Our Story

A Taste of Love and Legacy

Hi my name is Rüt! Cooking has always been my love language. To me, there's something extra special about the warmth of the oven, the sweet aroma filling the air, and the joy of sharing a baked treats made from the heart. But my journey with tea cakes is more than just a passion—it’s a story of love, loss, and legacy.

It all began in my Mother’s kitchen, where I found joy in baking my Father's favorite cookie—tea cakes. As his caretaker, I cherished every moment we spent together, using the simple pleasure of a homemade cookie to take his mind off the daily battles of Parkinson’s disease. Each batch was more than just a flavorful mixture of ingredients; it was a moment of comfort, a reminder of better days, and an unspoken “I love you.”

When I lost my father in 2022, I felt an emptiness I couldn’t quite fill. Grief weighed heavy, but a gentle nudge from my mentor led me back to the kitchen. "Bake," she said. "Do it for Dad." And so I did—pouring my heart into every batch, honoring his memory with every golden bite.

What started as a way to heal soon became something bigger. A local nonprofit fundraiser opened the door to a beautiful realization—people didn’t just love my tea cakes; they needed them. They reminded them of home, of grandmothers in flour-dusted aprons, and simpler times filled with love and laughter. Encouragement poured in, urging me to bring back the beloved tea cakes that once graced country kitchens with their humble perfection.

But even with all the praise, I wrestled with a fear of failure—until I learned something extraordinary. My Grandmother (my Father's Mother's), a Mother of 10 children in 1947, once ran a thriving side business baking and selling cookies to her neighbors. The very foundation of my love for baking was rooted in her story, a legacy I never knew existed. It was then that I realized this wasn’t just my journey—it was our journey.

And so, Tea Cake Anonymous was born. A "home" for those who cherish the memories of a warm kitchen and the comforting embrace of a perfect homemade cookie! While I honor the rich traditions of Southern tea cakes, I’ve also added bold, creative twists—because every legacy deserves a fresh chapter.

Whether you're reminiscing about sweet childhood memories or creating new ones, I invite you to the taste of love and legacy—one cookie at a time.