Hundreds of market goers queue for Hayley Bird’s cookies every Sunday

Got a sweet tooth? Love a home-made cookie? Read why one Tasmanian baker’s cookies sell out every Sunday.

Hayley Bird from Mother of Pearl with her cookies at Farm Gate Market. Picture: Caroline Tan

Hayley Bird is surprised but delighted that her big mama cookies are in such big demand.

The cult following they have amassed at Sunday’s Farm Gate Market has hundreds of sweet toothed devotees queuing for 10m to snavel one before they sell out.

Ms Bird was helping her friends at Huon Me Crumpet Co when she decided to start Mother of Pearl nearly two years ago selling cookies and dough.

“I was helping them with making crumpets, and I’ve always been an avid baker,” she said.

“I had wanted to run my own business and they were great at mentoring me through that transition.

“I saw how auspicious the New York-style cookies were and was like, ‘hang on’, that would really work for me and my family situation because I can prepare the dough throughout the week and then it needs to sit in the refrigerator for a few days to hydrate.”

Cookies from Mother of Pearl Sweeties by Hayley Bird at Farm Gate Market. Picture: Caroline Tan

Ms Bird prepares a minimum 500 cookies for every Sunday market but with a huge influx of visitors for Dark Mofo she prepared even more.

“I get up really early on Saturday and I bake all day and into the night then I load the trailer and go to bed,” she said.

Market goers have their favourites and woe-be-tide if she makes any radical changes.

“It changes all the time but the staples are the classic choc chip and red velvet cheesecake cookies,” Ms Bird said.

“I sometimes try and change them out but people revolt so I can only really make small changes.

“People love the ones with marshmallow that I make from scratch, particularly the S’mores.

“I’ve got ADHD and I’m self-taught so it’s helpful in a creative way, I harness the power of non-linear thinking, making connections from all the different things I’m influenced and inspired by. That’s just how my brain works.”

Cookies from Mother of Pearl Sweeties by Hayley Bird at Farm Gate Market. Picture: Caroline Tan

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Ms Bird has two daughters Pearl 8, who inspired the name for the business and four-year-old Rose.

Farm Gate Market founder and owner Madi Peattie said the cookies were a huge hit and one of “our most popular stalls”.

“Within the first couple of weeks we had to move Hayley to accommodate the long queues at her stall because her cookies were so popular,” Ms Peattie said.

The cookie dough is available at Eumarrah in Hobart, IGA supermarket in Cygnet and Tamar Valley Grocer in West Launceston

Originally published as Hundreds of market goers queue for Hayley Bird’s cookies every Sunday