That’s the idea behind Rookie Farm Bakery, a family-run, made-from-scratch bakery in Millerton. Opened in 2019 by Amy Laurie and her daughter Jessica, this incredibly delightful bakery is a love letter to the two women’s memories growing up in the Hudson Valley, baking with Amy’s grandmother. 

Before launching their venture, Amy and Jessica tested out ideas outside the Amtrak station in Hudson, giving out samples from trays brought from home. They decided on cookie tarts — not as sweet as a cookie but denser than cake. Baked in small batches onsite every morning by Amy, the flavors reflect the women’s childhood favorites: Chocolate Chunk, Peanut Butter Crunch, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Toasted Cinnamon and Confetti. Unsurprisingly, each flavor has its own dedicated, and passionate, following.

“For us, it’s personal,” Amy says. “Today, everything is big box stores, with food wrapped in plastic. I didn’t grow up that way, my kids didn’t. We’re not trendy, we want people to have the memory. It’s hard work doing it by hand but when you do, people really appreciate it.”

As for the name, the farm part recalls Amy’s years owning chickens and baking with their eggs, and Rookie is a mashup of her two dogs’ names, Raymond and Cookie. 

To know more, visit Rookie Farm Bakery’s website: www.rookiefarmbakery.com.

By ML Ball

One bite and you’re a kid again.