that has not stopped Char from getting plenty of animal time. She has become one of the neighborhood pet sitters, and she loves having the opportunity to play with and care for her neighbors’ furry friends.

In fact, Char has a confession: “I may be better at pet sitting than baking some days.”

Whether she is whipping up a batch of cinnamon rolls, creating a special dessert, or getting some four-legged cuddles from a neighbor’s pet, Char is clearly finding plenty of ways to share her talents and her heart with the community.

Ready for something sweet? Learn more about Sweet Charlotte’s Confections at Sweet-Charlottes.com or call 502-500-7568.