MAGGIE’S ABERFOYLE KITCHEN

Visiting Maggie’s Aberfoyle kitchen is like stepping into your granny’s house when you were little – the delicious smell of home baking fills the air and any intentions of being ‘good’ evaporate.

You’ll find Maggie in her kitchen behind the counter, whipping up the next batch of delights to acccompany your afternoon cuppa.

Maggie’s life long love of baking comes from her mother, Cathy. Growing up on the farm, she learnt the baking and farmhouse preserving skills passed down through the generations.

After suffering ill health for over 20 years, Maggie decided to follow her dream and open her own business providing home baking and lots more beside.

She started small, attending local Christmas fayres to see how her products were received – the feedback was brilliant and she started a regular stall.

Maggie said: “I always make sure that the quality of what is produced remains at the highest standard. There are no microwaves and no mixes used. Everything is made in small batches, from scratch using raw ingredients.”

In spring 2019 demand from her baking had grown so much that she opened her own shop in the centre of village, employing three local people – Brenda, Helen and Nicola.

Maggie said: “I wanted it to be an experience, not just a shop. There’s a kitchen built into the shop where I make all my products. Customers can see me making up the cakes, biscuits, jams, chutneys and tarts as they browse. My shortbread and clootie dumplings are firm favourites with locals and visitors alike.”

After a successful first year, Maggie’s business like many others was hit by Covid-19 closures but with ongoing support from locals, local hospitality businesses and UK postal orders she hopes to keep on baking her way through and beyond lockdown.