Giving Away Your Baking Tips

Business By cakerator Updated 30 Jan 2007 , 4:16am by ShirleyW

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cakerator Posted 24 Jan 2007 , 4:27pm
post #1 of 16

how many people offer tips to non-cake decorator friends? in other words, say you add sour cream to your cakes to make them moist, do you share that tidbit of info? or do you keep it to yourself as a baking secret?

if you do give away tips and secrets, do you ever worry that a friend might take the 'tips' you've given and apply them to their own baking to come up with an equally delicious cake as what you plan to sell for your business?

i know its the decorating part of it that no one can take away from us but there are many customers who only buy cakes for the flavor and texture, etc. of the cake. if you have friends and family who are trying to duplicate your cake then wouldn't that affect business? i'm just curious. i'm not in business now but i am hoping to be in the future.

15 replies
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whimsette Posted 24 Jan 2007 , 5:35pm
post #2 of 16

Great questions!

I share very little in the way of recipes but I'm pretty generous with baking tips and hints with my inner circle of friends and familly.

I'm known for my unusual cake flavors and I've developed those recipes from scratch. Some have taken months of trial and error to get right and I don't feel the need to give them away. It would hurt my business to do so. I have had people outright ask for my recipes and get upset because I won't share them. Bummer for them, but it's perfectly in my rights to protect my business interests. Most people understand that and are respectful about it so it's generally not a problem.

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indydebi Posted 24 Jan 2007 , 5:53pm
post #3 of 16

I will share technical knowledge on baking, but I do have a secret ingredient in my icing that no one ever gets. I will share info like "use parchment paper for better cookies" but if they ask for cookie recipes, there are some that I will share ("It's on the side of the Quaker Oats box!") and some that I've developed or have become a favorite that I will not share.

So I guess my answer is: It Depends! icon_wink.gif

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melysa Posted 25 Jan 2007 , 8:17am
post #4 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakerator


i have a problem with keeping my mouth shut tapedshut.gif so i have a tendency to blurt out what i put in my cakes to anyone and everyone who asks. its so hard for me to keep quiet and then i get mad at myself afterward. i'm that girl that, when complimented on food i've prepared, says "oh its so easy..." i have a hard time taking compliments.




i'm the same way...and have been thinking about that lately. you know...the "oh just use a paper towel to smooth the icing" or "use vinegar to add moisture " ..."i paint them with extract and dust...."blah blah blah. if everyone i know learns this stuff, then who will want to pay me to make their cakes?

a friend recently showed interest in my "teaching" a decorating class. at first i was excited because i felt proud that they were impressed with my work, but now i am having second thoughts. ..

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kaychristensen Posted 25 Jan 2007 , 8:30am
post #5 of 16

I am also a big blabber mouth when asked ?? on the spot with friends. But most of what I gave out was basic knowledge. Except the pumpkin spice recipe I developed. I gave it to some friends at a local grocery store that sold the pudding. I was like hey guys what I did with this pudding and I took them some and then I told them how I did it icon_cry.gif I lost a few orders for it cause they made there own icon_cry.gificon_mad.gif But people will ask how did you do that AWESOME basketweave and I am like well it is kind of hard to explain. But you can get the books or take the class to learn. So once again I need to keep my mouth shut sometimes tapedshut.gif

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bohemia Posted 29 Jan 2007 , 2:32pm
post #6 of 16

I actually hold birthday Baking sessions and do teach some of the basic "secrets" that you can normally find in a really good baking textbook. I show some basic techniques as well, like folding and piping and basics.

But I NEVER share any of my Secret Recipes which have taken a long time to perfect and I also don't share some stuff that I have learned from doing what I do for so long. I figure that their experience should teach them that if ever they go into Cakes themselves.

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albumangel Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 2:21am
post #7 of 16

Most of the people I know don't want to be bothered to take the time to bake a cake for themselves, let alone a decorated cake, so it wouldn't hurt my business to share or teach.

But if I had more friends who would do it themselves, I would be cautious about sharing, unless it's a tip they could find easily themselves online or in most cookbooks. If they are close enough friends and it's a personally developed recipe, I would share it and ask them not to blab it around too much. Still, it's the decorating and creativity that my circle of people is willing to pay for.

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indydebi Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 2:27am
post #8 of 16

I shared this story once before, so I apologize for the repeat, but it seems to fit right in with what albumangel just said.

