Fresh Face: Front Porch Baking Co.

Remember when we were all desperately trying to perfect our sourdough starters during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns of early 2020? Well, those in the know skipped the heartache and got their goods delivered directly from beloved local baker Kristen Richards. Front Porch Baking Co. was born when Kristen decided she’d offer contactless bread deliveries to pass the time and connect with her Lancaster neighbors during quarantine.

Kristen has been baking her whole life, learning at the apron strings of her German grandmother when she was a little girl and perfecting her craft at The PA School of Culinary Arts. She’s grown a loyal local following over the years, first as pastry chef at Pressroom and then as the lead baker at Bake House. During those gigs, Kristen loved perfecting her craft but missed the opportunity to see customers face to face and witness their reaction to her food. So she started offering “Cinnamon Bun Pop-Ups” on her Sundays off. She’d post on Instagram that she had baked fresh cinnamon buns and brewed coffee, inviting her friends and customers to stop by her porch for some conversation and baked goods.

That’s where the name for Front Porch Baking Co. comes from. Then, as Kristen delivered her breads to people’s front porches for contactless bakery experience, the name stuck. So when she found a beautiful storefront in Millersville and designed an open kitchen where she could greet her customers from behind the oven, she knew exactly what the business would be called.

“For me, being a part of this community is the biggest inspiration for Front Porch Baking Co.,” says Kristen. If being part of this community means we get to indulge in Kristen’s pastries, we’re happy to inspire her.

Find Kristen whipping up her fresh baked goods in her sunny storefront just outside the city every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 9–2 PM.