Sisters Mackenzie and Taylor Mahlinger began selling sweet treats at the Owensboro Farmers’ Market in 2017 and have successfully grown year after year. Southern Secrets Bakery started as a way to help pay for Taylor’s college tuition and is now also helping Mackenzie further her education.
“When we started selling here we just had one small table, but it grew into something really big and we have a good customer base now,” Mackenzie said. “At the beginning we had a home-based processing license, but now we’re in a commercial kitchen.”
The sisters make and sell a wide variety of cakes, tarts, and other treats using locally sourced ingredients.
“One of the things that sets us apart is that we use locally sourced ingredients, such as eggs and blueberries we grow ourselves,” Mackenzie said. “We try to keep our products rustic and natural.”
Not only are their desserts made with fresh and local ingredients, but Mackenzie said they’re also made with joy, which translates to happy customers that return week after week.
“We enjoy being able to create something that impacts the community in a positive way,” Taylor said. “It always amazes us to see that our pastries are a part of so many gatherings, special celebrations, and ‘just because’ occasions.”
Since the Mahlinger sisters don’t have a storefront location, they hold their booth at the Farmers’ Market to a higher standard, which doesn’t go unnoticed by the public.
“We’ve always tried to create the feeling of a shop with our booth’s design, so we emphasize quality customer service and try our best to make customers feel like family when they visit our booth,” Taylor said. “Our goal has always been to create high-quality pastries and desserts that are accessible to everyone, so we’ve kept our prices the same as when we started.”
Southern Secrets has recently gone beyond the customer base of the Farmers’ Market by partnering with Brew Bridge downtown to provide items for their dessert menu, such as bourbon bread pudding that utilizes local bourbon.
“We’re excited to create a seasonal, rotating dessert menu that has something for everyone, and that Brew Bridge’s customers will enjoy pairing with their variety of local beers,” Taylor said.
To keep up with Southern Secrets Bakery and learn more about the products they sell, visit their Facebook Page here.
