Introducing to the Chicago North Shore Moms community the mother-daughter duo behind Luxe & Lilac, custom floral cupcakes that are as delectable as they are beautiful.
If you’ve ever wished your dessert table could double as a flower arrangement, meet the mother-daughter duo making that dream a delicious reality. Robin Ross and Elizabeth Holland, both as creative as they are professional, founded Luxe & Lilac, a Glenview-based small-batch cupcake company where every cupcake is crowned with bespoke buttercream floral designs that are as decadent as they are exquisite. Robin brings decades of professional culinary expertise — from Levy Restaurants to Kraft Heinz — while Elizabeth channels her lifelong passion for art, pottery, design, and composition, making them the ultimate creative partnership. Together, they’re turning life’s special moments into edible works of art, one petal at a time. Welcome Elizabeth and Robin!
Photo credit: Nicole Thomas
Pictured above Elizabeth Holland and Robin Ross, the mother-daughter duo behind Luxe & Lilac
Hi Elizabeth! Tell us about your family. What does motherhood look like in your house these days?
Elizabeth: Motherhood to two incredible boys while running my own company is messy, chaotic, loud, at times intense but most of all, absolutely beautiful. And it wouldn’t be what it is without the unwavering support of my husband, my parents and the community of friends we made here in Glenview and the North Shore. In fact, my mom and dad moved to Glenview as well so that they could be more of an integral part of raising our boys. I am beyond blessed to have such a caring and nurturing support system by my side while raising our boys.
What’s something about you that might surprise people—outside of your work and mom life?
Elizabeth: Ever since I was young I loved to draw and paint. When I got older, I fell in love with pottery wheel throwing. I’ve taken drawing lessons from both an artist and at the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s when I am drawing, painting or at the wheel that time flies by and I am truly in my happy place. I think my eye for composition, color and detail comes from my love of drawing and painting. My whole family is very creative. My mom is an avid knitter. My dad loves to write books. And we all play musical instruments in our spare time!
Where are your go-to spots right now?
Elizabeth: Our family’s favorite spots are the Chicago Botanic Gardens, the docks at the Glenview prairie and grabbing breakfast at Georgie V’s. For date nights my husband and I love having dinner at Guildhall and walking over to the Writers Theater to see a show or heading downtown to try a new restaurant. While I love going out and trying a new restaurant, I also love having friends and family over for dinner and a game night.
My parents have been longtime donors to Ravinia. Our summers are full of family and friends as we enjoy evenings on the lawn soaking in wonderful music of all kinds.
It’s time to get down to business! Your cupcakes are truly little works of art. Please introduce Luxe & Lilac.
Elizabeth: We are a mother and daughter team: chef and designer. Together we work to create stunningly memorable cupcakes for life’s special moments.
Luxe & Lilac is equally about art and taste. My mom, Robin, is the culinary guardian of great tasting food experiences whereas I am the committed designer and artist. But at the end, we share the same passion: to create perfect cupcakes beneath perfectly artful buttercream floral designs.
Photo credit: Neil Burger | Pictured above: Luxe & Lilac Blooms
Do you both have a culinary background?
Elizabeth: My love for food came from growing up in a family centered around the kitchen. My mom’s blondies and rich brownies have my heart. My special memories surrounding baked goods are a big inspiration behind Luxe & Lilac. Our family is big on homemade birthday cakes. The tradition started with my grandmother who would always make her “famous” banana cake with chocolate chips to celebrate a family member’s birthday or her Heath Bar cake when we were celebrating my mom.
My mom, of course, has actual professional culinary training. She started her career at the Levy Restaurants eventually becoming a Managing Partner and then went to Kraft where she was the culinary department lead and instrumental in recipe and product development. So, our skills are complementary; I lead the design process and she makes sure the quality and consistency are there.
Pictured above Elizabeth Holland and Robin Ross, the mother-daughter duo behind Luxe & Lilac
Take us back to the moment Luxe & Lilac first became “real” for you both. What made you realize this was more than just a hobby, but something special you wanted to build together?
We officially launched Luxe & Lilac in January of 2021. We are a very creative family and are frequently brainstorming new business ideas. Most get caboshed by one or more of our family members. Others we have pursued for a bit but then lost steam along the way. This one seemed right from the beginning.
