Custom cakes: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What custom cakes is

A baker designs and bakes a cake to your specifications, choosing flavors, fillings, decorations and size for birthdays and celebrations. People order a custom cake when a store cake is not right and they want the flavor, design and size to match the occasion.

Signs you need it

  • You want a cake with a particular flavor, filling or design that a store does not offer
  • The celebration is a milestone, a theme party or a family event that needs a cake to match
  • You want a cake in a specific size or shape for the number of guests
  • You need a cake that works for a dietary need, such as gluten free or dairy free
  • You want a design that you have seen in a photo and want recreated

What the pro does

  • Talks with you about the flavor, the filling, the frosting and the design
  • Shows a sample or photos of similar work before the order is placed
  • Bakes the cake layers, makes the fillings and prepares the frosting
  • Decorates the cake to the design you approved
  • Packs and boxes the cake to travel safely to the pickup or delivery address
  • Gives you storage and serving instructions for the cake

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Cake size and the number of servings
  • Number of layers and the structure the design needs
  • Flavor and filling choices, especially fresh fruit or specialty ingredients
  • Decoration complexity, such as hand painted, sculpted or sugar work
  • Dietary adjustments such as gluten free or dairy free baking
  • Delivery distance and whether the cake must be set up on site

What a written quote should spell out

  • Size, number of servings, layers and the flavor of each layer
  • Fillings, frosting and decorations included
  • Design, number of sketches or proofs and how changes are handled
  • Delivery, pickup and setup terms
  • Deposit and the date the balance is due

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What flavors and fillings do you offer, and which ones contain nuts, dairy, eggs or gluten?
  • Can I see photos of cakes you have made in this style?
  • How far ahead do you need the order, and what happens if I change the date?
  • How will the cake be transported, and who sets it up?
  • Do you make a gluten free or dairy free version, and is it made in a separate area?
  • Do you hold a health permit, and where is the cake baked?

Red flags

  • Will not show photos of similar cakes or a sample flavor
  • Cannot say which ingredients are in the fillings and frosting
  • Does not say where the cake is baked or what kitchen it comes from
  • Accepts an order with no written design or size
  • Asks for the full payment before the design is approved

What you can do yourself

A host can decorate a plain store bought cake with frosting, fresh fruit or simple sprinkles, following the recipe and the storage steps for the frosting. Hire a custom baker for a multi layer cake, a sculpted or detailed design, a dietary adjustment or a size that must match a large guest count.

Licenses and permits

Food businesses commonly need a health permit or a food handler card from the local office that oversees food safety, and home bakeries often face their own rules on what can be sold. Ask the baker for its permit and check the rules where the cake is baked and sold.

Custom cakes questions

How far ahead should I order a custom cake?

Order early, especially for a complex design or a busy weekend. Ask the baker for its lead time and what it needs from you to start.

Can the cake be made without nuts?

Often yes. Ask the baker whether it bakes in a nut free area, since shared equipment can carry nuts even when the recipe does not include them.

How long does the cake stay fresh?

Ask the baker for its storage guide. Cakes with fresh cream or fruit fillings need to be kept chilled and eaten within the time the baker recommends.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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