The History of Otterbein's Bakery

Baking cookies with that old world goodness is a tradition that continues at Otterbein's Family Bakery. Adam Otterbein arrived from Germany in 1881 and opened a small bakery near historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. He made many traditional German cakes, breads, and pastries. However, his sugar cookies soon became a favorite. The thin, delicate cookies, cut by hand, became a tradition with many Baltimore families.

His son, August, and later his grandson, Joseph ran the family bakery in the same south Baltimore location that is pictured on our bags until the late 1950's. When Otterbein's Bakery moved to northeast Baltimore, people stood in lines to purchase the hand-cut cookies still warm from the ovens.

In 1996, Joe Otterbein's son Mark concentrated on producing cookies for wholesale distribution. Mark and other family members, including his wife Jenny and his brother Paul, added additional varieties of cookies and improved production methods, introducing Otterbein's Cookies to many outside the Baltimore area.

We hope that you and your family enjoy the home-made taste of Otterbein's Cookies!