Help With Sheetcakes!

Baking By debbed Updated 30 Mar 2007 , 8:28pm by mkerton

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debbed Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 4:59pm
post #1 of 24

I have two sheet cakes to make this weekend for birthdays. Do you normally make 2 layers or just one? Also, these are freebies for friends but if asked what would you charge for 12 x 18 cakes with fbct on them. One is Disney Cinderella and the other is Spiderman and Dr. Octopus. TIA icon_smile.gif

23 replies
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kidscakelady Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:04pm
post #2 of 24

How many layers depends upon how many people you need to serve- A 12x18 single (2" deep) will serve about 36 people and the double about 72- I charge $54 for the single and $108 for the double
Never had anyone balk at the $$ but it would depend upon the area you are in.

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Phoov Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:06pm
post #3 of 24

For a single layer 12x18 with BC decor...I charge $45.

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justsweet Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:08pm
post #4 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by kidscakelady

How many layers depends upon how many people you need to serve- A 12x18 single (2" deep) will serve about 36 people and the double about 72- I charge $54 for the single and $108 for the double
Never had anyone balk at the $$ but it would depend upon the area you are in.





Is correct for the price. For FBT it will depend how big, lots of detail simple, etc. $5 for small (simple detail) then going up from their. If the FBT is going to all most 1/2 the size of the $10 - $12 additional. 1/4 size of the cake for those designs $8

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rhopar33 Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:24pm
post #5 of 24

I don't own a 12X18 but I plan to buy one. here is how I chrage:

9x13 (feeds 15) = $35
11x15 (feeds 25)= $45
double 9x13 (feeds 30)=$50
double 11x15 (feeds 45)=$60

My sheetcakes usually have a FBCT on them for the design. No one ever complains about the price. Does this seem too high or too low? Never really priced anybody elses, that's just what I charge.

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grama_j Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:25pm
post #6 of 24

While we're on SHEETCAKES.......... I'm having trouble with the edges dipping..... I have this beautiful sheetcake, and the ends are only about 2" while the center is about 3''....... I hate having to level that much off......... what am I doing wrong ? OH, I use the spray on pan release, and flowernail heat core.......

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Phoov Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:32pm
post #7 of 24

GramaJ.....is this problem consistent with all your flavors of cake??? I find that sometimes I end up leveling off alot...and other times very little. I think the humidity, etc plays a part too. I use the Wilton pan-greasing stuff too and it seems to make my sheetcakes MORE level than witl flour and crisco. Go figure!

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debbed Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:36pm
post #8 of 24

Thanks everyone for your responses...at least I know where to begin with my prices.

grama_j I don't know if it would help but have you used the wraps that wilton has for your pans. It might help. Just a suggestion, I don't know if they're for sheet pans. Good luck

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:47pm
post #9 of 24

wow i had no idea....I am pretty much only doing this for friends and family but I did a baby shower cake 2, 11X15's together with fondant decorations for $15!!!! My family would NEVER pay more than $25!

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ChrisJ Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:53pm
post #10 of 24

I charge $67 for a single layer 12x18, torted with BC. $81 if it's a non-BC filling or with fondant decorations. More if it's all fondant.

My WI told me if my corners are lower than the center, to squeeze in some icing where I need to raise it. I use a bag without a tip for this, put a small level on it, then just squeeze where it needs to be raised. Hope that makes sense?

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Jenn123 Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 5:53pm
post #11 of 24

$50- $60 I make it 2 layers but they are 1" layers.

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indydebi Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 6:03pm
post #12 of 24

The baking strips will help your cakes bake more even. Some use the baking strips AND the flower nail for good results. I bake my sheets at 325 instead of 350. Also how much batter are you using? I use the equivalent of 2 mixes for the 11x15 and 3 for the 12x18.

Two 11x15's for $15??????? Plus fondant? 4 cake mixes, 1 dz eggs, oil, a big cardboard or two to hold the cake, plus the fondant. Girl, you made NO money on that one! Sounds like your family needs to get educated on what's involved in a custom cake ..... you AIN'T walmart!

