Price Guide
All too often people raise their eyebrows in disbelief when they are given a quote on a cake by a quality decorator. "Really? It's just a cake" is often the remark that follows. In an attempt to demystify cake pricing and add credibility to what are usually quite conservative cake quotes, here is an explanation that explains why my custom (or 'bespoke') cakes cost significantly more than a supermarket or bakery budget cake.
What's Really Involved?
1. I spend considerable time first up customising your quote to cater for number of serves, theme, style, options and budget considerations that allow you to have full input into your own unique and memorable cake design. Bakeries and supermarkets don't.
2. I bake entirely from scratch - by hand - using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients available, including dutch cocoa, australian grown cane sugar, free range eggs, fresh full cream milk and double cream, couverture chocolate and premium grade flavours. I don't bake with artifical and powdered substitutes with lots of added chemicals like bakeries and supermarkets do (ask for a full list of ingredients or check the labels and see for yourself).
I also spend hours making the many indulgent syrups, sauces and fillings that my cakes are famous for. The layers and layers of rich and delicious fillings that turn a cake into a fully gourmet experience. Most of my cakes have several different fillings, all working together to compliment the flavour and ad a richness. moisture and depth you simply don't get from most cakes. That's why they are very obviously 'gourmet' cakes.
2. I bake entirely from scratch - by hand - using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients available, including dutch cocoa, australian grown cane sugar, free range eggs, fresh full cream milk and double cream, couverture chocolate and premium grade flavours. I don't bake with artifical and powdered substitutes with lots of added chemicals like bakeries and supermarkets do (ask for a full list of ingredients or check the labels and see for yourself).
I also spend hours making the many indulgent syrups, sauces and fillings that my cakes are famous for. The layers and layers of rich and delicious fillings that turn a cake into a fully gourmet experience. Most of my cakes have several different fillings, all working together to compliment the flavour and ad a richness. moisture and depth you simply don't get from most cakes. That's why they are very obviously 'gourmet' cakes.
There are also hours of preparation that go into the cake, long before you see the finished product - including sourcing materials, colouring icings, setting up boards etc.
3. Some cakes can take upwards of 50 hours to prepare all the different components before the cake is actually even baked, particularly so for those adorned with lots of sugar flowers, figurines or intricate icing work. Bakeries and supeprmarkets don't supply these kinds of details.
4. The materials and ingredients that go into a custom bespoke cake are expensive. Full stop. In addition, I need to cover the costs of boards between tiers, board coverings, dowels and support systems. There is most often in excess of 3kg of premium chocolate in the ganache alone (have you priced 3 kgs of premium chocolate lately?? It's like gold!) - as well as the costs of fondant, cake ingredients, and the most important and often undervalued - time itself.
I can safely say I always work more hours on a cake than I can charge for it - and this equates to working for less dollars per hour than I would earn on unemployment benefits! My cake baking and decorating is very much done for the enjoyment of the craft.
So when I am asked to quote a cake - I usually expect that people have no real idea exactly what costs and how much time is involved - before we even start talking about making anything on it for my efforts. I hope this explanation gives you some insight into exactly what your hard earned dollars buy you - as opposed to purchasing a cake from a bakery or supermarket outlet.
If you are after "just a cake" - I suggest you get one from a supermarket or production style bakery. But if you are after a fully unique cake that is made from 100% fresh and natural ingredients, includes layers and layers of fresh fillings and sauces and tastes far superior to a 'production line pre-mix' cake - and also leaves a lasting impression on your guests - then you simply can't beat a hand crafted That's Sweet! bespoke cake.
Below is a price guide which will give you a starting point to work from. This is my 'blank' covered cake price (includes four layers of basic vanilla cake, four layers of homemade gourmet fillings, covered with buttercream frosting or ganache and iced. Other cake flavours are priced according to recipe ingredient costs. Supplied on covered cake board with basic ribbon trim. Decorated cakes are quoted upon request).
My Premium Range is my gourmet flavour, premium, fully baked from scratch menu from my extensive full flavours list. I also offer a budget range which is made with a quality pre-mix to provide you with a more budget friendly option. Please feel free to email me if you would like to enquire about any of the cake designs in my range - or ask about a custom design cake made to suit your own specifications.
3. Some cakes can take upwards of 50 hours to prepare all the different components before the cake is actually even baked, particularly so for those adorned with lots of sugar flowers, figurines or intricate icing work. Bakeries and supeprmarkets don't supply these kinds of details.
4. The materials and ingredients that go into a custom bespoke cake are expensive. Full stop. In addition, I need to cover the costs of boards between tiers, board coverings, dowels and support systems. There is most often in excess of 3kg of premium chocolate in the ganache alone (have you priced 3 kgs of premium chocolate lately?? It's like gold!) - as well as the costs of fondant, cake ingredients, and the most important and often undervalued - time itself.
I can safely say I always work more hours on a cake than I can charge for it - and this equates to working for less dollars per hour than I would earn on unemployment benefits! My cake baking and decorating is very much done for the enjoyment of the craft.
So when I am asked to quote a cake - I usually expect that people have no real idea exactly what costs and how much time is involved - before we even start talking about making anything on it for my efforts. I hope this explanation gives you some insight into exactly what your hard earned dollars buy you - as opposed to purchasing a cake from a bakery or supermarket outlet.
If you are after "just a cake" - I suggest you get one from a supermarket or production style bakery. But if you are after a fully unique cake that is made from 100% fresh and natural ingredients, includes layers and layers of fresh fillings and sauces and tastes far superior to a 'production line pre-mix' cake - and also leaves a lasting impression on your guests - then you simply can't beat a hand crafted That's Sweet! bespoke cake.
Below is a price guide which will give you a starting point to work from. This is my 'blank' covered cake price (includes four layers of basic vanilla cake, four layers of homemade gourmet fillings, covered with buttercream frosting or ganache and iced. Other cake flavours are priced according to recipe ingredient costs. Supplied on covered cake board with basic ribbon trim. Decorated cakes are quoted upon request).
My Premium Range is my gourmet flavour, premium, fully baked from scratch menu from my extensive full flavours list. I also offer a budget range which is made with a quality pre-mix to provide you with a more budget friendly option. Please feel free to email me if you would like to enquire about any of the cake designs in my range - or ask about a custom design cake made to suit your own specifications.
Single Tier Cakes
6" Buttercream Covered
6" Fondant Covered 8" Buttercream Covered 8" Fondant Covered 10" Buttercream Covered 10" Fondant Covered Tiered Cakes
Two Tier
Three Tier Four Tier Cupcakes
Buttercream Swirl
Fondant Iced Macarons
|
Premium Flavour
From $65
From $80 From $85 From $100 From $140 From $160 Premium Flavour
From $250
From $400 From $600 Premium Flavour
From $3.50ea
From $4.00ea $2.00ea
From $3.00ea |
Budget Flavour
From $50
From $70 From $70 From $85 From $100 From $120 Budget Flavour
From $200
From $350 From $500 Minimum Order
12
12 12 per colour and flavour
12 |
The following items are additional to the base prices above and are quoted individually:
- Sugar Flowers
- Figurines
- Decorations
- Extended height (ie: double or triple barrel cakes)
- Cakes exceeding standard sizes
- Piping work
- Carved cakes
- Square cakes
- Cupcakes and Macarons are sold in lots of one dozen per flavour
- Sugar flower orders require a minimum of 4 weeks notice
Cake Sizes
If you would like to calculate how much cake you'll need for your event, please use the link below to view the cake cutting guide.Please note, there are 1x1" serves and 1x2" serve options in the following chart:
Cake Sizes/Cutting Chart