Lifelong Passion Becomes A Storefront Bakery In Watertown

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Unlike cooking, baking is a science. You can't take shortcuts or add little wrinkles and expect that cake, cookie or tart to come out of the oven ready for sale.

Cathy Karpinske, owner/operator of Cathy's Bakery, LLC in Watertown, knows baking science from decades of doing it at home. She brings an artist's mindset to her business, which opened in March.

"We're making lots of wedding cakes, lots of cupcakes and many cookies and peanut rolls, too," said Karpinske, who started baking when her five boys were young, as she did all their birthdays, and continued in several roles part-time before opening her shop this spring.

"We've been super busy," she said. "It's been great having this chance to do different things and show off a little. I sign my name to every baked good we sell, so it's been fun to dive in."

Karpinske, 65, is retired from a career with Walmart where she traveled widely, helping open new stores. She baked at Hy-Vee and at home, and she taught baking in a mall for a bit before going full-blast into baking in 2024. Her bakery's full name, Cathy's Cakes and Cream Cheese Cookies, is the tip of the delicious iceberg when it comes to baked goods.

"We try to do as much as we can, and we've added things like mini-donuts, NYC bagels, savory and sweet rolls — we're always looking to grow in what we do," she said. "Wedding cakes have become a big part of what we do — we have a bunch to get out this week for weddings coming up."

Artistry is something Karpinske loves. She enjoys crafting fondant figures and using creative frostings to make one-off treats you won't find anywhere else. The bakery loves the challenge that comes with recreating historic wedding cakes, too.

"People will bring a photo of their parents' cake from 50 years ago, and then we recreate it for their anniversary party," Karpinske said. "Those retro cakes are so fun, and we know they mean a lot to the whole family."

With all the hubbub of a business, Karpinske leans on Curt, her husband, who oversees key roles at the business, including their famous peanut rolls. You can't have the recipe, but these treats use a modified angel food cake base, a rich, sugary sauce and then finely chopped peanuts to make them an in-demand confection.