Karen Lilly is a dedicated Chicago Pastry Chef specializing in handcrafted pastries and desserts for markets, events, and celebrations throughout the Chicago area. With over 15 years of experience in the pastry industry, Karen has dedicated her life to baking, continually studying, refining her techniques, and exploring the intersection of heritage and modern pastry.

Karen’s love for baking began in a home kitchen with her Grandma and Mom eager to be hands-on with food. During high school, she attended the Technology Center of DuPage Culinary Program, where she discovered her passion for pastry and went on to earn a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from Kendall College in Chicago. Her career includes an internship at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, multiple fine dining restaurants, and managing high-end bakeries. It was through these years that she strengthened her skills in professional pastry production and elevated presentation.

Today, Karen’s work is deeply inspired by her Polish roots. After a recent trip to Kraków, she developed a renewed connection to Polish pastry traditions, the flavors, textures, and stories that shape cultural baking. She continues to explore and evolve this part of her craft, bringing refined, Polish-influenced pastries to Chicago’s pastry scene. She is currently developing new Polish pastry offerings for upcoming markets and seasonal menus.

After years of working behind the scenes in professional kitchens, Karen launched Karen Lilly Chicago to share her pastry directly with the community. Farmer’s markets became her starting point, an opportunity to receive real, honest customer feedback, connect with people face-to-face, and put her own name on the work she created.

Karen specializes in:

• Dessert catering for events, weddings, and celebrations

• Polish pastries, seasonal pastries & European-influenced desserts

• Petit fours, candies, chocolates & custom cakes

• Custom market menus & limited-release pastry offerings

Karen also continues to mentor the ProStart pastry team at the Technology Center of DuPage, giving back to the culinary space that shaped her.

Through every pastry and every market, Karen’s work reflects craft, culture, and heartfelt connection to pastry with identity, flavor, and intention.