# Courageous Bakery & Cafe

Source: https://heyelmhurst.com/i/courageous-bakery/
Published: 2026-03-29
Updated: 2026-05-21

---

[Elmhurst Small Businesses](https://heyelmhurst.com/directory/) » Courageous Bakery & Cafe

![Courageous Bakery & Cafe — Exterior 01](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-01-1024x576.jpg)

![Courageous Bakery & Cafe — Exterior 02](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-02-1024x576.jpg)

![Courageous Bakery & Cafe — Exterior 03](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-03-1024x576.jpg)

![](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-01-150x150.jpg)

![](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-02-150x150.jpg)

![](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/courageous-bakery-exterior-03-150x150.jpg)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/courageousbakery/)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/courageousbakery/)

[4.5★★★★☆(496 reviews)](https://search.google.com/local/reviews?placeid=ChIJC71y_KxMDogRLuFm1e-mXFY)

$$ · $10–$20

Courageous Bakery & Cafe is a from-scratch bakery and full-service cafe in downtown Elmhurst. They serve breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, and their signature cupcakes and pastries, all made with natural ingredients and no preservatives. The bakery started as a food truck called “Cupcakes for Courage,” born from a family’s fight against cancer. Ten percent of proceeds are donated to cancer-related charities including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Ride Janie Ride Foundation. The bakery earned national attention through an appearance on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, making it to the final round.

## Origin Story

In 2010, Laura Pekarik’s older sister Kathryn was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma. During hospital visits, the two would dream up cupcake recipes together, and Laura would test them at home and bring the results back on her next visit.

When a fundraiser was held to help with Kathryn’s medical costs, Laura baked 250 cupcakes and the response was overwhelming. In 2011, she launched the “Cupcakes for Courage” food truck, one of the first in Chicago’s growing food truck scene. She made it to the final round of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and the national exposure helped grow the business from food trucks to brick-and-mortar locations, including the full cafe in Elmhurst.

Through it all, both sisters stayed involved and the mission never wavered: ten percent of proceeds go to cancer charities.

---

## News

- [![Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026: Your Complete Guide](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Elmhurst-St-Patricks-Day-Parade-1024x576.jpg)](https://heyelmhurst.com/st-patricks-parade/)

  ### [Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026: Your Complete Guide](https://heyelmhurst.com/st-patricks-parade/)

  [![Amara Andrew Avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0b8a1798382b9826e7d2e72f0fdf0067a04a31dfc8019f3276812965dd2402d5?s=25&d=mm&r=g)](https://heyelmhurst.com/author/amara/)

  [Amara Andrew](https://heyelmhurst.com/author/amara/)

  on

  February 25, 2026
- [![Gluten-Free Restaurants in Elmhurst: A Local’s Guide](https://heyelmhurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Gluten-Free-in-Elmhurst-Amara-Andrew-1-1024x576.jpg)](https://heyelmhurst.com/gluten-free/)

  ### [Gluten-Free Restaurants in Elmhurst: A Local’s Guide](https://heyelmhurst.com/gluten-free/)

  [![Amara Andrew Avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0b8a1798382b9826e7d2e72f0fdf0067a04a31dfc8019f3276812965dd2402d5?s=25&d=mm&r=g)](https://heyelmhurst.com/author/amara/)

  [Amara Andrew](https://heyelmhurst.com/author/amara/)

  on

  December 10, 2025

[View more Elmhurst News](https://heyelmhurst.com/blog/)

---

## Job Listings

*No current job listings.*

[View more Elmhurst Jobs](https://heyelmhurst.com/jobs/)

[108 W Park Ave, Elmhurst](https://maps.google.com/?cid=6223032334126866734&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA)

[(630) 834-2253](tel:(630)%20834-2253)

[www.ordercourageous.com](https://www.ordercourageous.com/)

**Saturday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM**

- Monday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

[Claim this business](https://heyelmhurst.com/advertise)

[Embedded content](https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyDX_6IqoB-Cw6gJwN5Fi8S6OOhs7wm6ljA&q=place_id:ChIJC71y_KxMDogRLuFm1e-mXFY)