Fun and challenging at the same time, the model enables us to work closely together with our individual talents complimenting the entire process. Our first key objective for Luxe & Lilac was to create something both beautiful and delicious at the same time. Something that combined my art expression and my mom’s culinary expression in a unique way. As a family, connecting over food and creating memories has always brought us closer and given us much joy. So, our second objective was to try to help others create these types of moments with our floral cupcakes. It’s really important to us. Whether it be for a welcome home, a happy birthday, wedding shower or a large gathering during the holidays. Connecting over food with a sweet and happy sharing experience.
Photo credit: Neil Burger | Pictured above: Luxe & Lilac cupcake Bloom
We are continually honing our piping skills, adding new flowers and color palette creations as we go. We have a ton of ideas ruminating right now as to what could be next for Luxe & Lilac. One that we currently launch is our Private Party Floral Piping Workshop! We listen to our customers for ideas and are always scoping out what could be next. We’re having fun and learning as we go.
Elizabeth, you’ve shared that you were looking for something just for yourself during the busy season of motherhood, and Robin, you were coming off an incredible corporate culinary career. How did starting this business help each of you rediscover yourselves in new ways—as women, creators, and partners?
Robin: My heart truly bursts with this question. It’s an honor to be able to work with my daughter on this venture. I’m so blessed and lucky. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Elizabeth is so creative, competent and is always bursting with ideas and ready to try and tackle anything and everything. I love and appreciate her energy. I have a bit more of a methodical approach. I’ve learned that through my years with The Levy Restaurants and Kraft Heinz. But that’s the beauty of our relationship. We build on each other and respect our varying thoughts and approaches. But to be honest, we are blessed to have the help, support and cheers from other family members as well. Each has given us their time, energy and ideas to help make Luxe & Lilac what it is today and what it could be down the road.
What do you want our readers of small businesses to know that we have not already covered?
Elizabeth: We are a small local business and we do what we can to help support and contribute to our community. We will continue to do that as much as our small business allows. We have donated to several entities and organizations that are near and dear to our hearts. For example, Glenview Fire Station 13, The Family Service Center, Glenview Public Safety Dispatch Center to name a few. We feel so very thankful and blessed. We have met so many wonderful people along this journey. We’ve had amazing support from family, friends and past colleagues as well as wonderful customers who have trusted us to provide something beautiful and delicious at their special celebrations. We are grateful to our first timers, one timers and folks that come back to us over and over again.
Photo credit: Neil Burger | Pictured above: Luxe & Lilac cupcake Bloom
What should our readers know about lead time for ordering?
We kindly ask that you place your orders at least 7 days in advance of your preferred pick-up date and 14 days in advance if you are looking to order 50 or more cupcakes.
Do you take custom requests?
Yes! We take custom requests for both color palette and floral designs.
What’s one of the most exciting orders you’ve had so far?
Elizabeth: This is a hard question because we’ve fulfilled so many exciting orders! We love working and bringing our client’s visions to life. Whether that is matching color palettes or florals, we truly love being a partner in this process.
A couple weddings come to mind. We had a very lovely couple who wanted a meadow of sunflowers as part of their sweet table spread. We not only had the honor of decorating their cake, but also making them cupcakes with our piped sunflowers filling the room for all their guests to enjoy.
For another wedding, frogs seemed to have a significance in their relationship. They wanted our cupcakes instead of a cake so we piped lily pads and added small little frogs as a homage to their wish.
One last celebration that really stood out was when our jumbo cupcakes were place settings for a The Bachelor themed engagement dinner. We piped beautiful individual white roses for each guest. And…..she said “Yes”!!!
Give us your dets! Where can we connect, ask questions and order cupcakes?
Our website: www.luxeandlilac.com
Our email address: [email protected]
Follow us on IG: @luxeandlilac
Facebook: /LuxeandLilac
About Our Spotlight Partner
Chicago North Shore Moms is supported in part by Mary Gregory Gifford, a Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
Recent Meet a Mom features from Chicago North Shore Moms
Meet Tami Levy & Debbie Glickman of Glickman Levy Residential
From Diagnosis to Devotion: Meet Lake Forest Mom and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Lacey Lemke
Meet Ellen Castellini, Needlepoint Guru and Founder of Ellen Elizabeth Stitches!
How a Rare Diagnosis Sparked a Wellness Movement — Meet Betsy Scher of Glow & Gather
