Karlie Kaiser moved from Camdenton to Cole Camp as a young girl in 2007, but she definitely thinks of herself as a hometown gal. Her parents, Randy and Rachel Koenke came back to the town where Randy’s family had roots. He first worked as a police Officer in Lincoln and is now part of the Cole Camp Police Department.
Karlie was home schooled by her mother, Rachel, and was a member of the Lake Creek Lamplighters 4-H Club where she first became interested in baking. She always took on the projects that involved cake decorating and bread baking.
When queried about what she considered her “first” big success in baking as a kid, she replied, “A pan of cinnamon rolls. I was so proud of them.”
Kaiser is married to Devon and they have a 4-year old daughter, Opal Ruth. Devon works at State Fair Community College but occasionally bakes the bread when it’s ready for the oven if Karlie is called away.
Karlie laughed saying, “He’s very good at it and has never burned anything yet.”
They reside at 204 Junge Street in Cole Camp where she now operates her front porch bakery. When Karlie decided to turn her love of baking into a business, she chose the name “A Bushel and a Peck Bakery”, but since the showroom for her products is her front porch, the locals have nicknamed the business “Front Porch Bakery.”
Kaiser was inspired to sell her delicious creations from her porch after she had seen that being done back east. She felt she had the perfect “cottage” porch for sales. Her breads, pies, cookies and cakes are marketed there with some customers paying with cash while many choose to use the QR code for card transactions, in other words it’s a little like self checkout. So far, no one has taken advantage and taken anything without paying.
Kaiser said, “That doesn’t surprise me at all. Cole Camp is full of good, honest people.”
When you hear Kaiser talk about her product, you know how committed she is to preparing quality food. She says each loaf of bread is naturally leavened with sourdough culture, avoiding commercial baker’s yeast. This traditional method not only enhances the flavor but also ensures a healthier, more digestible product.
The slow fermentation process of sourdough breaks down gluten, making it easier on your stomach and allowing the natural flavors of the grains to shine through.
Kaiser does more than bread. She offers a variety of baked goods, all made from scratch using only the highest quality ingredients. From her wonderful flaky pies, filled with fresh seasonal fruits, to her rich and decadent cookies, every item is crafted with care and passion. Kaiser truly believes that great baking begins with great ingredients.
As much as Kaiser loves her sourdough bread, she really loves her French Macaron cookies and once you see and taste them, you’ll know why. Her husband loves all of her products but his favorite is definitely a chocolate cake with a cookie buttery frosting.
When questioned if she sees a storefront in her future, she smiled stating, “Yes, I’m joining forces with Judy Smasal in the former Wine, Women and Song across from Handel Haus. The business will house antiques and the bakery and will be open on Saturday, April 5, 2025.”
Until then, her delicious products are available every Friday on her front porch.
Just check on Facebook to see what she has available.
