The aroma of baked goods wafts through the doors leading into the old Pea Ridge court room now the Butterstick Bakery.

On Friday, April 20 -- opening day -- there was a steady stream of customers waiting to taste the delectable muffins, cookies, orange and cinnamon rolls. All sold out quickly.

The creation of Erica Boyle, Butterstick Bakery is an answer to a dream for her.

Boyle, a registered nurse and mother, said she loves to bake and wants to give back to the community.

"Someone asked why my prices are so cheap -- a cup of coffee is $1 and a muffin is $1.29," Boyle said. "I'm in this town to be a dedicated bakery and meet the needs of what the people want. I'm not here to get rich off community."

"This is my little slice of heaven!

"It may be small but I don't need anything big to feel like I'm part of this community," she said. "It's what you do for them and how you give back. It's not size of your pockets."

Boyle said she offers custom-made cakes and cookie bouquets, will have homemade breads -- beer bread, Amish bread, banana bread, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, cookies, and coffees -- espresso, gourmet coffee and gourmet decaffeinated coffee.

"I do birthday cakes, wedding, anniversary cakes on request."

"I love to cook and bake. It's something my mother taught me my whole life -- it was a bonding moment," she said. "I'm enjoying doing that with my girls. They love putting on an apron and getting out the mixing bowls."

Fresh farm eggs from the feed store next door are a key ingredient in the baked goods. And the name, Butterstick? That's from the use of butter, Boyle said.

"I like to cook with things that taste good," she said. "I want it to be a good wholesome good tasting product."

A china cabinet in the back of the room is a memorial to Boyle's grandmother, Virginia Leckner, who taught her to bake while she was quite young. "We used to make Rice Krispies treats and brownies," she said. She plans to display cakes and possibly old tea cups in the cabinet.

Boyle, originally from Hot Springs, earned a degree in biology from Louisiana State University then earned her registered nursing degree. She worked for 16 years as a nurse in Charity Hospital in New Orleans and in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She is married to Tom Boyle, a police detective from Bentonville, and together, they have four children -- twin 15-year-old sons, Ben and Sam, and daughters, Hadley, 10, and Emerson, 8.

Community on 04/25/2018