Most days, Maegan Brown’s kitchen is a lively scene: four kids hovering over bowls of pancake mix, taste-testing pizza toppings, or watching their mom arrange the next eye-catching food board. Known to hundreds of thousands online as The BakerMama, Brown is a best-selling cookbook author and Instagram-viral food board builder who has built a brand around turning everyday meals into something worth gathering for.
While Maegan’s vibrant boards and approachable family recipes have earned her a national following, her heart, and the heart of her brand, is rooted right here in the Park Cities. “It’s such a warm, welcoming place to raise a family,” she says. “The strong sense of tradition, community, and celebration in the Park Cities has absolutely influenced how I cook and entertain.”
Her path to food entrepreneurship started in 2012, when Gold Medal Flour selected her as their official baking blogger. For several years, she developed original recipes for the brand, refining her skills and building an early audience. By 2014, she was ready to branch out and launched TheBakerMama.com as a personal platform to share what she loved most: accessible, beautiful recipes designed for family life. What started as a side project quickly grew into a brand, a business, and eventually, a bestselling cookbook series.
“I’ve poured so much passion into it over the last 13 years,” Brown says. “I never imagined it would turn into a full-blown brand centered around creating delicious, memorable moments with the people you love.”
Today, The BakerMama encompasses not only her blog and books—Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads, and Brilliant Bites—but also a line of board-building essentials and an ever-growing library of meal ideas meant to inspire connection over food.
Though her boards are undeniably photogenic—neatly folded charcuterie, vibrant layers of fresh fruit, clever seasonal touches—they’re designed to be unfussy and accessible. That’s part of the appeal. “Boards are approachable, but they still have that wow factor,” she says. “They encourage grazing, spark conversation, and allow for creativity with no pressure for perfection. People love how easy they are to personalize for any occasion, season, or dietary need.”
She’s also not limited by tradition. While cheese and charcuterie are staples, Brown is known for pushing the boundaries of what a board can be. Think breakfast spreads with pancakes and berries, after-school snack boards, holiday-themed dessert trays, and even make-your-own taco bars.
This fall, she’s leaning into warm, comforting flavors like apple, maple, cranberry, and spiced nuts, often served with a few signature touches. “I love adding caramel dip with apple slices, and carving out mini baking pumpkins to use as dip bowls is one of my favorite fall touches. Fresh herbs like rosemary or sage also add a lovely aroma and a beautiful, seasonal finish.”
Even her hosting style reflects this low-stress, high-reward philosophy. According to her, a relaxed atmosphere, a little prep work, and the right vibe is all you need for entertaining. “I always say it’s perfectly fine to mix homemade with store-bought, so you’re not stuck cooking all day,” she says.
Brown’s husband and four kids are still by her side in the kitchen, sometimes helping, sometimes just taste-testing, but always part of the process. “When kids are involved, they’re more excited to try new things, and they’re proud of what they helped create,” she shares.
Despite her success—cookbooks, national press, and brand partnerships—Brown stays grounded in the reason she started: sharing food as a way to bring people together. “I’m just so grateful to be part of a community that values family, tradition, and togetherness,” she says. “It’s a joy to share what I love and hopefully inspire others to gather more, stress less, and savor life’s sweetest moments, one bite or board at a time.”
“The strong sense of tradition, community, and celebration in the Park Cities has absolutely influenced how I cook and entertain.”