Delicious Destination
Titus Bakery Makes Boone County a Hole Lot Sweeter
Writer / Rebecca Wood
Photographer / Jon Ellegood
At Katelyn and Noah Bennetts wedding reception, the couple bypassed serving traditional wedding cake in favor of treating their guests to doughnuts. These werent just any doughnuts. The newlyweds offered Titus Bakery doughnuts to their family and friends.
We chose to use Titus for our wedding because growing up, my husband and I had such great memories of getting Titus doughnuts on the weekends with our families, Katelyn Bennett says. We love that it is a local, family-owned business that never disappoints.
Owner Terry Rake recalls countless other stories of people including Titus Bakery doughnuts in special occasions like engagements, weddings, graduations and birthday celebrations.
We consider customers to be family, Rake says. Our business is like a local hangout and a destination. We have a great product and people travel from all over for our doughnuts.
Its hard to miss the bakery among the Lebanon landscape. The exterior features a doughnut-themed mural with a hot-pink background. While the facade is eye catching, the aroma of fresh pastries is the real draw for customers, and many of those customers have remained loyal for decades.
Titus Bakery has deep roots in Boone County. Rakes grandfather opened Titus Pastries in Lebanon in the 1950s. He ran the business for 20 years before selling it to another local baker. In the 1980s, Rakes father bought the business back. Rake began working at the bakery as a teenager with her father, and then she took over the business in 2012.
I feel a big responsibility to maintain what my dad started, Rake says. This is an award-winning business and we strive for high standards. I have a legacy to keep.
Rake says the bakery has not changed its winning recipes in its many years of business. The doughnuts are still made by hand with high-quality ingredients.
Why mess with a good thing? Rake says. We know what customers want.
Titus Bakery is known for its Pershing, Maple Bacon, and Peanut Butter Fluff doughnuts. Since Rake took over the business, she has expanded the stores offerings to include cookies, cakes and pies. In 2014 Titus Bakery added deli sandwiches made with Boars Head meat, fresh veggies and homemade bread.
Within the last decade, Titus Bakery has added new locations. In 2016 Titus Bakery opened a second store in Westfield. The Westfield location offers the same products as the Lebanon store. However, the store also includes a party room with birthday party offerings.
Rake opened a third Titus Bakery location in 2020 within Reynolds Farm Equipment in Atlanta, Indiana.
Rake is grateful for the support Titus Bakery has received from the Boone County community and its long-standing customers. In appreciation, Rake seeks to give back by supporting such organizations as the Salvation Army, and area churches and food pantries.
We want to continue to watch trends in the industry and get feedback from our customers, but we will continue to do our best to maintain our high-quality products, Rake says.
Titus Bakery can be found at 820 West South Street in Lebanon. For more info, call 765-482-1740 or visit titusbakery.com.
