Revamped bakery heats up just in time for Thanksgiving

Doesn’t it seem that fresh sweets made from scratch at family-run bakeries always seem to taste better than their store-bought counterparts? There’s undoubtedly something to those generations of love and dedication that are kneaded into each piece of dough, and baked into each piece of cake that result in incomparably delicious goods.

Such is the case at Larry’s Bakery, where brother-and-sister duo Lance Yafuso and Iris Yafuso-Toguchi continue to run the family business that their late father, Larry, started in Waimalu during the 1960s. Not only do they continue to pour their hearts into many of Larry’s original recipes, but they also ensure the business keeps growing.

Yafuso-Toguchi says the latest benchmark is transforming the current Lawehana Street window-front shop to a larger walk-in store. After some delays in the construction process, she is excited to announce that the storefront will reopen Tuesday, Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving.

“We’ll have more products than before,” says Yafuso-Toguchi.

This means there’s no time like the present to place orders for Larry’s Thanksgiving specials. The charming bakery’s assortment of pies is ideal for any Turkey Day gathering — especially its light and airy 8-inch refrigerated pies: Pumpkin Chiffon ($10.50) or Cranberry Chiffon ($10.50). These special creations only are available during Thanksgiving, and were the founder’s cherished recipes.

When describing Cranberry Chiffon, filled with chunks of raspberry J-ello, tart cranberry, mini marshmallows and whipped cream, Yafuso-Toguchi says, “That’s my dad’s specialty. The people who try it, every year they’ll buy it.”

Banana Cream ($10.95; available year-round) refrigerated pie also lights up the holiday, as do an array of 8-inch deep dish pies (available year-round). Among the choices are Custard pie ($9.25), baked with the perfect creamy consistency, and tried-and-true Pumpkin ($9.25). Offering the best of both worlds, Pumpkin Custard ($9.25) features decadent layers of both of these irresistible fillings, while Coconut Custard ($9.25) delights with local flair. Deep dish pies prepared with a crust on top, as well as the bottom, also are available for $9.95 each: Apple, Apricot, Coconut, Peach, Pear and French Apple.

Other items perfect for the season are Rolls by the Dozen ($13.95) — Parker House or Butter — as well as festive shortbread cookies with light sugar fondant decorations. This year, Larry’s Bakery’s Thanksgiving cookies take on the shapes of fall leaves ($2.50 each), pumpkin pies ($2.50 each) and festive turkeys ($3 each).

Thanksgiving orders are accepted until Saturday, Nov. 22 for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 26 only. Items are available on Thursday, Nov. 27 on a first-come, first-served basis. Larry’s Bakery goods also can be found at Kapolei’s farmer’s market from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, as well as Momilani Community Center’s farmer’s market in Pearl City from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays. Follow Larry’s Bakery on Instagram and Facebook (@larrysbakery; facebook.com/larrysbakery) to find out about upcoming craft fair appearances, specials and more.

Larry’s Bakery

4369 Lawehana St. B2, Honolulu
422-0059
Nov. 18 to 22: Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon; Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
From Nov. 25: Tuesday-Friday, 6 a.m.-noon Saturday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thanksgiving hours: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, 6-10 a.m.
Closed Sundays, Mondays
Note: Larry’s Bakery will be closed Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, and will host special holidays hours Sunday, Dec. 21 to Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 6 a.m. to noon. The shop also will be closed Jan. 1-12, 2015
larrysbakery.com