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Cake FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

If the answer you are looking for is not shown, please do not hesitate to contact me.


How much notice do I need to give before the cake is required?


How many pieces will I get from a cake?


I've got a lot of wedding guests but do not want a huge cake on display.
What alternative is there?


I want to display my cake on a stand. How can I organise this?


I want a wedding cake but I'm not sure of the choice of cake available?


What if I don't like marzipan!


I want a sponge wedding cake, is this a problem?


For what reasons do you limit your delivery area?

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

How much notice do I need to give before the cake is required? Back to subjects

In essence, as much as possible as certain times of the year can get very busy and our capacity is limited. For wedding cakes and similar special occasion cakes that need time to mature, at least three and preferably six months notice is required. For sponge birthday cakes around four weeks is normally sufficient.

Of course, if less time is available we may be able to assist and will always do our best to so do, but to ensure our customers receive proper attention, we do not take on infinite orders.

We would not suggest that you leave booking of any of your wedding services to the last minute (despite the very short periods some wedding checklists would suggest), as your preferred supplier may not be available. In the case of your wedding cake, early involvement enables colour schemes to be checked and sample sugar flowers produced to ensure your personal needs are entirely met.

If you are at the early stages of wedding planning and do not yet know your theme/colour scheme or perhaps the type or style of cake you may require, a £50 non-refundable deposit will reserve your wedding date. This is particularly important if you are planning a summer wedding as we are taking some bookings as far forward as 12 to 15 months in advance!

 

 

 

 

How many pieces will I get from a cake? Back to subjects

This largely depends on how the cake is cut. For the sake of simplicity, as a guide, an average sized piece of cake will be 2 inches by 1 inch by the depth of the cake, though some caterers will cut Rich Fruit cakes to 1 1/2 inches by 1 inch by depth of cake. Don't forget to ignore the top (fruit) tier of a wedding cake if you are considering keeping it for a christening cake.

 

 

 

 

I've got a lot of wedding guests but do not want a huge cake on display. What alternative is there? Back to subjects

A cutting cake is the economical answer. This is made, marzipaned and iced in the same way as your main cake, but is not decorated (as it is not displayed). Once the display cake has been formally cut, your caterers can use the cutting cake to provide the extra pieces needed.

 

 

 

 

I want to display my cake on a stand. How can I organise this? Back to subjects

I will be pleased to arrange the hire of cake knives, stands and bases on your behalf. A small hire fee is payable and each item is subject to a deposit which I will refund on safe return of the item.

 

 

 

 

I want a wedding cake but I'm not sure of the choice of cake available? Back to subjects

Rich Fruit Cakes can be coated in fondant (soft) icing or Royal Icing. Sponges are coated in fondant. Growing in popularity are chocolate wedding cakes and displays of miniature or fairy cakes. Different tiers of a wedding cake can be of varying types; a combination of rich fruit and sponge tiers has been popular as has two or three different types of sponge (e.g. Madeira, chocolate, lemon etc.).

 

 

 

 

What if I don't like marzipan! Back to subjects

 It is always preferable to use marzipan to acquire a better finish but this is essential when
working with Royal Icing. However, it is possible to work with thicker layers of fondant if marzipan is not to your taste.

 

 

 

 

I want a sponge wedding cake, is this a problem? Back to subjects

The key issue is that all decoration needs to be undertaken at the last moment. For this reason complexity needs to be carefully considered. I will work with you to ensure your optimum wedding cake design can be achieved.

 

 

 

 

For what reasons do you limit your delivery area? Back to subjects

High quality speciality cakes need to be handled with great care. Even using the best packaging materials available does not make highly decorated cakes (especially with sugar flowers) suitable for delivery by standard courier, where packages are transferred between vehicles en route and often sorted by machine. Couriers will charge a substantial sum for a bespoke dedicated delivery, which would be totally uneconomic.

In the case of wedding cakes, I prefer to personally organise delivery and set up to ensure your cake reaches you in perfect condition.

If you are a long distance from my location in Horsham, West Sussex, I would rather direct you to contact the British Sugarcraft Guild, who can advise you of similarly qualfied cakemakers in your locality.