Thoughts On Using Non-Edible Decorations??
Lounge By GixxerChick Updated 6 Mar 2013 , 3:50pm by Annabakescakes
Specifically, "cake-kits". You know, those cheap plastic kits that grocery stores often use to decorate their cakes...or plastic decorations in general. I know in the US there's a difference between "FDA approved" and "edible"...not sure how it is in the UK or elsewhere. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on the subject. Personally, I don't agree with it. If I can't eat it or mold it out of gumpaste, fondant, modeling chocolate, or marzipan...it doesn't go on my cakes or cupcakes, period. Some people may not agree, but I think using the plastic cake-kits is cheating. What are your thoughts?
Personally for me, yes, I agree. However to skirt the copyright issue with SOME (yes I yelled that cause some customers just can't think outside the Disney/character box...ARGH!!), toys are useful to include in the design. But I prefer to show what I can personally make.
I have to agree here . My fav thing I learned to make from this forum is the modeling chocolate recipe. In my opinion I think the toys on top of a cake and all the non edibles make a cake look cheap and walmart like. Unfortunately with that being if that is what your customer will not budge on what do you do? I have yet to come across that situation but very curious to see what others would do.
Is it a toy store or a cake lol
I don't even like using ribbon on my cakes, lol. I will sometimes use real flowers, but other than that just the occasional fabric ribbon and wedding toppers, nothing else inedible goes on my cakes. I'm a snob :p
That said, i do 90% weddings, so I don't run into the copyright issues that AZcouture was talking about.
Part of the reason I'm asking this is because I recently read an article in my local newspaper about a cake decorating competition in Davenport, Iowa (about 10 minutes away from me). It was called the Hy-Vee Cake Designer Challange. Hy-Vee is a midwest grocery store chain. The contestants were all Hy-Vee Bakery department employees. While looking at the photos of the finalists creations...I was surprised to see so many plastic "props". Since I didn't see all of the entries, I can't say for certain that they all used plastic on their cakes, but I really didn't expect to see ANY plastic in a "cake decorating contest".
Part of the reason I'm asking this is because I recently read an article in my local newspaper about a cake decorating competition in Davenport, Iowa (about 10 minutes away from me). It was called the Hy-Vee Cake Designer Challange. Hy-Vee is a midwest grocery store chain. The contestants were all Hy-Vee Bakery department employees. While looking at the photos of the finalists creations...I was surprised to see so many plastic "props". Since I didn't see all of the entries, I can't say for certain that they all used plastic on their cakes, but I really didn't expect to see ANY plastic in a "cake decorating contest".
Yeah, no! I completely agree!
Link? I'd love to see them! Plus, I really would prefer not to use toys, but I have a decopac account, and have bought them before. To me, it is a way to keep the labor down, when there is a budget. I did the classic, "2" shaped cake with the track and Thomas on it. I got that toy for about $4-5 and if I would've made that myself, (copyright rules not withstanding) it would've taken an hour just to research and mix the modeling chocolate! At least 2 hours to make it. 3 hours of labor is at least $60 for that little toy. I think I charged $140 for the whole cake.
And I did an Ariel the same was last week. $54 for the 7" cake, $12 for the toy, would've been over $150 for her and Flounder and Sebastian.
Plus, I am NOT that good!
Well, it WAS a Hy-Vee decorator's challenge. And if anyone has ever seen a Hy-Vee cake, you know floatsam is the norm. LOL.
BTW, nice to see another QC lady on here. I'm originally from Bettendorf.
Using those kits is the ONLY way many copyright characters can be put/used on a cake. We all know that kids want their cake to match their most recent favorite character or toy. Doing it legally means using non-edibles plain and simple.
Rose Beranbaum's oblivion tort with toasted hazelnuts and salted caramel sauce.
Every single year, haha.
I do many kids cakes and right now especially with the preschool crowd, they love the little plastic cupcake rings.They are like party favors. I don't mind doing them since I see how much my kids like them. It also saves parents that are on a tight budget. Most of my kids are delighted to get something that looks like a grocery store cake since they see all these cakes at other parties and long to get something similiar, but can't because of an allergy. Personally I would love to out-do the grocery store cake with making my own edible decorations to make the kid's party even more special. I love seeing these kids going from being an "outcast" to the kid that had the coolest cake ever. Nonetheless, I'm the only option around for some, so I am going to work with smaller budgets to a point, but hey....it's always the customers choice. But if you are entering a show or competition-----edible all the way!
Link? I'd love to see them! Plus, I really would prefer not to use toys, but I have a decopac account, and have bought them before. To me, it is a way to keep the labor down, when there is a budget. I did the classic, "2" shaped cake with the track and Thomas on it. I got that toy for about $4-5 and if I would've made that myself, (copyright rules not withstanding) it would've taken an hour just to research and mix the modeling chocolate! At least 2 hours to make it. 3 hours of labor is at least $60 for that little toy. I think I charged $140 for the whole cake.
And I did an Ariel the same was last week. $54 for the 7" cake, $12 for the toy, would've been over $150 for her and Flounder and Sebastian.
Plus, I am NOT that good!
I'd have to look on the newspapers website Anna....I only have the original hardcopy. But if I find it...I'll pass it on...
Well, it WAS a Hy-Vee decorator's challenge. And if anyone has ever seen a Hy-Vee cake, you know floatsam is the norm. LOL.
BTW, nice to see another QC lady on here. I'm originally from Bettendorf.
LOL I agree, but was trying no to "offend" anyone who might be a Hy-Vee (or other grocery store) decorator on here. I seem to be getting in trouble for that lately.
Where are you now?? Not still in Bettendorf?? Send me a PM, I'd love to talk with you.
Using those kits is the ONLY way many copyright characters can be put/used on a cake. We all know that kids want their cake to match their most recent favorite character or toy. Doing it legally means using non-edibles plain and simple.
For copyright characters......and if it's really really what the customer wants, I understand. I think. I've never been in that situation and I can't say for sure that I wouldn't just send them to a grocery store. I don't think I'd feel right charging what I charge for cakes only to have it decorated with plastic. It's possible to get copyright permissions, isn't it? I've never tried, so I don't know how that works. Maybe not for the home baker, but I've seen Buddy Velastro (sp?) on Cake Boss make a disney princess cake before. Hmmm....maybe that was FOR Disney. LOL O'well. None-the-less I see your point, but on a cake for competition...where there is no "Character" requirement.... I was actually sort of appalled.
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Original message sent by GixxerChick
I'd have to look on the newspapers website Anna....I only have the original hardcopy. But if I find it...I'll pass it on...
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Original message sent by GixxerChick
For copyright characters......and if it's really really what the customer wants, I understand. I think. I've never been in that situation and I can't say for sure that I wouldn't just send them to a grocery store. I don't think I'd feel right charging what I charge for cakes only to have it decorated with plastic. It's possible to get copyright permissions, isn't it? I've never tried, so I don't know how that works. Maybe not for the home baker, but I've seen Buddy Velastro (sp?) on Cake Boss make a disney princess cake before. Hmmm....maybe that was FOR Disney. LOL O'well. None-the-less I see your point, but on a cake for competition...where there is no "Character" requirement.... I was actually sort of appalled.
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