Pros: Charge For A Doll Cake?

Business By handymama Updated 6 Jul 2009 , 3:04pm by DebBTX

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handymama Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 5:50am
post #1 of 20

I just did my first doll cake (supposed to be a princess; we'll see if the RI crown works out without breaking). It turned out nice, but took me 4 hrs. start to finish--and the icing was already made and colored. This cake is a gift, but I know someone is going to ask me what it would cost. With the time and effort I want to say $70, but I can just imagine the bug-eyed "but this is for a 4-yr-old" response. I don't normally have a problem with pricing, but this one is throwing me. I'm sure I'll be faster in the future, so that will help the overall profit per hour.

19 replies
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FromScratch Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 1:18pm
post #2 of 20

The wondermold pan is 20 servings... charge accordingly. Idon't make doll cakes, but if I did I'd charge no different for them. I don't like baking in the Wondermold, so I'd start with round cakes and carve and I'd charge no less than $125.00 depending on decoration.

4 year old or not, it doesn't change the work that goes into it.

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leah_s Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 2:40pm
post #3 of 20

I'd have a base price of $100, but that also depends on if you're using a doll pick or hand modeling something. I really only do bride dress cakes with the hand molded mannekin and fondant dress with lace and dusts. Those cost upwards of $200.

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Kiddiekakes Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 2:57pm
post #4 of 20

I charge $5.00 per serving ...so the wondermold serves 20....at least $100.00

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handymama Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 3:29pm
post #5 of 20

Whew! Now I feel better. RI crowns all were very brittle and broke immediately. I made one from GP and it's in front of a fan--dampened it to adhere rainbow sparkle. I have three hours until delivery, so we'll see (cold and damp today). I'll try to attach a photo later to see if you all still think it's worth it. Any of you going to be at the ICES convention? All three of you have been most helpful now and in the past, and I'd love to meet you.

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leah_s Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 3:52pm
post #6 of 20

crown? You mean something tiny to sit on the doll's head? Or more like lifelike child's head size crown? I charge $40 minimum just for a topper. Any topper.

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handymama Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 4:01pm
post #7 of 20

Tiny to sit on the doll's head (using a doll pick).

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DianeLM Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 5:45pm
post #8 of 20

Regarding your royal icing crown... Did you use freshly made royal or rebeaten? It's not recommended to use rebeaten royal for something as structurally dependent as a tiara or colorflow piece. Save the rebeaten stuff to use as glue or cookie decor.

I make royal icing tiaras for my doll cakes, too. A little royal or bc tinted the same color as the doll's hair will hold the tiara on nicely. icon_smile.gif

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Pauldo Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 6:00pm
post #9 of 20

Oh Lord....and I was going to say $35 or $40. I REALLY got to get my pricing together!!! icon_eek.gif

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handymama Posted 3 Jul 2009 , 6:34pm
post #10 of 20

Ok, let's see if I'm capable of getting this photo up. In the past it's always just given a link, so if all else fails that should at least show up.

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Mensch Posted 4 Jul 2009 , 6:04am
post #12 of 20

I charge about $100, for a simple one.. I only do them in fondant, and tort twice and fill. Takes me less than 2 hours total to whip one out.

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handymama Posted 4 Jul 2009 , 12:49pm
post #13 of 20

Diane--thanks for the tip about the RI. Yes, it was older and had lost its "muscle tone". The GP worked fine and was maybe stronger in the end, but I had to have it in front of a fan to dry in time.

Mensch--does your 2 hrs include the time to mix, bake, make and color icing, prepare the board and everything that goes into it from start to finish? If so, that's great! I didn't include clean-up time, but did include the rest.

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MLand Posted 4 Jul 2009 , 1:17pm
post #14 of 20

When they bug their eyes over the price, bug yours back over the fact that YOU are the talented one baking and decorating it, and tell them to check around to see where else it is available!

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Mensch Posted 4 Jul 2009 , 3:54pm
post #15 of 20

Yes, it does, handymamma. I don't count time in the oven and time cooling. I make both batter and icing in my 10l mixer, so I don't mix up one batch especially for a doll cake. I do batter for lots of cakes at once. I only use fondant on dolls.

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fosterscreations Posted 5 Jul 2009 , 1:00am
post #16 of 20

I use a full size doll which costs me $5 and then I use a two layer 6 inch cake on top of a two layer 8 inch cake and carve them to get the angle. My prices start at $60 and they serve approx. 34

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fosterscreations Posted 5 Jul 2009 , 1:04am
post #17 of 20

I use a full size doll which costs me $5 and then I use a two layer 6 inch cake on top of a two layer 8 inch cake and carve them to get the angle. My prices start at $60 and they serve approx. 34

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DebBTX Posted 5 Jul 2009 , 1:30am
post #18 of 20

I have a quick question about cakes that are baked in the Wonder Mold pan. I thought the cake would only serve 10-12.

How are y'all cutting it?

-Debbie B. icon_biggrin.gif

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ButtercupMama Posted 6 Jul 2009 , 3:35am
post #19 of 20

I use a real barbie, and I use the wondermold pan with one layer of 8" round cake underneath to get some extra height cuz of barbie's height.
I'll do this in BC for $50.
Extras (crowns, wings, cake underneath for more servings) cost extra!

OH! And I lost my heating core tube thingy!!! Does anyone know how to get a replacement????

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DebBTX Posted 6 Jul 2009 , 3:04pm
post #20 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by ButtercupMama

I use a real barbie, and I use the wondermold pan with one layer of 8" round cake underneath to get some extra height cuz of barbie's height.
I'll do this in BC for $50.
Extras (crowns, wings, cake underneath for more servings) cost extra!




Is the Barbie provided by the customer, or is it included in the $50.00?

How many servings do you feel you get from the Wonder Mold portion of the cake?
How do you cut it?

-Debbie B.

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