Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Dykstra.
Hi Emma, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Deborah Dykstra began baking cakes for friends through her La Leche League group more than 30 years ago. What started as a thoughtful way to support her community quickly grew into a beloved local business, as word spread about her beautifully crafted, from-scratch cakes.
As demand increased, Deborah began refining family recipes and adding new flavors to her offerings. With the blessing of a close friend who had shared an old family vanilla cake recipe, she introduced it to the public — and it soon became a customer favorite. Over the years, Deborah’s cakes became a staple for celebrations across Athens and Atlanta.
Her family played an essential role in the business’s growth, helping with deliveries, decorations, and even the structural engineering behind larger wedding cakes. Eventually, Deborah expanded into catering for major events, turning many weekends into true “all hands on deck” family efforts.
In 2020, Deborah passed the business to her son, Nico, after spending years teaching him her perfected recipes and techniques. She stayed on for two more years to ensure a smooth transition before retiring in 2022. Around the same time, her daughter Emma stepped into the role of office manager and client liaison, keeping the business running smoothly behind the scenes.
In 2021, Nico welcomed Pam — a decorator trained at Le Cordon Bleu — to the team, bringing even more artistry to their custom designs.
Today, Nico, Emma, and Pam continue Deborah’s legacy with the same dedication to quality, creativity, and the warm, personal touch that has defined the business from the very beginning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building a business—especially as a woman in the ’90s—has never been entirely smooth sailing. Deborah worked hard to grow her bakery, relying on the support of both her family and the Athens community along the way. When Nico took over ownership in 2020, it coincided with the onset of the pandemic, a challenging time even for long-established businesses.
In the early years, we also faced competition from a well-known legacy bakery in town. Deborah’s cakes didn’t follow the familiar patterns customers were used to, but that difference ultimately became our strength. Rather than trying to replicate what already existed, we focused on creating something uniquely our own — and that authenticity helped us stand out.
The family also faced personal hardships when both Deborah and her husband were diagnosed with cancer in their early 40s, while Emma and Nico were still young. The fact that the business endured both through Deborah’s treatment and during Covid speaks to our resilience, the dedication of our family, and the incredible support of the Athens community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My primary role is working directly with clients to design cakes that truly reflect the feeling and vision they have in mind. I love taking the many inspirations people bring—sometimes a dozen different photos with elements they love from each—and weaving them into a single, cohesive design that feels both beautiful and intentional.
I collaborate closely with our decorator, Pam, to make sure every concept can be executed both artistically and structurally. One of my favorite parts of the process is creating visual mockups so clients can see how their ideas will come together before the cake is made.
Behind the scenes, Nico is constantly testing and refining new recipes, especially for clients who need gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-friendly options. He puts a great deal of care into making sure those cakes aren’t just safe to eat, but genuinely delicious—so everyone can fully enjoy their celebration.
We’re always experimenting with materials and techniques, whether that means using traditional methods in new ways or exploring creative alternatives to achieve a specific look. My goal is to help create cakes that are not only visually striking but also thoughtfully designed and well-engineered.
What I’m most proud of is our ability to translate a client’s vision into something uniquely theirs, honoring every detail they love while still creating a design that feels harmonious, polished, and personal.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We love working with clients who come to us with ideas, stories, and meaningful moments they want to celebrate. Whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, or a recreation of their wedding cake for an anniversary, we enjoy collaborating to create something that feels personal and thoughtfully designed.
People can reach out through our website to start a conversation, ask questions, or share their vision with us. We’re always happy to walk clients through the process and help them feel confident and excited about their cake.
Supporting us also means supporting a small, family-run Athens business that values creativity, care, and community. Every order, recommendation, and kind word helps us continue doing what we love—creating beautiful, delicious cakes for the people who trust us with their celebrations.
Pricing:
- Our 4″ round starts at $30 plus tax and yields 4-6 servings.
- Our 8″ round starts at $45 plus tax and yields 12-16 servings.
- Our wedding pricing starts at $5/serving, plus delivery and tax.
- Our cupcakes start at $35/dozen plus tax.
- Decorated sugar cookies start at $3.50 each plus tax.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.TheBestCakesInAthens.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahs.specialty.cakes/