Had a co-worker friend who wanted some tips on making her son's 1st birthday cake. She really wanted to make this one herself. So I loaned her my pans, pastry bags, tips, spatula, the wilton leveler, the baking strips, my big cooling racks (she didn't have one to fit the 11x13 pan). Told her everything she needed to do. I made sure she knew that I was loaning her about $50 worth of equipment. My Hubby was one of those proclaiming that I was "....creating your own competition!" I knew better. I knew what was going to happen.....and it did.

After it was all done (and she did a good job!), I asked her if she had gotten the decorating bug? She said, "Heck no! That was too much work!"

Did I create a competitor? Nope! I created a customer for life!! One who will appreciate the work it takes! thumbs_up.gif

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mariecar6 Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 2:46am
post #9 of 16

Unfortunately, I've had a lot of bad experiences with people trying to copy my work and others taking credit for something I came up with.
After years of zipping my mouth , it is now at CC and Wilton's that I share what I know . Maybe it's because I feel there's no threat. Instead, it's just this place where we all have the same interests and maybe that makes us generous.
The decorating community is BIG!
Marie

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deedee44 Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 2:51am
post #10 of 16

Hello All,

Just wanted to say that I love it when people say that my cakes are good, and the first thing that I say is do you want the recipe?

Some say yes and some say that they're not bakers.

I've even told a co-woker friend of my that she should take the Wilton classes when she told me she was looking for a hobby. She took the classes and fell in love with decorating, she just really loves it!!!!!

I also given my friends that decorate cakes tips on varies themes, loaned them my pans.

Tell them when hobby lobby and michaels have coupons.

Of course some of those ideas comes from constant browsing through CC.

Deedee44

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kidscakelady Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 2:58am
post #11 of 16

I will help out by offering tips but I NEVER give away my recipes. I am kind of known for my chocolate frosting and everyone is always asking what the secret to it is. Especially my family members... and I won't even share it with them. The only downfall is that I am always expected to bring cake and am never compensated. Once in a while my MIL will by me a box mix when she finds them for $.78 and says put that towards the next cake- I've told her a million times I scratch bake.

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albumangel Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 3:05am
post #12 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by kidscakelady

Once in a while my MIL will by me a box mix when she finds them for $.78 and says put that towards the next cake- I've told her a million times I scratch bake.




Hilarious! I LOVE it! icon_lol.gif
That's like my friends getting me gifts of scrapbooking supplies from Michael's when they know I'm a CM consultant. icon_razz.gif

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RisqueBusiness Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 3:18am
post #13 of 16

how much sharing is too much sharing?

There are some techniques that I've come up with and or figured out to do for my cakes that I'm sure no one else has and when people ask me to share I hesitate..

also, because I've asked a few people for help and or explanations and aside from the handful ( and you all know who you are...KISSES AND HUGS TO THOSE!!!) of people that have actually sent me clear and easy directions, no one seems to want to share.

SO, now...I pick and chose too.

I know it's bad and uncharitable, and maybe I'll get over it, lol...but maybe I wont!

lol

and if I get instructions from someone and I get asked to share those..I ALWAYS refer them back to the originator out of respect.

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jenncowin Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 3:27am
post #14 of 16

I also pick and choose what I tell. Everyone thinks that my cakes are scratch, but they are just doctored mixes. I decide to add a bit of this, a dash of that, and if it tastes good and the compliments come, I keep it.

I agree that you have to know who you can and cannot trust with recipes, but helpful hints here and there are okay.

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bethola Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 3:43am
post #15 of 16

Like deedee44 and indydebi I answer questions and give tips. Since I don't do this as a business I don't feel like I am creating any competition.

Some of my friends are quite capable of doing their own cakes and some do! A lady asked me yesterday if I had a butterfly pan that she could use to make her daughter's birthday cake. "Nope" I said "that would be Donna" Off she goes to ask Donna! No Problem!

I'm a sucker for a compliment! What can I say? LOL

Beth in KY

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ShirleyW Posted 30 Jan 2007 , 4:16am
post #16 of 16

Heck, I share everything and so does my daughter. I figure someone somewhere along the line shared with me, so I just pass it on. I suppose if I had direct competition in my area and they asked for recipes I wouldn't want to do that, but for most friends or neighbors I know they will only be making whatever recipe I have given them for their families and probably not that often anyway.

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