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 7:48pm
post #13 of 24

indydebi, I know...........I am such a sucker.....I think I lost money on that, mostly I just try and break even, I am doing a cake today, 2 tier (8" 6") with fondant accents and 9 cupcakes to go along with it (with royal icing accents on the cupcakes) for $20 I ought to have my behind kicked

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indydebi Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 7:52pm
post #14 of 24

As Red Foreman ("That 70's Show") says, "My foot .... your a$$ ... put 'em together!" icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 7:55pm
post #15 of 24

LOL........ I think mostly my problem is that I have yet to have a cake turn out as I expected, I way over estimate my talent...LOL and then I get so disappointed in the results that I just want to give the cake away for free....but my hubby would have a cow if I did all of this for free!! I keep thinking I will get to the point where I am proud of what I have done (and trust me I am not fishing for compliments here)....but so far it hasnt happened (and I have been making cakes for a year). I do have pride in that i get a lot of compliments on the taste...but that is it!!!!

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KHalstead Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 7:55pm
post #16 of 24

I hear ya......I just did my first (normal sized) stacked cake and it was a whimsical (first time too) topsy turvy cake on top of it........I told the lady 50 bucks when I saw the photo she wanted me to copy........man after making it I told DH if I start a business that cake won't leave my hands for less than 75 bucks, I live in a small time but I put sooooooo many hours into that thing!! I'm not SUPER slow at the icing and stacking either....it was just all the details that go on the cake..............oh by the way..........I would charge like 40 bucks for a 12x18 with a fbct on it! But then again I WAY under charge ALL the time!!

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kdkamp Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 7:56pm
post #17 of 24

You are worth more than you are giving yourself credit for. If they don't want to pay than don't it. (unless you want it to be a gift)

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debster Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:00pm
post #18 of 24

Good grief and I thought I was cheaper than the rest of you. I'm rural in Ohio and not a lot jobs people don't want to pay, but for what your charging I wish you lived closer I'd buy them from you and resell icon_lol.gif hahahahaha you do good work. Charge for it.

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getfrosted Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:01pm
post #19 of 24

I just did a full sheet 18x24x4 for $175 with a couple of roses on it. I think I under charged it as well because it was for 100 people.

Anyhooo - big disaster with that one and I can honestly say that I never want to do a full sheet cake again unless I have help carrying it.

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:05pm
post #20 of 24

I know.....here I live in a big city...... icon_redface.gif but honestly, I have yet to see anyone with a b-day cake that is not from the grocery store ($23 sheet cake) or a homemade b-day cake....I just dont think we are a big cake town!!! LOL.......I only got into this because I watched my sister have a hard time getting grocery store cakes for my niece because she might be into clifford when it was no longer popular. I didnt want that struggle for my own kiddo so I thought hey I will learn.... and its obviously all my fault, I love seeing those surprised reactions when someone sees something they have never seen before...so I have a hard time saying NO....even though I still fear that they are disappointed with the end result!

And sorry I hijacked this thread...........

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nickymom Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:11pm
post #21 of 24

Ok Melanie I'm angry w/ those who have been "ripping" you off because I just looked at your cakes and they look gorgeously done!!! (is that proper englsih..LOL) Seriously, your cakes look very good, down right great and I think those that have been giving you only $15 & $20 know they are "robbing" you. They are taking complete advantage of you. Girlfriend you need to be asking for more money and being firm about it!!!

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debster Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:15pm
post #22 of 24

mkerton don't be sorry, When I see these it makes me more strong to say hey I'm upping my prices, if they want different which is what I'm doing they can pay for it. Even our grocery stores here are getting brave and selling their air cakes with tons of fluff cream for 50.00 if it's in a shape, if they can so can I.....................let's get brave together. thumbs_up.gif I feel guilty for selling a cookie for 1.00 -1.50 and people pay WAY more else where. We need to stand strong. Either they pay it or they don't. Their loss not ours. Did I pump ya up? icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:17pm
post #23 of 24

you are very nice to say so...and a few have given me $5 or $10 more than I asked....and like I said I have no one to blame but myself....I just rationalize everything...so and so just bought a house, money will be tight, so and so is a fellow SAHM so I am sure they dont have a lot of extra...and on and on.....and I do find ways to save a few bucks here and there, I stock up on mixes when they are .99, I stock up on butter when its cheap (then freeze)....since I only sell to close friends and family I dont use cardboard cake boxes, I use rubbermaid containers so I save a couple of bucks on each cake that way.

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mkerton Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 8:28pm
post #24 of 24

debster you do great work, I was just checking out your cakes, and I wanted to comment on so many of them (I would have been doing that the rest of the day) so I figured I would just tell you on here!! How did you do the roses on your retirement cake??? did you just paint the edges after making the rose? I thought that was just a beautiful cake...also the onesie baby shower cake & the teacher conference cake are just great!!! I also wanted to ask about the leaves on the fall b-day cake (perhaps I should have PM'd YOU).....LOL.

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