Merridee's Cookbook (Volume 2)
Many of the wonderful recipes that we use every day at the bakery are included in our attractive cookbook.


It all began in 1880 when Anna Maria Faust, Merridee's grandmother, came to Minnesota from Sweden, bringing her most precious recipes, a sense of tradition and an uncompromising set of values for high quality food. She worked as a cook in St. Paul and was at one time the head cook for the Pillsbury family. Anna Maria always wanted to have a bakery of her own. She enjoyed good conversation, good humor and good coffee, which she brewed all the time. Anna Maria passed on this heritage to her granddaughter, Merridee.

Merridee Erickson grew up on the family farm near Winthrop, Minnesota, baking breads, pies and sweets with her mother. Saturday was bread-baking day, and by the age of nine she was doing most of the baking herself. Merridee attended the University of Minnesota where she studied Food Business. While there, she met and married Tom McCray. In 1973, Merridee and Tom moved to middle Tennessee. In 1981 Merridee began retailing her fresh-baked goods from a little log cabin in Fairview. As word spread, she was asked to open a shop as part of the historic revitalization of downtown Franklin. An old hardware store warehouse on Fourth Avenue, that was once a harness shop, became the home of Merridee’s Breadbasket in the spring of 1984. Merridee’s quickly became a favorite gathering place in Franklin.

Merridee was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 1993 and passed away in September of 1994. She not only left a legacy of great homemade food and warm hospitality but also one of faith, hope and love. A tree was planted in her memory at Five Points in downtown Franklin.

Over the years Merridee’s Breadbasket has continued to grow. The menu has been expanded and more space was added in 1998 and again in 2005.
Merridee Erickson McCray
Today Jim Kreider, Patti Jobe and an exceptional team of dedicated bakers, cooks and customer service staff, continue to provide local patrons and visitors from far and wide a truly unique and delightful experience. Everything is still made from scratch, the old-fashioned way - resulting in not only great taste but a nutritional product as well. You won’t find any pre-made mixes in this bakery – just bags of flour, whole grains and sugar, flats of eggs and cases of real creamery butter. It takes a lot of loving care to transform these staples into the delicious pies, brownies, cookies and breads you will find on the shelves every day. The menu includes the ever-popular chicken salad sandwich as well as tuna salad, egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches, and a variety of grilled specialties all served on fresh homemade bread. In the fall of 2006 a full-service espresso bar was added, offering an extensive menu of old-world Italian style specialty coffees and espresso drinks. Merridee’s also features a daily variety of homemade soups, quiches, fresh salads and delicious desserts of pie, brownies, cakes and cookies.

Merridee’s Breadbasket has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, on the Food Network’s “Best of Baker’s Show” on Nashville Public Television’s "Tennessee Crossroads" and has received the Sizzle Award from Southern Exposure Magazine for being voted Best Bakery in Williamson County… three years in a row! Come and see why Merridee’s continues to be a favorite place for local folks and visitors to gather and share good food, good conversation and good coffee.

Franklin's Home Town Bakery Since 1981 110 Fourth Avenue South Franklin, TN 37064 Ph: 615-790-3755 Fx: 615-791-7448 Contact Us