Our Story

Rooted in joy, built on butter

About Red Poppy Cakery

Red Poppy Cakery was established in 2019 out of a shared commercial kitchen in Burlington and a whole lot of love. We opened our brick and mortar space in 2022 in downtown Waterbury, VT. Pandemics and floods haven’t slowed us down one bit! Red Poppy Cakery is not a typical bakery. We are primarily a custom cake shop that offers bespoke dessert catering for celebrations. Most of our items are made-to-order with occasional pop up sales and freezer retail for walk-in traffic. 


In addition to baking FOR our community members, we also love to bake WITH our friends and neighbors. Red Poppy Cakery offers in person and virtual baking, cooking, and creative workshops all year round.


The bottom line is that we love to be part of celebrations big and small. We strive to make your loved ones feel seen, special and loved through our custom creations and experiences.

Janina McCue fell in love with baking and cake design in her early teens and declared she would one day open her own bakery at the age of 14. Since then, she has spent over a decade honing her craft by working in bakeries and cafes throughout New England, studying Entrepreneurship at Babson College, and always custom cakes for friends and family. She is passionate about spreading joy in her community through her passion for pastry and people.

About our founder

Window decal with a red poppy flower and text that reads "Red Poppy Cakery," "Since 2019," and "Making Celebrations Sweeter," surrounded by colorful flower shapes.
A woman wearing a colorful headscarf, red apron, and oven mitt, placing cookie dough on a baking sheet into an oven.
Two women in a bakery kitchen wearing red aprons and talking. One woman has purple hair tied up, the other has brown hair and is wearing a white cap. They are surrounded by baking supplies including muffin liners, metal bowls, and baking ingredients.
Exterior view of a building with a sign for Red Poppy Cakery, featuring a red poppy flower, and another sign for The Wine Vault with a wine bottle illustration. The building has white siding, a small flower bed with pink and green plants, and large windows with decorations inside. There are neighboring brick buildings, street signs, and outdoor furniture.

Press & Recognition