A Thread For All Uk Bakers!!
Decorating By hailinguk Updated 25 Aug 2017 , 10:29am by Magic Mouthfuls
mini cakes help needed.
OK, i never made mini cakes before, someone just enquired r.e. 20 mini cakes, but they want them boxed individually & decorated as christmas cakes. I have done 4" christmas cakes, but she said no thats too big, she wants them the 'normal' mini cake size 'the ones people have instead of cupcakes', so does anyone know whats the average size for those? and what do you generally do, cut them out with a cutter or??? also where can I get boxes for them? many thanks x
Hi Sanmarco I also have done mini cakes for christmas last year. I used the silverwood mini cake tins there are about 12 of them 2" diameter and height and on a little silver tray. They are a nightmare to ice - take longer than if I'd iced 12 large cakes lol! However, in one of my mich turner books she recommends getting a round cutter just slightly bigger than the mini cake, putting the fondant over it and then using the cutter to push down and cut off the excess to make it slightly easier to cover. I'm not sure if i'm explaining it properly! 
Hi everyone, can you perhaps give me a little advice on pricing as I'm struggling on this because it's not the full cake they require. it's the topsy turvy in my photos. They just want the top 2 tiers but one tier to have flowers and the base tier to have the stripes. It will be 2 tiers of 8" and 6" sponge. How much would you think to charge for this please? I just need some rough ideas because this one was huge and fruit for a wedding - thank you if you can help pls
Hi allabout, since its topsy turvey & fruit cake, you have to charge for all the wastage as well. I would personaly charge between £200- £250 including flowers.
Hi allabout, since its topsy turvey & fruit cake, you have to charge for all the wastage as well. I would personaly charge between £200- £250 including flowers.
Hi Bashini thank you v. much - if it was just the 2 tiers in sponge would you say £125 is fair?
I would charge more than £125, just for the skill level involved. I'd say £150-£175.
Hi allabout, since its topsy turvey & fruit cake, you have to charge for all the wastage as well. I would personaly charge between £200- £250 including flowers.
Hi Bashini thank you v. much - if it was just the 2 tiers in sponge would you say £125 is fair?
£125 too low, allabout. I would charge between £150-£175 (not topsy turvey) - £175-£200 if its topsy turvery. These prices are according to where I live. The prices do change to one place to the other.
I would charge more than £125, just for the skill level involved. I'd say £150-£175.
Thanks Bashini and Lisa - sorry I clicked before doing a proper reply! it does involve a lot of work that's without making the flowers etc. It's funny because I went back to them with a rough price guide and didn't hear a word since. this was someone who was really keen and had called and emailed! Guess it's the same story of people not realising how much work goes in!
thank you
You also can calculate the price for all the ingredients, boards, ribbon and boxes and all the rest, and multiply it by 3 and then add another £10-£20 on top of that.
I am thinking of buying the Cake Boss package for pricing cakes. Does any of you have that and what do you think a bout it?
You also can calculate the price for all the ingredients, boards, ribbon and boxes and all the rest, and multiply it by 3 and then add another £10-£20 on top of that.
I am thinking of buying the package for pricing cakes. Does any of you have that and what do you think a bout it?
Yeah i have a spread sheet and do that for the basics then sometimes add on for time decorating. I'm sure I always under price though lol!!!
I've seen it, someone on here does a similar thing, I just wondered if it worked for the UK the same?
I think on their website they say that you can use it anywhere.
I would charge around £180 simply because sugar flowers take a lot of work, especially if you have quite a few to do, also the carving of the cake etc.
I know sometimes some people balk at the prices simply cos they think - what - its only sponge and a few flowers!! I always think 'yeah and you try and make it then'!!!
I think on their website they say that you can use it anywhere.
may be worth a look then - do they do a free trial that would be helpful see how it pans out then?
I would charge around £180 simply because sugar flowers take a lot of work, especially if you have quite a few to do, also the carving of the cake etc.
I know sometimes some people balk at the prices simply cos they think - what - its only sponge and a few flowers!! I always think 'yeah and you try and make it then'!!!
thanks Jan, its really helpful to get other peoples' opinion/pricing as I sometimes think am I too high then realise "no, i'm being silly!".
ha ha yeah someone on here said they call them "cake muggles"
I have cake boss software, I haven't really sat down and programmed in all the information. It's really well thought out and easy to use though. It programs straight in to whatever currency your computer is set up to so no need to worry about that.
My issue is how much cake batter each recipe makes and how many layers that one batter will make of a particular size. If I can figure that out I'll be well on my way with pricing.
If you buy the cake boss software there is a 30 day money back guarantee (there was anyway, haven't been on the website recently) so if you just want to try it out and are more swinging towards getting it, there is the money back guarantee to fall back on.
The x3 method is alright for basic designs, but when you have labour intensive cakes to do it won't be accurate.
I have software, I haven't really sat down and programmed in all the information. It's really well thought out and easy to use though. It programs straight in to whatever currency your computer is set up to so no need to worry about that.
My issue is how much cake batter each recipe makes and how many layers that one batter will make of a particular size. If I can figure that out I'll be well on my way with pricing.
If you buy the software there is a 30 day money back guarantee (there was anyway, haven't been on the website recently) so if you just want to try it out and are more swinging towards getting it, there is the money back guarantee to fall back on.
The x3 method is alright for basic designs, but when you have labour intensive cakes to do it won't be accurate.
Thanks for sharing the info Lisa it's helpful to know that someone else has used it or has it in the UK. So how does it work out the labour intensive side of things if there are lots of flowers etc to do? I'm not sure how much batter I end up with!
