After word of her baking spread through the community, Jackie Schell was invited to open a table inside a local antique mall before moving into the shop she dreamed of across the road. Homemade baking and treating every customer like family became the foundation of her business. More than 25 years later, the beloved bakery continues to thrive despite the many changes around it.
The Maid’s Cottage is best known for its award-winning butter tarts, earning a reputation as one of Ontario’s best-known butter tart destinations. Each one features a flaky, buttery crust with a rich, perfectly balanced filling that’s sweet without being overwhelming. Alongside classics like original, pecan, and raisin, the bakery also offers rotating seasonal and specialty flavours, with past creations including Biscoff, gingerbread, pumpkin, and the award-winning Black Forest mocha.
Local Favourites
Another local favourite is the bakery’s tart bits, crispy, caramelized pieces of buttery pastry and filling left over from making its famous butter tarts. Instead of letting them go to waste, the bakery bags them up and sells them separately, and many regulars swear they’re the best bite in the shop. If you don’t see them at the counter, be sure to ask. While you’re there, grab a loaf of the bakery’s freshly baked bread, which has become another customer favourite.
Located on Newmarket’s historic Main Street, the bakery offers a welcoming atmosphere with a cozy patio for the warmer months, while the friendly staff are always happy to recommend their favourites. A half-dozen butter tarts costs about $21, and they’re well worth it. Since the bakery closes early most days and popular flavours can sell out, it’s best to arrive before mid-afternoon. If you can’t choose just one flavour, pick an assortment—you’ll likely be planning your next visit before you’ve finished the first box.
The Details
- Location: 223 Main St. S., Newmarket, ON L3Y 3Y9
- Hours: Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; Friday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday: Closed. Closed on statutory holidays
- Takeout only: The Maid’s Cottage no longer offers dine-in service. They serve breakfast, lunch, frozen meals, baked goods, and its famous butter tarts for takeout
- What to order: Award-winning butter tarts, freshly baked bread, homemade pies, prepared meals, baked goods, and seasonal butter tart flavours
- Contact: (905) 954-0202
