Sweet Dreams and Soulful Slices: Erica’s Love Bug Pie Company Takes Off in Caldwell

In the cozy kitchen of a Caldwell, Idaho, home, something more than just pies is being baked — dreams are rising, one crust at a time.

At just 16 years old, Erica, a 10th grader at Idaho Technical Career Academy (ITCA), is launching her own pie-baking business: Love Bug Pie Company. The name, inspired by Erica’s childhood nickname “Bug,” perfectly captures the warmth and charm she brings to her new venture. With a mission that goes beyond making desserts, Erica is blending purpose, passion and family into every pie.

She comes from a family that knows hard work. Both of Erica’s parents are wildland firefighters, recently traveling to California to battle blazes. It’s a life that requires grit and resilience — traits Erica is channeling into her business.

A Recipe for Purpose

Erica’s love of baking is more than a hobby — it’s part of a larger plan. She dreams of becoming a radiologist and has already begun saving for college. Her mom, Dawn, a former restaurant owner from Nebraska, is her biggest cheerleader. “She can complete her work and move on to follow whatever dreams she has,” Dawn said, praising the flexibility ITCA provides. That support has allowed Erica to balance school, sports, and now a budding business.

To fund her education, Erica and her mom have turned their shared love of baking into a family enterprise. Each pie they create is crafted with precision, taking up to four and a half hours, while cheesecakes may require a full 15 hours. The pricing — about $30 a pie plus a delivery charge — reflects the care and artistry that goes into each dessert.

A Taste of Home, A Touch of Heart

Decorating pies isn’t just about presentation; it’s an art form at Love Bug Pie Company. Dawn is teaching Erica hand brushing and airbrushing techniques to make each dessert visually stunning. Erica even adds fresh flowers from their home garden as edible décor.

“This isn’t about feeding your belly; it’s about feeding your soul,” Erica said.

That philosophy is evident in the family’s long-standing tradition of service. From providing Veterans Day meals at the American Legion in Nebraska to baking for a couple who lost their home in the Chico, Calif., fire, giving through food is in their DNA. “We talk about acts of service, and one way is to bake and provide meals,” Dawn said.

More Than a Baker

Despite her busy baking schedule, Erica is anything but one-dimensional. She’s a D1 volleyball player, hopes to return to softball and is diving into leadership roles at school. As a first-year delegate in FFA, she hopes to compete in horse judging, and she’ll serve as vice president of ITCA’s BPA chapter next year.

Academically, she’s excelling too — earning all A’s and B’s last semester and working hard to qualify for scholarships.

Looking Ahead

The Love Bug Pie Company is just getting started. With a live website and a summer devoted to refining their business plan, Erica and Dawn aim to build momentum once fire season ends in August. Their family’s strength and commitment — to each other, to service and to big dreams — are evident in every pie they produce.

“Baking is just calming,” Erica said. And with every lovingly crafted dessert, she’s offering a little calm, a lot of heart and a whole lot of inspiration to her community — and beyond.

Erica proves that with passion, perseverance — and pie — anything is possible.

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