Amanda Keefe of Middle River, MN, is the heart and hands behind Cedar Homestead, a cottage bakery nestled just three miles east of town in Cedar Township. With six children, a busy family farm, and a deep-rooted love for homemade food, Amanda’s days are full— but she’s found joy and connection in sharing her passion for baking with others. “I have always enjoyed anything cooking and baking. It’s really my love language,” Amanda says. “Some of my warmest memories growing up were watching my parents and my grandma in the kitchen. It always felt like the heart of where everyone gathered and memories were made. And I wanted that for my family.” Her passion for wholesome ingredients and feeding her family well led her to start gardening—her garden now measures approximately 40x80 feet (and grows a bit bigger every year). From canning vegetables to making her own seasonings and broth, Amanda hasn’t bought a can of salsa, spaghetti sauce, or broth in over four years. That same passion grew into Cedar Homestead, a licensed cottage food bakery. Amanda has been baking since she was younger, learning from her dad, who always enjoyed baking. In 2023, she started her first sourdough starter. “After several attempts to get her thriving, she finally took off! I have been making bread ever since.” Her best sellers include Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl, Sourdough Double Chocolate, Sourdough Jalapeño Cheddar, Sourdough Dill Pickle, and Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. She recently added Sourdough Pepperoni and Mozzarella, which pairs perfectly with her homemade marinara sauce. Amanda posts weekly specials on her Facebook page and adds popular items to her website menu. “I do take custom orders! I enjoy trying something new. I usually ask that I have two days' notice to prepare.” She offers porch pickup, delivery, and regularly attends events. “I just did an event. I showed up with 55 loaves of sourdough bread and sold out.” While the bakery is new—she celebrated one year in March— it’s already taken over parts of her home. “Two of my closets have become designated just for my baking and packaging supplies,” she laughs. Still, Amanda wouldn’t trade it. “What I love most about running my bakery is that it allows me to be home with my children during the time that they need me home the most. Being a stay-at-home farm mom can be isolating at times, especially if you’re a sociable person. So it allows me to connect with others in my community. I really enjoy meeting new people.” While Amanda doesn’t have a particular story tied to one recipe, she shared that her Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls took a lot of trial and error to get just right. “I wanted it to be fluffy and soft. I’d never feel okay selling something that I myself wouldn’t love.” Amanda offers seasonal specials for every holiday. For St. Patrick’s Day, she featured Sourdough Beer Bread, and for Easter, she made sourdough Easter Bunnies and cookie boxes. Coming up, she plans to offer Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Brunch Boxes and will be at Garden Fest at Klasen’s Greenhouse in Holt on June 5th. “I believe all local bakeries are special. I fully support any of my fellow bakers who like to share their craft with others,” she says. “What I can say about my bakery is that I come from a generation of bakers. If there’s something I do not offer, I will try to make it, and if for some reason I can’t, I will help you find someone who can.” And if she could bake for anyone? “Ok, so this might sound silly. But I love Reba McEntire! I’d cook that woman anything! HAHAHA! She just seems like such a hardworking, honest woman with a good heart. I’d love to meet her one day.” Above all, Amanda’s grateful for the connections she’s made. “I feel very blessed to be able to share this craft with others, and I’m so glad others have enjoyed it. I hope this is something I can pass on to my children as the next generation of bakers and homesteaders.” You can find Amanda and Cedar Homestead on Facebook, by texting (218) 684-0398, or by ordering online at https://bakesy.shop/b/cedarhomestead.
