By six in the morning, people are already showing up for pastries in this tiny Iowa town. Wait much longer, and some of the best trays may be gone.
That alone made me curious. The bakery opens just two mornings a week, yet regulars know exactly when to arrive.
Kolaches are the main attraction, with soft dough and generous fruit fillings. Cinnamon rolls and other baked treats disappear quickly too.
There is a reason people plan ahead for this little counter. If you want the full selection, an early alarm suddenly feels like a pretty fair trade.
Let’s start with the morning rush and the pastry everyone seems to be chasing.
A Tiny Town With A Big Morning Rush
The line was already forming when I arrived just after six, and nobody looked grumpy about it.
People held travel mugs, chatted about the weather, and peeked through the glass at the trays.
My first thought was simple. Any place that gets folks out of bed this early on a weekend must be doing something right.
The bakery sits in a quiet little town, surrounded by farmland and open sky. It is the kind of spot where the owners wave at regulars by name and ask about their kids.
What makes it feel so special is how small and personal it is. A family runs the whole show, and you can feel that the moment you reach the counter.
Seating inside is limited, so I planned to take my treats to go. That turned out to be a smart move, because the room filled up fast.
You will find this morning magic at My Moms Bakery Llc, 1665 Dows St, Ely, IA 52227, in Linn County, Iowa, United States.
The Kolache That Started It All
Soft, round, and slightly glossy, my first kolache looked almost too pretty to bite. That feeling lasted about three seconds.
A kolache is a Czech pastry made from sweet yeast dough with a pocket of filling pressed into the center. Czech immigrants brought the recipe to eastern Iowa long ago, and the tradition is still going strong around Cedar Rapids.
Here, the dough is tender and fluffy without being heavy. It pulls apart in soft strands, and it tastes lightly sweet instead of sugary.
The real surprise was the filling. There was a generous scoop of it, thick and fruity, and it tasted homemade rather than canned.
Many kolaches I have tried elsewhere are mostly bread with a tiny dab of fruit in the middle. These flip that problem around, so every bite gets some filling.
I ate one in the car before I even started the engine. Then I went back inside and bought another, which seems to be a common habit among customers.
My advice is to get a mix of flavors on your first visit. You will quickly figure out your favorite, and then the real planning begins for next time.
Flavors Worth Fighting Over Politely
Choosing just one flavor felt like a pop quiz I had not studied for. The case was full of colorful centers, and each one seemed to call my name.
Poppy seed is the old-school favorite, and it is a must if you want a classic taste. The filling is dark, nutty, and slightly sweet, with a texture that feels rich without being heavy.
Strawberry rhubarb is one current favorite, while recent selections have also included peach, cherry, and other fruit fillings that can change from visit to visit.
Fruit fans will find plenty of other options too, and the lineup can change from week to week. I asked the staff for suggestions, and they gave honest, helpful answers without rushing me.
A good tip is to grab a half dozen and split them with someone. That way, you can taste several flavors without eating six pastries on your own, although no judgment here.
I left with a box that held poppy seed, strawberry rhubarb, and a couple of fruit flavors. By lunchtime, only crumbs remained, and my family was already asking about next Friday.
Consider this your gentle reminder to pack an extra napkin.
Cinnamon Rolls With Serious Swirl Power
Kolaches may get top billing, but the cinnamon rolls quietly steal the show for plenty of regulars. I found that out the tasty way.
My roll was big, soft, and wound tight with cinnamon sugar in every layer. The icing melted into the grooves, so each bite stayed sweet and a little gooey.
Then I spotted the caramel pecan rolls, and my self-control packed its bags. They are sticky, nutty, and loaded with buttery caramel that clings to your fingers.
Pecan rolls have a small but loyal fan club here. Some customers call them the best they have ever had, and I would not argue with that after my visit.
These rolls tend to vanish almost as fast as the kolaches. When I asked about them later in the morning on another trip, the tray was already empty.
My strategy now is to order one roll with my kolaches every time. It makes a great treat for later, if it survives the drive home.
Pair one with a hot coffee, find a sunny spot, and take your time. A good roll deserves a slow, happy breakfast.
Savory Slices For The Late Crowd
Showing up late does not have to mean leaving sad. I learned this lesson on a morning when the kolache tray was nearly bare.
The quiche saved the day. It had a flaky crust and a creamy egg filling that felt hearty without being greasy.
