Katie Kring

Katie Kring is the owner, head baker and lead instructor at Pickwick & Cherry Teaching Kitchen & Occasional Bakery in Springfield, MO. A professional baker for over 15 years and a culinary teacher for more than 10, Katie’s work has earned her accolades including Feast Magazine’s 2016 Rising Star Chef, multiple Best in 417 awards, and the 2018 Feast 50 Awards for Best Pastry Chef and Best Bake Shop.

Katie's culinary path began in high school, when she chose baking over laundry while volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. After earning degrees in music and musical theatre writing from the University of Michigan and NYU, she worked in professional theatre before returning home and starting a cookie business, KatieMade. That venture led to a partnership with a local restaurant, where she honed her bread-making skills in the early morning hours—eventually baking hundreds of loaves a day.

Over the years, Katie expanded her offerings to include marshmallows, pretzels, and international breads, gaining a loyal following at farmers markets and local stores. In 2014, she began teaching bread baking classes, which quickly diversified and proliferated to include baking classes on a wide variety of topics, over thirty different internationally-inspired Date Night Cooking Experiences, fine ingredient tastings, hands-on cooking lunches, youth cooking and baking campsand more – over 300 classes a year!

While the classes keep her and her staff very busy, Pickwick & Cherry is also beloved in the community for gourmet holiday fare, from elegant chocolates for Valentine's Day to hundreds of pies for Thanksgiving and a multitude of traditional and whimsical Christmas offerings.

Known for her vibrant personality, quick wit, and stage presence, Katie frequently appears on local TV and in regional publications, bringing warmth, wit, and serious skill to the Midwest food scene.