Local baker dishes out artful desserts
Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
Anyone with a sweet tooth will be thrilled to learn of the delectable cheesecakes and pies being concocted by South St. Paul resident John Miller. The longtime baker opened a shop called Forever Cheesecakes and Pies on August 1. But wait, there’s no brick-and-mortar location quite yet. Those looking for his sweet treats must call or email to place an order and he’ll deliver them to your home.
Apple streusel, chocolate ganache and banana pudding are just a few of the popular New-York style cheesecakes on the menu. Each is decorated with different toppings, such as caramel drizzle or glazed fruit, and it all sits on tender crusts of either vanilla wafer or graham cracker. Other flavors include turtle, blueberry, Oreo, Cap’n Crunch Berry and the gluten-free Fruity Pebbles.
As the name suggests, a wide assortment of pies is available as well. You’ll find Key lime, lemon meringue and sweet potato, as well as mini cheesecakes, cheesecake bites and cake pops. Miller plans to offer cakes, cookies, muffins, bread and more in the future. A handful of the ingredients are grown in his large backyard garden.
“I’m not buying the cheapest thing [ingredients] I can get to sell and that’s what separates me from a lot of people,” said Miller, who noted that his creations are best enjoyed within a few days and that he can make any kind of cheesecake a customer requests.
love for baking while attending college in Wisconsin.
Miller is a Chicago native and Navy veteran who discovered his love for baking while attending Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin. After receiving a culinary degree he eventually founded a baking education program in Madison, which he operated for two years. It still functions today as JustDane. In 2015, he moved to Minnesota to help care for elderly family.
“I wanted to open a bakery when I first moved here but I didn’t know where I was going to do it and I didn’t know a lot of people here,” he said. “It was always on my mind.”
After a brief stint in construction, he decided to go for it earlier this year but had no luck finding a suitable location in South St. Paul. Fortunately, the owner of East Side Pizzeria in St. Paul, which he frequents, was willing to build a new kitchen for him next door to his location and allow him to rent it.
Miller’s wife Sara, a registered nurse and a cheese specialist at Lunds & Byerlys in downtown St. Paul, was going to be his primary bakery assistant but she sustained severe injuries in a recent car accident while commuting to work and is unable to work at this time. Miller is seeking another committed baker to join his team for the long term, and he’s willing to impart his knowledge on how to craft finnicky desserts.
He would one day like to open a storefront in South St. Paul but even then may only continue to make his treats to-order. Currently, orders must be placed 24-48 hours in advance. Cheesecakes go for $50 and pies $35.
“The bakery I had in Madison used to sell to churches and businesses and I want to get back into that,” said Miller. “I was going to three or four churches a week. I would fill my van all the way up…. I can make 48-96 mini cheesecakes at a time and they’re great for events like graduation parties.”
He is working on getting a refrigerated truck so he can carry more products for longer periods. Until he gets a truck he’ll continue delivering in his turbocharged Audi SUV. He’s also continually experimenting with new kinds of desserts, much to the pleasure of his 10 grandkids.
For more information or to place an order, call 608-212-7764 or visit forever
pies.com. Orders can also be picked up at his commercial kitchen at 1048 Payne Ave., St. Paul.
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