The Boys Who Bake

By MATTHEW MEYER | Reporter

An ever-expanding group of fifth-grade boys at the Village School are rolling up their sleeves in the kitchen to make a difference, baking delicious treats and selling their wares at stands around the Westside to help benefit those in need.

They’ve dubbed themselves “Boys Who Bake,” complete with self-designed T-shirts, and they’re Pacific Palisades’ latest charitable force.

From their first two weekend farmers market stands (one at the Palisades market, then one in Brentwood) they raised nearly $1,800 for UNICEF Puerto Rico, aiding in the hurricane relief efforts.

More recently, they set up a stand at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center, this time to raise funds for the fire recovery effort in Northern California.

They’ll continue to hold stands about once each month, and the Boys Who Bake are now open to membership for all of their fifth-grade Village School peers who want to get involved.

Six of the group’s eight or so core members visited the Palisadian-Post after school last week: Max Tollman, Max Bienstock, Alex Jennings, Cole Kaller, Carter Sutherlin and Chase Beal. They were a boisterous bunch.

Asked which of their items—baked by the boys themselves with a hand from parents—are the most popular, the cries of “cookies!” were unanimous.

They were particularly proud of the Puerto Rican flag cookies they created by printing the design on rice paper. But chocolate chip was voted the tastiest.

Most of the boys said they hadn’t previously had an interest in baking, but that it wasn’t too hard to create simple recipes with basic ingredients.

Asked if they ever sample their own supply, the boys briefly demurred, before admitting through laughter: “Only sometimes—but we always donate for what we eat.”

More seriously, the boys said that the effect of their work has made an impact on them.

They fondly remembered some of the most positive reactions they’ve received from passerby—including a Puerto Rican couple that was particularly touched by their efforts.

“There was such a wonderful, warm response from people who were walking by,” Tollman’s mother, Miranda shared.

And it’s been a growing experience for the boys in multiple ways: “As parents, the skills that they’re learning, watching them explaining what they’re working for … it led to all sorts of different discussions.”

The junior bakers told the Post they’d take turns selecting a new cause for each of the following months, potentially raising funds for cancer research and treatment next.

No matter the issue, both their intentions and treats will be undeniably sweet.