Regulars seem to know this trick well. More than one person has comforted themselves with a slice when the sweet pastries were gone.
Beyond quiche, the bakery offers cookies, bars, and other goodies that change from week to week. Pumpkin bars have become very popular lately, with a moist cake and smooth frosting that tastes like autumn in a square.
I grabbed a pumpkin bar for later, and it was gone before my afternoon errands were done. It turns out I have no willpower when frosting is involved.
Having both sweet and savory options makes this spot easy to love. You can bring a mixed box to a family gathering and please almost everyone.
If sugar is not your thing at breakfast, the quiche is a filling choice. If sugar is absolutely your thing, the bars are waiting right beside it.
Two Mornings A Week And Worth The Wait
Mark your calendar, because the window is short.
My Mom’s Bakery currently opens only on Friday and Saturday, from 6 AM to 11 AM.
That unusual schedule is part of the reason regulars know not to sleep too late.
Kolaches are especially quick to disappear. Recent customers repeatedly recommend arriving before 8 AM if you want the strongest chance at a full selection, while other sweet treats can sell out as the morning moves along too.
That does not mean a later stop is hopeless. Quiche, bars, rolls, and other rotating baked goods may still be waiting when the kolache trays start looking bare.
Still, my rule would be simple: arrive near opening if there is one particular pastry you absolutely want.
The good news is that Friday and Saturday mornings give the place a rhythm of their own. Locals know the drill, visitors learn quickly, and the counter stays busy while the rest of Ely is barely getting started.
Five extra minutes of sleep are nice.
A warm kolache is nicer.
The Preorder Trick Smart Locals Use
Sleeping in and still getting kolaches sounds too good to be true. Luckily, it is completely possible here.
The owners openly encourage customers to call ahead and preorder. Their phone number is 319-551-0331, and they also respond to messages on Facebook.
One visitor from out of state messaged on a Thursday evening and had a box waiting on Friday morning. That kind of quick response is rare, and it shows how much the family cares.
I tried it myself before my second visit. My order was boxed, labeled, and ready when I arrived, and I skipped the worry about empty trays.
Preordering is especially handy during busy seasons. Graduations, weddings, and family gatherings keep the ovens working overtime, so big orders need a heads-up.
A dozen kolaches also makes a great office treat. Coworkers tend to crowd around the box, and at least one person will ask where they came from.
My best advice is to place orders the night before, especially for weekend trips. It takes the stress out of the early dash.
Plan ahead once, and you will wonder why you ever raced the sunrise.
A Family Recipe Full Of Heart
The name makes a lot more sense once you know the story.
My Mom’s Bakery opened in downtown Ely in 2018 after Grace Bahr told her son Kevin that, if she were twenty years younger, she would open a bakery of her own.
Kevin Bahr and his partner, Sherri Gillick, took that idea seriously.
They built the bakery around Grace’s collected recipes and the baking lessons she had passed along over the years, including the patience and care that went into making them.
Even after the business opened, Grace continued helping during busy holidays and pie-order seasons.
That family connection gives the shop more substance than a cute name above the door.
Kolaches, cinnamon rolls, caramel pecan rolls, pies, and other treats all grew from the same collection of recipes and traditions.
Customers notice that personal side too. Reviews repeatedly mention the friendly service and the way the owners go out of their way to help people secure an order before the pastries disappear.
It feels less like a concept dreamed up for branding and more like a family baking tradition that happened to grow into a business.
That story makes the early alarm a little easier to understand.
Worth The Drive And A Stroll After
Road trips taste better with a bakery stop, and this one is an easy detour. Ely sits about eight miles from the Czech Village in Cedar Rapids.
The drive winds through pretty countryside, with fields stretching out on both sides. I rolled down my windows and enjoyed the quiet ride.
Visitors come from all over. I have heard of people traveling from Florida, Texas, Michigan, and Indiana who make this bakery a must-stop when they visit family.
Free parking and wheelchair-accessible parking are available near the bakery.
There is also a trail right outside, which is perfect after a pastry or two. I took a short walk with my coffee and felt a little better about that second cinnamon roll.
Prices are fair for the quality, so you can grab a full box without stressing your wallet. That makes it easy to bring treats home for friends.
In the end, this small bakery proves that great food can hide in quiet places. Set that early alarm, bring your appetite, and let a warm kolache turn an ordinary Saturday into the best part of your week.