From Home Kitchen to Local Favorite: The Story of La Cheesecake Bakery
- Bayou State Media
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Photo By: Bayou State Media Staff
From Home Kitchen to Local Favorite
For nearly a decade, La Cheesecake Bakery has been delighting customers across Acadiana with handcrafted cheesecakes built on passion, quality, and craftsmanship.
What began as a small home-based business has grown into a thriving bakery known for its rich, creamy cheesecakes, specialty coffee, cheesecake-inspired treats, and even cheesecake vending machines.
As part of our Louisiana Food Tour, Bayou State Media sat down with owner Seth Dahlen to learn how a passion discovered as a teenager evolved into one of Lafayette's sweetest success stories.
A Passion That Started It All
For Seth Dahlen, baking wasn't a family tradition—it was a passion he discovered on his own.
While cooking had always been part of his family's life, baking was not. Seth recalls his grandmother telling him during his early teenage years that she had taught his father and his siblings how to cook. That conversation stayed with him and inspired him to pursue cooking for himself.
At just 16 years old, Seth began working in several restaurants to learn the culinary trade. It was there that he discovered cheesecake.
While many people shy away from making cheesecake because of how technical and time-consuming it can be, Seth embraced the challenge.
"I went head first," he said. "I found that I was very gifted with making it."
That discovery would ultimately shape the future of La Cheesecake Bakery.
Building La Cheesecake Bakery
La Cheesecake Bakery officially opened in 2016.
For approximately six and a half years, Seth operated the business from his home, focusing on making exceptional cheesecakes for customers throughout the area.
When it came time to name the business, he wanted something simple, memorable, and true to its purpose.
Born right here in South Louisiana, La Cheesecake Bakery was exactly that—a name that immediately let customers know what they could expect.
Reflecting on the bakery's early days, Seth recalled:
"I actually didn't want to get out of the house," he said.
His original vision was simply to continue operating from home and keep the business small. That perspective changed over time as he learned more about running a business and the realities of rising costs.
"As boring as it sounds," Seth joked, "I learned about inflation and our monetary policies."
As demand continued to grow, so did the business.
Today, La Cheesecake Bakery operates a full storefront and has expanded beyond its walls with two cheesecake vending machines, bringing their desserts to even more customers throughout the community.
Everything Begins with Cheesecake
Although the bakery has expanded over the years, its mission has remained remarkably consistent.
Alongside its signature cheesecakes, the bakery now offers specialty coffee and a selection of what Seth calls their "Extras"—desserts and menu items inspired by cheesecake.
Rather than trying to become everything to everyone, La Cheesecake Bakery has remained focused on perfecting the dessert that started it all.
That philosophy extends to every cheesecake they make.
According to Seth, passion and dedication are the most important ingredients, but the recipe itself also sets the bakery apart. La Cheesecake Bakery uses a generous amount of heavy cream, creating a rich flavor and smooth texture that customers have come to love. While the technique makes each cheesecake more difficult to prepare, Seth believes the final product is well worth the effort.
Several flavors have become customer favorites over the years, including Biscoff, Turtle, Oreo, and King Cake Cheesecake during Mardi Gras season.
Seth's personal favorite, however, remains White Chocolate Blueberry—the very first cheesecake he ever created when he was around sixteen or seventeen years old.
Despite creating countless new flavors over the years, that first recipe still holds a special place in his heart.
More Than Just a Bakery
When asked what has been the most rewarding part of owning La Cheesecake Bakery, Seth didn't mention expanding into a storefront or adding vending machines.
Instead, he pointed to something much simpler.
Hearing customers tell him they love something created by his own hands.
That connection with customers is one of the reasons he and his wife remain so involved in the business today.
"We still have a heart and soul here at the bakery," Seth said.
Rather than operating like a large corporation, Seth and his wife are still at the bakery nearly every day, personally serving the community they've grown alongside.
He also credits much of the bakery's success to Lafayette itself.
Seth describes Lafayette as one of the most supportive communities a local business could hope for—large enough to continue growing, yet small enough that people genuinely know and support one another.
That sense of community has helped La Cheesecake Bakery become more than just a place to buy dessert. It's become a local business built on relationships.
Looking Toward the Future
Even after nearly a decade, Seth says La Cheesecake Bakery continues looking for ways to grow.
The bakery is actively searching for another location to install an additional cheesecake vending machine, making their desserts available to even more people throughout Acadiana.
Customers can also look forward to one of the bakery's most anticipated annual traditions.
This October marks the third consecutive year of Harry Potter Month, a themed celebration that has become a favorite among customers and one the bakery looks forward to hosting each fall.
Nearly ten years after opening its doors, La Cheesecake Bakery continues to prove that great food is about more than recipes—it's about passion, dedication, and the people behind every slice.
From a home kitchen to one of Lafayette's favorite local bakeries, the business has grown tremendously, but the philosophy behind it has never changed. That commitment to craftsmanship, family, and community has made La Cheesecake Bakery one of Acadiana's sweetest success stories.
Watch Our Interview with Seth Dahlen
As part of our Louisiana Food Tour series, Bayou State Media sat down with Seth Dahlen, owner of La Cheesecake Bakery, to hear the story behind the bakery, its growth from a home-based business into a local favorite, and the passion that continues to drive it today.
Watch our interview to hear Seth share the journey in his own words.
Facebook: (Coming Soon)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBt7RhvYeP/
Full Interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_ormkbco0Q
Learn More About La Cheesecake Bakery
Whether you're stopping in for your favorite slice, grabbing a specialty coffee, or visiting one of the bakery's cheesecake vending machines, every dessert reflects the same passion that inspired Seth to begin baking nearly a decade ago.
With handcrafted recipes, seasonal favorites, and a commitment to quality, La Cheesecake Bakery continues to serve the Lafayette community one cheesecake at a time.
Learn more about La Cheesecake Bakery here: https://lacheesecakebakery.com
Louisiana Food Tour
La Cheesecake Bakery was featured as part of the Louisiana Food Tour, a series highlighting the restaurants, people, and stories that make Louisiana's food culture unique.
For more Louisiana food stories, local business spotlights, and community features from across the state, be sure to like, follow, and share Bayou State Media
