Some bakeries chase trends. Mother Dear's Bakery in Zachary is built around one thing: the teacake, made from a family recipe that goes back to a sharecropping household on Cedars Lane in St. Francisville.

The Family Behind the Name

"Mother Dear" was Susie Barrow Morgan, wife of Earnest Morgan Sr. and mother of 11 children. According to the bakery's own history, she loved baking teacakes, worked for years in food service for the West Feliciana school system, and served as a deaconess at St. Peter Baptist Church in St. Francisville. Earnest Morgan Sr., known as Papa, farmed and worked construction and was a deacon at Historic Afton Villa B.C.

Owner Deborah Morgan is the 11th of those children. She remembers watching her mother mix, roll out, cut and bake teacakes, sampling the dough along the way. She is also an evangelist, a gospel radio host and a children's book author.

What to Order

Teacakes are sold in sets sized for snacking or gifting, as listed on the online store:

Pack of 2: $5

Pack of 4: $10

Decorative boxes of 6, 8 or 10: $15, $20 and $25

Gift box of 12: $28.75

The store also lists a lemon cream cheese and a lemon blueberry cream cheese option, with ordering by phone. Online orders can be set for pickup or shipping, and the bakery takes special orders, party favors and catering requests by phone with advance payment.

Hours and Location

Mother Dear's Bakery is at 4257 Church Street, Suite 103, in Zachary. It is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Sundays. Teacakes are available on-site until they sell out for the day, so earlier is better. Online orders are picked up by appointment, and you'll get an email when yours is ready. Call (985) 235-0343 or email [email protected].

With holiday gatherings coming, a decorative box makes an easy hostess gift.

Photo courtesy of Mother Dear's Bakery.