D&K - Karen's Cakes & Kreations

D&K - Karen's Cakes & Kreations The joy of creating cakes, desserts and so much more! My story starts back 40 years ago when my grandma use to make cakes for our family birthdays. I loved art.

I was always fascinated with her creativity! And, in Girl Scouts (1970s) we had a cake decorating class that gave me a taste of what cake decorating was all about. In 1985 I started working at a little country kitchen shop in Arcadia, CA called The Recipe Box, and my capability was realized! I loved to draw. I loved to bake (not sure if it was the love of actually baking or eating I enjoyed most!)

. We sold all kinds of baking supplies there, including cake decorating. I asked my mom one day if she would buy me some supplies for my birthday. “I am not going to buy you one more thing you won’t use,” was her response. Ok. Fine then. I’ll buy some myself. And I did. With my own cake decorating supplies in hand I set out to decorate my first cake for a friend at church. By the time I was finished I was about the chuck the whole idea out the window! It took me over 20 hours!!! But, the cake was devoured, praise was received, and I was on a mission! I can DO this! I became fascinated with local bake shops that made cakes JUST like how I would love to make them – multi layered and lots of flavors. Not dull and boring or plain (per my opinion). Patticakes Bakery of Altadena, CA was a favorite and so was a little French bakery on Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia (can’t remember the name, and I don’t think it’s still there). THAT’S how I want to make my cakes! And so I did, and still do to this day. Several layers of cake and fillings. There is NO other way! Just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside (just like we should be! ). I was so glad to have lots of guinea pigs for friends and family to try my creativity out on, and a very supportive church family. I learned quickly, and in 1987 I made my first tiered wedding cake. Shortly after that I was sought out and hired as the head cake decorator at Mother’s Cupboard Bakery in LaCanada. I was never professionally trained, but what does that matter when you love what you do? It shows! In 1995 I made my own wedding cake – 32 8” round cakes, a multitude of flavors, and a 4 tiered wedding cake. I made enough cake for people to take home and enjoy, cuz I was leaving (moving to IL) and that would be my last cake. But NO! I was flown back to CA several times (and to a few other places) to make friends and family's wedding cakes (they paid my way and for the ingredients, and I did their cakes labor free. Good deal on both sides!). For a while I also flew to Dallas to teach a cake decorating class for a private school there. All this, without the incentive of $$. I just wanted to do it. Oh, I was paid (often free will), and I was also offered opportunities to go big with a business. But, that wasn’t my heart behind it. I just wanted to be a blessing to others. And that is still my heart behind my cakes and baking today. Yes, I earn some money, but much of it goes back into gifting it out in one form or another. It’s a God given gift I want to use for His glory.

I was honored to do a wedding cake and cupcakes for Ian Legner and Barbara Close ❤️
05/03/2026

I was honored to do a wedding cake and cupcakes for Ian Legner and Barbara Close ❤️

So, my dil goes into her neighbor's yard and comes back with a huge bundle of rhubarb! Free pickins from the neighbors! ...
05/02/2026

So, my dil goes into her neighbor's yard and comes back with a huge bundle of rhubarb! Free pickins from the neighbors! Lol! What a nice arrangement 🥰 I asked if I could have some too. "Certainly!" She says. And now to make rhubarb scones! 😋

A special cake for a lovely lady! God's blessings! Her mom asked me to make a plain cake so she could put the simple de...
05/01/2026

A special cake for a lovely lady! God's blessings! Her mom asked me to make a plain cake so she could put the simple decor on. I love the delicate simplicity of how it turned out.

One of my favorite cakes this time of year is Angel food cake with layers of fresh strawberries and cream! I can't tell ...
04/28/2026

One of my favorite cakes this time of year is Angel food cake with layers of fresh strawberries and cream! I can't tell you how many hundreds of these I made when I use to work at Mother's Cupboard Bakery in LA Canada, CA. They were most popular every spring, but I think we did them year round. So light, fresh and yummy! But, Angel food cake is so versatile with other flavors. I've done (or have had) chocolate, pineapple, and banana. What other versions of angel food cake do you like?

This little guy wanted a colorful cake with some purple and two dinosaurs on it. Do you think this was good enough? 😊
04/27/2026

This little guy wanted a colorful cake with some purple and two dinosaurs on it. Do you think this was good enough? 😊

This party theme is Rock Around the Clock 😊
04/26/2026

This party theme is Rock Around the Clock 😊

Mother's Day Cards for a Cause! Hand designed cards with your personal message inside make a cherish gift for mom! All p...
04/23/2026

Mother's Day Cards for a Cause! Hand designed cards with your personal message inside make a cherish gift for mom! All proceeds go toward a cause. If youd like help with a card for mom, feel free to DM me, give me your personal message to write up, and I will send it out! Suggested donation for each card is $4. Message and sending is an additional cost (as you feel led to give). The current cause is helping Princeton Christian Academy with the contruction of their high school building. Cards can also be purchased at Walnut Acres Country Store in Walnut, and at Johnsons Carpet Shoppe and Gifts in Princeton. God bless!

Tea party with the littles! They just loved it! We talked about manners and how to set a proper table. Think they will ...
04/23/2026

Tea party with the littles! They just loved it! We talked about manners and how to set a proper table. Think they will remember? Hopefully "Princess Spoon" will be a good reminder!

Simple and sweet ❤️
04/23/2026

Simple and sweet ❤️

Happy Birthday Grady! Im so glad you loved your cake, and that i get to be a part of making your birthday tradition extr...
04/20/2026

Happy Birthday Grady! Im so glad you loved your cake, and that i get to be a part of making your birthday tradition extra special! 😍

04/20/2026

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Walnut, IL

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