Diplomatic Way To Handle Recipe Requests?
Decorating By ladybuglau Updated 30 Jul 2007 , 11:38pm by ladybuglau
Hi, I was just wondering if you all have a particular strategy for handling recipe requests. I don't mind sharing recipes with friends and family friend or with CC but when I'm at a party and someone is gushing over the cake I made and I hand them one of my cards and they ask for my recipe I don't know how to respond. I don't want to sound nasty by refusing, but I want them to order a cake from me if they liked it so much! not take my recipe and make it at home! 
Just be nice about it. "I'm sorry, but it's taken me years to perfect my recipes. A good place to start looking is <insert website here>. They have tons of good recipes to take a look at and this is how I started too."
I don't mind sharing either, but I do draw a line.
Do what that big department store with their cookie recipe.....have them come over take their credit card and charge them 250.00 (J/K)
Just say (when you are out somewhere) "I don't have the recipe on me, and I can't really remember how it goes" or just simply say.." this recipe took me a long time to create I would rather not give this recipe out but thanks for liking it so much you should ask. "
Something along those lines 
What has worked for me is "It's an ancient chinese secret". It's funny and they get the picture.
There are times when I'm asked for a recipe I smile and pretend I didn't hear that part of the conversation and let it go. If they bring it up again, I thank them for the compliment of asking for the recipe, but like many food businesses it's the "secret" behind my success. You can also make a joke of it, -- If I tell you, I'll have to kill you -- kind of thing.
It's a "secret family recipe", "top secret"! My Mom used to use those when she did cakes back in the day. She shared with select close friends and family but absolutely would not give recipes out otherwise. Your recipes are what make your cakes special and you are soooo right, if everyone could make your cakes who would come to you? Keep it your own girl. Mom just made a semi-silly comment and kept smiling.
Elle
Hi, I was just wondering if you all have a particular strategy for handling recipe requests. I don't mind sharing recipes with friends and family friend or with CC but when I'm at a party and someone is gushing over the cake I made and I hand them one of my cards and they ask for my recipe I don't know how to respond. I don't want to sound nasty by refusing, but I want them to order a cake from me if they liked it so much! not take my recipe and make it at home!
OMG i just had that happen to me at work, Im to do a Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Jam in the layers and she wants it for Aug 17 she ordered it 2-3wks ago the other day she came in to my office and asked "Do you have a good Chocolate Receipe for icing im want to make me a cake and dont have any clue I was Stumpped , I will definataley take this advise, Its great and professional too. Thanks
makes sense to go the joking route, then we'll at least have a laugh while getting my point across. I always felt bad and wound up giving in then felt mad at myself afterward. I think maybe it has to do with the fact that it didn't come from a bakery, cause noone would call up a bakery and ask for their recipes. Or do they? 
I tell them I have a bad habit of not measuring--which I really do 
and it drives my family insane. So I never know exact measurements on my "extra" things. I just pour until I think it looks and smells right.
I did give my SIL one of my recipes since she lives a few hours away and wanted to recreate it. She swears I'm leaving something out since she can't get her cake to come out like mine. So I just tell people even if I gave them the recipe, it still might not work right, so I don't want to take a chance on disappointing them. They usually shrug their shoulders and say something like I must just have a magic touch. Then it gets dropped.
I have had this problem before and for some reason I just can't turn to someone and say "secret recipe" etc. Yes, I think it is rude for people to even ask. So my response is this "I make such large batches at a time, I really wouldn't even begin to be able to do the calculations to tell you how to make a small amount for one cake." I then tell them my basic ingredients and that seems to statify them. So I am not telling them I won't share it with them, I am telling them I can't because of measurement reasons - sounds nicer to me
I have had this problem before and for some reason I just can't turn to someone and say "secret recipe" etc. Yes, I think it is rude for people to even ask. So my response is this "I make such large batches at a time, I really wouldn't even begin to be able to do the calculations to tell you how to make a small amount for one cake." I then tell them my basic ingredients and that seems to statify them. So I am not telling them I won't share it with them, I am telling them I can't because of measurement reasons - sounds nicer to me
This is what i say, but somtimes they still keep on,
If you want to make your point, you can say I'd be happy to trade it for a dental cleaning or_______ ( insert whatever she does for a living).
People sometimes forget that this is how we pay our bills and send our kids to college. Sometimes by tossing it back at them in a nice way, they get it.
If you want to make your point, you can say I'd be happy to trade it for a dental cleaning or_______ ( insert whatever she does for a living).
that is a GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to use it... the last person who asked for my recipes was an interior designer, bet she would've choked on her cupcake!
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