Walking into Hanna’s house is like visiting a good friend who’s been baking all day. She greeted us with a warm smile and her house smelled like sweet brown sugar, oats and honey and had a distinct warmth that you only find in a bakery. Lucky for her, she also calls it home.

I brought my daughter, Amelie -who’s 5- with me for this visit. She loved the smells and she really loved being my photographer (I can’t take any credit for the images above-all her).

Hanna moved into the house on Main St in Great Barrington 2 years ago. In the middle of reviving her baked goods business (that actually began back in 2007), she was hoping to find a rental with plenty of kitchen space, and a cooperative landlord willing to let her get it certified. Luckily, hers was ecstatic about having it done and Hanna began her ‘homemade’ venture.

She eventually hopes to open a retail location and later, maybe a cafe. But for now, she produces some of the finest baked goods around-available at the Co-Op, Guidos and various markets, including ours.

“The Sweetish Baker offers pies, galettes, cakes, granola, muffins, cookies and more! The integrity of the ingredients I use is of utmost importance: I believe the best ingredients deliver the best product. I emphasize the use of local agriculture by using local dairy and eggs all year round and local or regional fruits and vegetables as often as possible. All ingredients are always non-GMO if not organic.

In explaining the “Sweetish:” I often find the sweetness of many baked goods masks the natural flavor of many other ingredients, so I take it upon myself to showcase those flavors of the product by reducing the amount of sugar I add. I also offer several savory baked goods (of which are my personal favorite), and yes, I am part Swedish.” -from Hanna’s Facebook page

Photos- Amelie Whitehead