Britt Royal began her baked goods business with an inclusive vision: Everyone deserves great desserts, even if they are gluten-free. That philosophy animated her operation at the Kirkwood Farmer’s Market and is what underpins her Kirkwood storefront, where she served up a wonderful, celiac-friendly version of the St. Louis classic that’s just as good as those that use flour. 137 West Jefferson, Kirkwood.
The Cake Lady Deli & Desserts (formerly Zanti’s Deli)
For years, Robin Lieneke has been perfecting her gooey butter cake recipe, coming up with ever more creative offerings – fruity pebbles and s’mores flavors, for instance – with every passing day. After taking over Zanti’s Deli in 2025, Robin has been carrying on the shop’s legacy while infusing it with her buttery masterpieces. Now renamed to reflect her passion for baking, the shop is a gooey butter cake powerhouse, boasting over 100 unique flavors of the dessert, as well as her signature item, gooey butter “goons:” taking inspiration from crab rangoon, Lieneke stuffs wontons with gooey butter cake, then deep fries them to make a molten, decadent dessert. Who said you can’t improve on perfection? 181 Concord Plaza Shopping Center, Sappington.…