Karen Holmes/Karen’s Bakery

Nothing could be more unassuming than baked goods at a bake sale. With the usual display of “box-mix” brownies, sugary cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and maybe even a batch of rice krispie treats, there’s nothing particularly exotic or innovative about them. However, for former Kindergarten teacher and busy mother, Karen Holmes, providing homemade banana bread for her children’s bake sales developed into more than she could have imagined.

News of Karen’s delicious pastries spread not only throughout the school, but the entire school district. She soon found herself catering for school events, showcasing the full extent of her gift in the kitchen. With a growing reputation and love for cooking, Karen opened up Karen’s Bakery Café and Catering in Orangevale, CA, with its central focus on catering.

“We originally decided to start serving muffins. Then we got an espresso machine. Then we soon served full breakfast and lunch. We were getting busy fast,” Karen recalled. 

With her rising popularity, the limited seating capacity and lack of pizzazz in her shop became problematic. After three years in her Orangevale location, Karen moved to a charming, yet sizable, location in the nearby city of Folsom. Not only could the bakery comfortably seat guests both in the dining room and on the outdoor terrace, but its proximity to the Folsom Bike Trail provided a beautiful setting, as well as a steady stream of clientele.

Through her Dutch family roots, farm fresh ingredients, seasonal specialties, and exuberance for serving customers,  Karen has created a niche market for herself.  From the case full of exquisite pastries and special occasion cakes, to her famous salads and sandwiches, none can compare to the quality and community Karen’s Bakery and Café delivers.

“I think it’s partly due to the kind of food we serve. It isn’t pretentious or insane, it’s just good. Plus, Karen’s history as a teacher and overall positive and friendly attitude make it a great place to work,” said Valerie, a faithful Karen’s Bakery employee.

Today, Karen’s Bakery and Café continues to expand. With a booming catering business and faithful clientele, Karen’s options for further innovations are endless. Who knew her “bake sale banana bread” and natural knack in the kitchen would blossom into such a successful business? Karen Holmes has proven that with great talent comes an immense amount of opportunity. What a wonderful inspiration!