The cake above came from Jenny’s Cakes & Bakes in West Des Moines. It was inspired by raspberry lemonade, with layers of lemon cake and raspberry filling, topped with vanilla and raspberry buttercream.
Photographer: Duane Tinkey
For many people, a birthday cake is a simple thing, an annual bonus for being alive. But for some women at The Beacon, which helps residents recover from abuse, addiction, incarceration and other trauma, a birthday cake signifies something more. For some who lived in prison or on the streets, years or even decades went by before anyone offered them a slice of birthday cake, let alone a whole homemade one of their choosing.
The Beacon’s tradition of offering a birthday cake to each resident inspired its annual Cake Gala, when volunteers donate beautiful cakes to auction off for funds to support the nonprofit’s mission. Last fall, dsm photographer Duane Tinkey stopped by a few hours before the big night to photograph just a few of the desserts in all their glory.
Gloria Olson of Glorious Desserts in Windsor Heights donated this triple-layer devil’s food cake filled with chocolate ganache, frosted with chocolate buttercream and studded with bonbons.
Mindy Bryant of Mimi’s Sweet Cakes & Bakes in Pleasant Hill whipped up this cappuccino cake, which was voted Cake of the Year at the gala. The cake itself was vanilla, filled with espresso buttercream and finished with caramel buttercream, marshmallow topping and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Delicate roses adorned a chocolate and salted caramel cake from May Thompson of Parinda Cupcakes in Des Moines.
Baker Amy Robinson enveloped this two-tiered almond cake with waves of fondant and handmade sugar seashells.
Breanne “Bre” Hentschel of Breeze Sweets in Johnston took cookies and cream to a whole new level with this towering cake finished with vanilla buttercream, chocolate drizzle and chocolate chip cookies.
Cake Gala 2026
Nov. 6 at Prairie Meadows. For details about tickets, donations and sponsorship opportunities, visit thebeacondm.org.
Show Comments (0)