I guess you would put 'labour' as one of your expenses and set the amount you want to get paid. Then when you generate the order I guess you would put 8 (hours) if the cake takes you 8 hours x labour (£10 for example) and then it would generate £80 onto your costs. Maybe Kelly from cake boss can chime in, I don't know if she searches the forums or what not.
Lisapep, thanks for sharing the info. I use the HD sponge recipe on the BSG message board. So there are recipes for all the sizes of the tins. The only difference is that the sugar is a little bit more in this recipe. If you take the amount of sugar as same as other ingredients, you get Victoria sponge recipe.
I guess you would put 'labour' as one of your expenses and set the amount you want to get paid. Then when you generate the order I guess you would put 8 (hours) if the cake takes you 8 hours x labour (£10 for example) and then it would generate £80 onto your costs. Maybe Kelly from can chime in, I don't know if she searches the forums or what not.
Now putting in labour will shock us all lol! Maybe I may get paid more than 50p an hour then
I just booked my flights to the Cake Show in the NEC I'm flying in first thing Saturday and home that night....has anyone any recommendations of what to see first? Thanks
Stalls 1st if you want to buy stuff, free demos on the stalls of you want to learn stuff, live cake comps are worth a look at, then I'd leave an hour or so to look at all the competition pieces. I'm entering this year :p
Stalls 1st if you want to buy stuff, free demos on the stalls of you want to learn stuff, live cake comps are worth a look at, then I'd leave an hour or so to look at all the competition pieces. I'm entering this year :p
I'll second this deffo get to the stalls first for purchases if you're only there for one day. OOooo fab Lisa what you entering? 
Novice category, Q I think, the winter wonderland one.
Novice category, Q I think, the winter wonderland one.
fantastic what a great category too! I wish you all the best I'm sure you're going to do really well! How does it work are they actually real cakes - i wondered this last time I went
Can any of you lovely UK ladies help? I want to get some lace moulds but can I find any decent ones anywhere here? nope. I've bought the patchwork cutter rose design but I find when of course I cut it out it cuts out in pieces so that is going to be a nightmare of time consuming unless anyone has any other ideas please? I've looked at global sugar art but guessing it will take some time to get here!
Another issues is I want to do the base of the cake in a perhaps cappuccino style colour if you know what I mean? like that lovely creamy brown you see then layer detail over that in white or ivory is the intention
thanks everyone
Novice category, Q I think, the winter wonderland one.
fantastic what a great category too! I wish you all the best I'm sure you're going to do really well! How does it work are they actually real cakes - i wondered this last time I went
Yea for that category only it's real cake, for all the others you cake use dummies I think. You can make "fake" cake by starting with packet cake mix then adding meringue powder and other ingredients. It makes it last longer. I'm going to make an actual cake my family can eat afterwards
Can any of you lovely UK ladies help? I want to get some lace moulds but can I find any decent ones anywhere here? nope. I've bought the rose design but I find when of course I cut it out it cuts out in pieces so that is going to be a nightmare of time consuming unless anyone has any other ideas please? I've looked at but guessing it will take some time to get here!
Another issues is I want to do the base of the cake in a perhaps cappuccino style colour if you know what I mean? like that lovely creamy brown you see then layer detail over that in white or ivory is the intention
thanks everyone
Have you tried eBay?
I am sooooo gutted that I cannot go to the NEC this year!!! 
But I will give my shopping list to my friend who is going!
Allabout, check CK moulds and they have great ones. I have used it quite a few times. If you check the 4 tier white and red wedding cake in my photos, that is the mould I have used. Here is the link for you,
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/Home.htm
And I have the No.1482 on this page.
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/RubberMouldsPics.htm
For the brown colour, I would use sugarflair caramel + dark brown past colours. I would try this on a tiny piece first.
HTH.
Novice category, Q I think, the winter wonderland one.
fantastic what a great category too! I wish you all the best I'm sure you're going to do really well! How does it work are they actually real cakes - i wondered this last time I went
Yea for that category only it's real cake, for all the others you cake use dummies I think. You can make "fake" cake by starting with packet cake mix then adding meringue powder and other ingredients. It makes it last longer. I'm going to make an actual cake my family can eat afterwards
that's really interesting I've never heard of that before. I had to do a number 1 for a shop window - it went disgusting mouldy before you knew it!
I am sooooo gutted that I cannot go to the NEC this year!!!
But I will give my shopping list to my friend who is going! Allabout, check CK moulds and they have great ones. I have used it quite a few times. If you check the 4 tier white and red wedding cake in my photos, that is the mould I have used. Here is the link for you,
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/Home.htm
And I have the No.1482 on this page.
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/RubberMouldsPics.htm
For the brown colour, I would use sugarflair caramel + dark brown past colours. I would try this on a tiny piece first.
HTH.
ooo Bashini thank u - loving the cake you did. That's what I'm trying to achieve layering on top of the darker coffee colour. I will give them a call see how quick I can get them - thank you! It's funny I've looked at these before but wasn't sure of the effect of them. Are they fairly easy to use? That patchwork cutter is hell lol!!! thank u
I am sooooo gutted that I cannot go to the NEC this year!!!
But I will give my shopping list to my friend who is going! Allabout, check CK moulds and they have great ones. I have used it quite a few times. If you check the 4 tier white and red wedding cake in my photos, that is the mould I have used. Here is the link for you,
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/Home.htm
And I have the No.1482 on this page.
http://www.celcakes.co.uk/RubberMouldsPics.htm
For the brown colour, I would use sugarflair caramel + dark brown past colours. I would try this on a tiny piece first.
HTH.
ooo Bashini thank u - loving the cake you did. That's what I'm trying to achieve layering on top of the darker coffee colour. I will give them a call see how quick I can get them - thank you! It's funny I've looked at these before but wasn't sure of the effect of them. Are they fairly easy to use? That patchwork cutter is hell lol!!! thank u
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