Sponsor Spotlight: The Crusty Cottage

By Josh Hudson

Everyone knows that nothing beats the smell of freshly baked goods. Whether you are craving warm bread just out of the oven or delicious cookies and pastries, The Crusty Cottage at Lake Oconee is the place to go.

The Crusty Cottage was founded in April of this year by Savannah Cathey, whose love and newfound passion for the art of baking took her by surprise. In fact, Savannah had never in her wildest dreams pictured herself opening her own bakery. “My path was supposed to look very different,” states Savannah. “Believe it or not, I’m a professionally trained opera singer who fully intended to go the distance with music, but God had other plans (isn’t that how it goes?). In June of 2024, while pregnant and battling cravings for all the things I probably shouldn’t eat, I decided to try my hand at sourdough. I set to work with a sourdough starter from scratch, hoping to create bread and carbs that felt a little more wholesome. I’d always heard how much ‘work’ sourdough was, so I was apprehensive but also very determined.”

“My first loaf was… pitiful. Truly pitiful,” she continues. “But I kept going, and with every attempt, I got a little better. By Christmas, I was baking loaves good enough to gift to friends and family, and that’s when my mom suggested I try selling them. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—I wanted to stay home with our girls, and baking gave me the chance to do that while still sharing something meaningful. I guess you could say I traded singing for sourdough. And in a way, the rhythm of kneading dough, the patience of waiting for it to rise, and the joy of sharing it with others feels a lot like music. It’s another way of creating something beautiful that touches people’s lives.”

The Crusty Cottage specializes in delicious breads and bakery goods that are always made from Sourdough. This sourdough is a homegrown wild yeast made completely from scratch, and everything is naturally fermented. The Crusty Cottage sells regular and flavored sourdough breads, traditional and flavored cinnamon rolls, scones, and lots of different cookies (our bestsellers). The Crusty Cottage also adds more to their menu weekly, and they recently began offering beginner Sourdough classes.

“At The Crusty Cottage, everything begins with the simple joy of baking from the heart,” adds Savannah. “We may not have a storefront, but that hasn’t stopped our bread and cookies from becoming community favorites. In fact, our loaves sell out week after week, and our cookies are loved for their homemade charm. What sets us apart is the care we put into every batch. Our sourdough is nurtured with time and patience, using wholesome Non-GMO ingredients and a natural starter, just like it’s been done for generations. Each cookie and loaf carries a little piece of that slow, thoughtful process, and our customers can taste the difference.

Savannah currently does all the baking herself, and she is also super grateful for the help of her husband and family for all they do to help the business prosper. Though The Crusty Cottage has no plans to open a storefront, they do plan to expand further by moving to a bigger facility built specifically for the bakery and by having goods sold all over the community. Already, they have products in Scratchers Creek Market, The Meat Locker, and Compassion Cafe & Tea.

To give back to the community, The Crusty Cottage donates any leftover baked goods to those in need. They also recently donated a deep freezer and a stove. "One of our missions is to give back in whatever form is needed. We also have our own new mission on the horizon called ‘Buy a Loaf, Give a Loaf.’ At this time, our small kitchen can’t bake that much bread, but in the next year, we plan to expand and get it started. God doesn’t call the prepared. He prepares the call. We believe that if God puts it in our focus and we have the means to do it, then it will get done.”

Testimonials

“I had an incredible experience at this sourdough bakery, and I can't recommend it enough! The selection was truly impressive, making it hard to choose just a few items. I started with their delectable, salted chocolate chip cookies—rich, gooey, and perfectly balanced in flavor. The sourdough oatmeal pies were a standout, chewy with a deep, satisfying richness and just the right touch of sweetness.” – Ashley P.

“The Crusty Cottage’s Sourdough Blueberry Lemon Scones are delicious. For Easter Week, I’m looking forward to her sourdough Hot Cross Buns! For my Athens and Northeast Georgia friends, Savannah does drop-offs of her sourdough creations to Madison and Greensboro!” – Mike M.

“The Jalapeno cheddar bread and the everything but the bagel bread are amazing!!! Savannah is very talented and very knowledgeable about the ingredients! I highly recommend The Crusty Cottage!” – Erin M.

The Crusty Cottage isn’t just about baked goods; it’s about comfort and connection. We love knowing our bread ends up on family tables, in lunchboxes, or shared over coffee with friends. Even without a shop door to walk through, our cottage kitchen has become a place where community is baked fresh, one loaf at a time.

The Crusty Cottage
Phone - (706) 817-6218
Website - https://msha.ke/thecrustycottage