Welcome to Slow Rise Bakehouse
Slow Rise Bakehouse is a small-batch home bakery built around one simple idea: really good food is worth slowing down for.
Everything I make starts with sourdough—from the artisan and sandwich loaves to chewy bagels, English muffins, cinnamon rolls and even the cookies. Each batch is thoughtfully made in small quantities, giving the dough the time it needs to develop the flavor and texture that make sourdough so special.
Around here, I'm not in a hurry. I believe some of the best things take a little extra time—and they're even better when they're shared.
Why Sourdough?
Sourdough is about more than that signature tang—it’s about time.
Unlike breads made with commercial yeast, sourdough relies on a living starter and a slow fermentation process to naturally leaven the dough and develop its flavor. That extra time creates the texture, depth of flavor and character that make sourdough so special.
At Slow Rise, sourdough isn’t just for the bread. My starter finds its way into everything I bake!
It takes a little longer. I think it’s worth the wait.
About ME
Hi! I'm Jen, the gal behind Slow Rise Bakehouse.
I grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY, the youngest of three. After graduating high school, I started working as a secretary for a locally owned, family-run construction company. Little did I know I would spend the next 24 years there!
I met my husband as a single mom, and a few years later we were married and had a set of twin girls. We raised our family in East Aurora, NY, until we decided it was time for a change. In 2020, we packed up and moved to North Carolina in search of a slower-paced life, warmer weather, and a new chapter.
I've always had a love for baking, especially around the holidays. My dining room table would be covered with Christmas cookies—I think at one point I was baking 17 different kinds! But everyone enjoyed them, and everyone got a plate. I love to feed people!
After moving to North Carolina, I started exploring the savory side of the kitchen a little more, but there was almost always a freshly baked batch of cookies somewhere in the picture.
Then came the sourdough craze!
Social media was going crazy over homemade sourdough, and at the same time, I was looking for ways to feed my family foods made with simpler, more wholesome ingredients. So naturally, I hopped on that train!
It all started with a little flour, a little water, and a whole lot of patience.
For about two weeks, I mixed, fed, and discarded. Waiting for the bubbles, waiting for the smell, waiting for the rise...and then finally, she was ready!
Let the baking begin!
My first few loaves were a flop, but that only made me more determined to get it right. Once I did, loaf after loaf came out beautifully—crusty on the outside, that delightful sourdough flavor, and the perfect crumb. I was hooked.
Bread turned into bagels. Bagels turned into English muffins...and then came the cookies!
And somewhere along the way, Slow Rise Bakehouse started coming to life.
What began as a way to feed my family something homemade and wholesome turned into something I truly love. I found myself constantly thinking about the next thing I could make, the next recipe I could perfect, and of course, the next person I could feed.
Because for me, baking has always been about more than just the food. It’s about gathering around the table, sharing something made with love, and seeing someone smile after that first bite.
Slow Rise Bakehouse is my way of sharing a little piece of that with you. Everything I make is handcrafted in small batches, with simple ingredients, plenty of patience, and a whole lot of love.
After all, the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Slow dough. Warm hearts.