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Inside The Hixson Bakery Where Bluebirds, Buttercream, And Southern Charm Come Together

What happens when childhood songs, bluebirds, and a mother’s inspiration converge into something sweet?

You’ll find the answer just north of Chattanooga in Hixson. Since December 2013, Chatta-Cakes bakery has been serving up personalized celebration cakes and those now-famous poured icing sugar cookies that have locals making the trip specifically for a taste.

This family-owned gem combines creative custom designs with flavors that keep people coming back—sometimes weekly—for their next sugar fix.

The bakery earned its name from a simple childhood song and carries the bluebird of happiness as its symbol, creating a warm, welcoming space where every cake tells a story and every cookie becomes a conversation starter.

What Makes Their Sweets Stand Out

The Poured Icing Sugar Cookies: These signature treats are what put Chatta-Cakes on the map. Each cookie features smooth, glossy icing that’s been carefully poured over a perfectly baked base, creating beautifully decorated pieces for any occasion.

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From holiday themes to corporate logos, the level of detail and creativity here rivals anything you’d see at a much pricier specialty shop.

Cola Cake Heaven: If there’s one thing that turns first-timers into regulars, it’s the warm cola cake fresh from the shelf.

This Southern classic features rich chocolate flavors enhanced by actual Coca-Cola in the recipe, creating an incredibly moist texture with a subtle complexity that chocolate cake alone can’t achieve.

Grab it warm for the ultimate experience—the texture and flavor profile hit completely different when it’s fresh.

Cake Pop Bites: These little spheres of joy pack serious flavor into bite-sized portions. Moist cake rolled into balls, dipped in chocolate, and topped with various garnishes—they come in flavors ranging from wedding cake and Oreo to lemon, red velvet, Italian cream, and strawberry.

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At just a dollar each, they’re an affordable way to sample multiple flavors or satisfy that sweet tooth without committing to a full dessert.

Custom Celebration Cakes: The real magic happens with custom orders. Whether you need a cassette tape for an 80s party, a beach-themed red velvet creation, or intricate flower petals made entirely from icing, this bakery delivers.

You can even bring in your own fresh flowers, and they’ll incorporate them directly into the design—decorating right on the spot when you pick up.

Flavor combinations get creative too, like vanilla and lemon layers with lemon buttercream that achieve absolute perfection in both taste and texture.

The Cupcake Selection: Jumbo-sized and topped with homemade icing, these aren’t your average grocery store cupcakes.

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The German chocolate version earns particularly high marks, while the variety of cake bases (white, chocolate, strawberry, Italian cream, Oreo) and icing options (buttercream, chocolate, lemon, strawberry) mean you’re never stuck with boring vanilla-on-vanilla.

Lemon Everything: If citrus is your thing, you’ll appreciate how well they execute lemon-flavored items. The lemon cookies deliver bright, zesty flavor without being overly tart, while the lemon buttercream on cakes strikes that ideal balance between sweet and tangy.

Wedding Cake Excellence: Couples love the wedding cake service here. The bakery offers flexibility with your vision—whether you want a traditional tiered cake, a combination of cupcakes and cookies with a small cutting cake, or sheet cakes alongside a showpiece.

They’ll work with your timeline, meet last-minute deadlines (even three weeks before the big day when another bakery backs out), and deliver to challenging locations like the top of Lookout Mountain.

The Bakery Experience

Cozy Atmosphere: The space itself is small and charming, with that quintessential local bakery feel that makes you want to linger.

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Display cases showcase daily offerings while the sweet aroma of fresh baking fills the air—it’s the kind of sensory experience that people describe as absolutely amazing all around.

Bluebird Touches: Keep an eye out for the bluebird motif throughout the shop.

These cheerful symbols represent happiness and serve as a tribute to the owner’s late mother, who always said the perfect bakery name would just come naturally. It adds a personal, heartfelt element to the entire operation.

Good To Know

Pricing Sweet Spot: Here’s the beautiful thing—the quality far exceeds what you’d expect for the price point. The pricing feels quite reasonable and won’t drain your wallet, especially considering the artistry involved in custom work.

This isn’t one of those bakeries where a simple birthday cake costs a small fortune. You’ll find the value exceptional for what you receive.

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Best Times To Visit: The bakery operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Saturday hours running 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

They’re closed Sundays and Mondays. For the warmest, freshest selections (especially that cola cake), try visiting earlier in the day. Holiday periods see special decorated cookies, so plan ahead if you want those festive treats.

Ordering Custom Cakes: While they offer grab-and-go 6″ and 8″ round cakes in various flavors daily, custom orders require advance notice.

Call the shop directly to place orders—the bakery specifically notes that voicemail, email, or social media comments don’t count as confirmed orders. This ensures nothing gets lost in translation when it comes to your special occasion.

Flexibility Factor: Need accommodations? They’re remarkably flexible with special requests. Want almond-flavored buttercream instead of traditional? They’ll make it happen. Need to adjust the number of servings or the size of your order? They’ll work with you to get it right.

Local Favorite Status: Chatta-Cakes has become a neighborhood favorite across 17 different communities, spanning Hixson, Soddy Daisy, and Chattanooga areas.

The bakery has earned such a strong reputation that people have switched from establishments they’ve used for decades, which speaks volumes about the quality and service.

Skip This One: While nearly everything earns high praise, the chocolate chip cookies tend to be the one item that doesn’t quite measure up to the rest of the lineup. Stick with the poured icing cookies, cupcakes, and specialty items instead.


Chatta-Cakes bakery
📍 5143 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343

Writer: June Holloway
Click to read bio

June Holloway is a lifelong Tennessean who grew up in the shadow of the Smokies and now writes from her home just outside of Gatlinburg. She has a deep love for winding mountain roads, American barbecue joints, and stories passed down on front porches.