Third-Generation Baking · Austin, Texas
At Thompson's Hearth & Cakes, every loaf, layer cake, and buttery pastry is made completely from scratch in a kitchen that's been feeding Austin families for generations.
No preservatives, no shortcuts — just honest ingredients, old family recipes, and a warm oven that never goes cold.
House Favorites
The items our regulars drive across Austin for. Made fresh every morning, gone by afternoon.
Our crown jewel — six tender layers of vanilla sponge filled with house-made caramel buttercream and topped with a hand-piped rosette finish. Grandma Thompson's recipe, unchanged since 1968.
From $48
Laminated daily with cultured European-style butter, our croissants shatter at the crust and pull apart in soft, pillowy layers. Best enjoyed warm with a cup of drip coffee on a quiet Tuesday.
$4.50 each
Slow-fermented for 36 hours using a starter that Maggie has kept alive for over a decade. Earthy, chewy, and deeply satisfying — this loaf sells out by 11am on Saturdays. Come early.
$12 per loaf
Our Story
Thompson's Hearth & Cakes is the kind of bakery you find once and never forget. Founded by Maggie Thompson, a third-generation baker raised in her mother's kitchen, the shop carries on a tradition of made-from-scratch baking that stretches back more than sixty years in Austin, Texas. Everything here — every cake, every loaf, every buttery pastry — starts with real ingredients, measured by hand.
Maggie grew up watching her grandmother fold dough on this same kitchen counter, and her mother after that. When she took over the space, she kept the wooden rolling pin, the cast-iron proofing shelf, and above all, the philosophy: never rush, never cut corners, and never put something in a box you wouldn't be proud to hand to a neighbor. That warmth is baked into every single thing we make.
Our customers are mostly Austin locals — regulars who come in on Saturday mornings, teachers who order birthday cakes for their classes, and young couples who first walked in on a whim and now wouldn't dream of celebrating a milestone without us. We also cater weddings, baby showers, corporate brunches, and community events, bringing the same homemade quality to your occasion however big or small it might be.
No preservatives. No artificial flavors. No mass-produced shortcuts. Just flour, butter, eggs, time, and care — the same four ingredients that have always made a house smell like home. We believe that the best thing a bakery can do is make you feel, for just a moment, like someone made this just for you. Because here, we actually did.
Maggie Thompson
Third-Generation Baker
Austin, Texas
Fresh From the Oven
Every item made by hand, every morning, in Mom's old kitchen.
Saturday's Hearth Layer Cake
Fresh Brown Butter Croissants
Country Sourdough, Out of the Oven
Hand-Piped Celebration Cupcakes
Lemon Olive Oil Cake, Zest & All
Three-Tier Wedding Cake, July 2024
What Austinites Are Saying
"Maggie made the cake for our daughter's wedding in June, and I still get texts about it from guests. The caramel buttercream was so good people were asking if they could take slices home in napkins. I've since ordered two birthday cakes and a dozen croissants for a Sunday brunch. Thompson's is simply irreplaceable."
Sandra R.
Mother of the Bride · South Austin
"I started coming in on Saturday mornings for the sourdough and now it's the weekly ritual I look forward to most. I get there by 9:15 and pick up a loaf, two morning buns, and sometimes a scone if she has peach. The bread is unlike anything you'll find at a grocery store. It's real, and you can taste it."
David M.
Regular Customer · East Austin
"We hired Thompson's to cater the pastry spread for our company's quarterly offsite — 40 people, 7am start. Maggie had everything boxed, labeled, and warm when we arrived. The jalapeño cheddar loaf was the first to disappear. Half our team has since visited the bakery on their own. Five stars doesn't feel like enough."
Priya N.
Operations Manager · Downtown Austin
Come See Us
Popular items like sourdough and croissants often sell out by mid-morning on weekends. We recommend arriving early or calling ahead.
Austin, Texas
Call us at (512) 555-0187 for our full address and directions — we're tucked in a cozy neighborhood spot worth finding.
Get in Touch
Planning a wedding, shower, or corporate catering? Or just want to ask about availability? Fill out the form below and Maggie will get back to you within one business day.