I Feel Like I Am Cheating!! Does Anyone Else Do This???
Decorating By alicia_froedge Updated 17 Aug 2006 , 6:14pm by KakesandKids
Wow, so I didn't realize that I was starting such a touchy subject. I just do cake decorating as a hobby. It started out just a few cakes here and there with my family and my coworkers. I still love cake decorating and want to add so many cakes to my portfolio but I am just stretched too far out right now. I am going to learn the word NO. That way I can still bake my cakes and decorate them too. I agree that cakes from scratch are far better but I was in a pinch and needed an out. I don't normally do this but stress got the best of me. Thanks for all the input.
I hope I didn't hurt your feelings Alicia. Wasn't my intention! Was just contemplating out loud whether or not I would/could do this. 
(((Alicia)))
You DO have your hands full even without the cake decorating! Full time job and 2 kids under 2. :-O Oh my! Do try to say "no" and give yourself a break. I do know what it feels like to burn out on something we are supposed to enjoy.
Nobody hurt my feelings at all!!! Everyone has their own views!!! I do what works best for me.
My problem is that I hate saying NO. I want to add so many cakes to my portfolio and I love doing. I just wish I had more time. I would love to work in a bakery and do them all day!!
My boss talked to me this morning about doing a four tiered cake for her parents anniversary party. The party is this Saturday. I told her it was fine but that I would need to take my extra time built up to have off for Friday to work on her cake. She sat there for awhile and came back to say that she could change the cake if I didn't want to use my time for her. I don't mind. I am getting a paid day off from work to make a cake that I'll be getting paid for.
I never say NO either. I have done eight cakes for one weekend. I stayed up late and got everything done on time. But, my 3 kids are all much older. But to pondering your question "I feel like I'm cheating!" I feel like you're cheating YOURSELF. Because if you didn't make the cake, and they don't like the taste, they may not get one from you again.
I have mixed feelings about this too. I see no problem with you doing it and totally understand (hey I have 3 kids with 20 months in between each!! 3 1/2 yrold, 2 yr old, 4 mo old)! Just personally, I wouldn't do it regualrly b/c I (like so many others here) can taste the difference. And as far as my customers go, I am known for my fresh, moist cakes, so I don't want anything to spoil that for me (like some nasty bakery cake)! I don't know about Costco (never been there), but there is 2 places I would consider "contracting" from if I was desperate...there is a local bakery that I worked at for a few months briefly a few years ago (had to leave b/c my baby needed me at home) and I learned alot from them, they mostly do everything that I do as far as the cake itself, so it pretty much tastes the same, only difference is I don't freeze and I am more cleanliness concious. I would trust them b/c I've worked behind the scenes and know what goes on and exactly what I'm getting as far as product (I probably wouldn't disclose to the bakery that I was selling their cake however, just explain to them that it was for a family function and would decorate it myself). The other place is HEB (only in Texas , I think). Their cakes (and icing!) are yumyumyummy! As I said, if I did ever do this it wouldn't be on a regular basis, but I would certainly do it if in a pinch! (LIke the last wedding cake I did, I had disasterous results with the mixes I used and "doctored" that day (maybe the brand?) I still don't know why...it was a spice cake and I had to start over and re-bake about half of the layers b/c they were dried and literally had cracks across the top like asphalt! Also, some of them stuck to the pans, when I pulled them out pieces broke off, ugh what a LOOOONG day of baking and decorating! I've never had that problem before or since, so I don't know what happened that day - mabye it was b/c it was spice cake? anyways, I was sure wishin' there was a bakery open to special order those darn spice cakes I needed and I would've just decorated them myself....you live you learn!
Why not try to bake some extra cakes, wrap and freeze. That way you will always have a back-up. You are getting a cake that has been frozen anyway from the store. If you are mixing up a quarter sheet in your bowl just double batch, you are baking anyway, so kill 2 birds with one stone.Don't get burned out, your burn out will start showing on your cakes.
I wouldn't do it. I'm busy too but my practice is simply not to take on more orders than I can handle in a given time. I don't have small kids at home anymore but I want this to be an enjoyable thing for me. Pushing myself to the place where I couldn't do the baking wouldn't seem right for me. I allow a certain amount of time for each cake and feel I only do my best when I allow sufficient time for each individual order. I prefer to do my cakes spreading the work over a few days so I am not cramming to get them done all at once. That's not to say I don't work into the early morning hours sometimes. I am at my most creative late at night. Personally I'd spend a day baking and freezing before I'd ever buy a ready made cake, plain iced or naked.
I've never done it, but I've never thought of it either...hmmm...
I think I would be worried that someone would ask me if it was from scratch, and then I'd be forced to 'fess up. And then they would feel "cheated" somehow.
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants don't bake their own cheesecakes in house. They are all made in St. Louis and shipped frozen to KC, etc. I remember when I found that out, I was like, umm, it's called the Cheesecake FACTORY? But they taste great! So I don't think there is anything wrong with freezing cakes until you need them... although I know some people think it gives cakes an off flavor. I think it depends on what is in the freezer with the cakes!
I'ver never doneit, but sure could use it this week. I have two teenage sons (15 & 16), one is on the high school football team and the other is in band. I also have a husband, 2 babies (our dogs) and a full time job and sell Avon. My husband gets so frustrated at me and tells me that I can't tell anyone no. I have laid down at 11 pm and woke up at 1 am to finish a cake. This week I had a birthday cake and a baby shower cake and then it turns into 2 birthday cakes, baby shower cake and the school wants to make a cake for the band for our first football game. I am very tired and just want to sleep but I CAN'T SAY NO, so don't feel bad. I am not doing this to myself again.
Don't u think if they wanted a Costco/other bakery cake they would go there to get it themselves... if you don't have time to bake it then don't take the order but for sure don't misrepresent and let them think that it is a cake u made yourself. I think u should tell the customers u do that for that u over extended yourself and purchased the cake but applied the decoration. If that is standard practice to buy the cake and u decorate it only u should let all your customers know.
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