LillyBean by PastryBase

The creme de la creme of all-natural baking

LillyBean Wonderful Waffle/Pancake Bundle (Vegan & GF!)
Photo Credit: LillyBean by Pastry Base

Sprinkle-studded unicorn cupcakes, pizza dough, pancake mix, and gooey, white-chocolate blondies — but make it gluten-free, and vegan. While stripping the sweet and savory treats down to the basics while maintaining a delicious taste seems like a feat, baker extraordinaire Jill Donaldson has successfully stepped up to the mixer and faced the challenge.

Founder Jill Donaldson
Photo Credit: LillyBean by Pastry Base

The founder of LillyBean by PastryBase first started baking with her Sito, or grandmother, in Arabic. Those early moments would frame the foundation for Donaldson’s rising future. A Florida native, she began working in the food and beverage industry in high school, later graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in entrepreneurship. Following, she attended L’Academie de Cuisine, a culinary school near Washington D.C. for a Pastry Arts Program. Working in James Beard Award-winning restaurants and bakeries in Miami, Nashville, and Washington, DC, Donaldson describes the decade of time learning and baking before starting her own business as invaluable.

“It was during these 10 years of working around all of the food allergens all of the time that I started connecting some personal health issues with food intolerances, and adjusting what I was eating and buying from the grocery store for myself,” she says.

Donaldson began to realize that many of the gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives on the shelves fell short, either lacking the desired flavor or texture.

“I wanted my food to taste like the real thing,” she says.

A firm believer that people of all dietary backgrounds should be able to indulge how they please, without sacrificing taste, Donaldson officially launched PastryBase in 2016 from her little apartment kitchen. The goal was to create a growing line of baking products that were completely allergen-free, making it quick and easy for people to bake from home for their families, regardless of any food limitations.

“I want folks to be able to make one batch of pancakes, scones, pizza crust, or cupcakes that their whole family will enjoy, and not have to single out the person with the food allergy to get a "special" (maybe less delicious) treat,” Donaldson explains.

Opting for a space in people’s pantries rather than a brick-and-mortar bakery, Donaldson began selling the mixes online and at area farmers markets, eventually connecting with Ellwood Thompson’s.

"Ellwood Thompson's was the very first retail store that gave me a shot on the shelves back in 2017, and I will be forever grateful for that,” she says. “This was back when we were making each product label by hand, so needless to say the "look" of the products wasn't the greatest. But Ellwood's is so committed to supporting local and saw our vision, and decided to give us a shot.”

Recognizing a amazing product when they saw one, and drawn to the use of ingredients such as vegetable colorants and organic fondant, raw sugar, real vanilla beans and non-GMO aluminum-free baking powder, the partnership was natural. LillyBean can now be found at Ellwood Thompson's, in all 50 states, and internationally in the UK, Canada and the Middle East.

LillyBean Happy Holiday Baking Kit Bundle
Photo Credit: LillyBean by Pastry Base

Filling a serious nutritional niche, Donaldson says a good portion of products that are part of Pastry Base’s expansion are direct requests from retailers for items that aren't available in store.

“Our gingerbread house village kit was the first commercially available allergen-free and chemical dye-free gingerbread house kit that I know of, and one of our retailers asked us directly if we could develop this product because they saw such a need for it,” she explains, noting the holiday kit is a best seller. “I love being able to develop new recipes and products; it's my favorite part of what I do.”

LillyBean Gooey Blondies Mix (Vegan & GF!)
Photo Credit: LillyBean by Pastry Base

One of PastryBase’s most popular creations is the gooey blondie mix, taking home the Best New Product award in its category back in 2019 at the New York Fancy Food Show, even beating out “regular” (non gluten-free or vegan) baking mixes.

But for Donaldson, her go-to confection will always pack a little nostalgia. “My personal favorite is our chocolate cupcake mix; it's based on my grandmother Lilly's chocolate cake recipe and is so fudgy and delicious,” she says. “It's definitely one that you can't tell is gluten-free or vegan.”