I am VERY new to cake decorating so forgive me if I am asking this in the wrong way! I just received an order for a sheet cake with a company's new webpage on it. I do not have access to a special printer to print out the exact photo on an icing sheet. I am good at free hand but this is a photo of a small child holding a baby. I have done characters but I don't know how real people will turn out on a cake. Any suggestions or should I simply tell the customer that I don't feel comfortable doing it? Also, she wants half chocolate, half vanilla to serve roughly 15 people. Should I do an 8" in chocolate and another 8" in vanilla. And then, how do I put it together? I appreciate any and all advice--as I said above, I am new to this. Jennifer
If you have a cake supply store or a local bakery who can print out an edible image, that could be your answer.
If I had a customer want a 2-flavored cake for 15, I'd first have to tell them I don't do cakes that small, and second, a 2-flavor cake for one that small isn't possible. (Others may have no problem with this, but I personally won't do it.)
I would do two 8 inch sqaure pans and then put them together when you decorate. As for the decorating if you can print out the image onto regular paper and then trace it onto wax paper. they have it on the article section how to do it. I did it last weekend it turned out fantastic.
For the logo, you could try a frozen buttercreme transfer. I've never done them myself, but I would like to sometime. I think the basic idea is to pipe icing onto waxed paper which is laid over top of a mirror image of what you want to "trace". Then freeze. When solid, flip it over onto your cake and you have a nice looking drawing. The concept sounds great, but maybe it's easier said than done.
As for the flavor, I don't do a two flavor cake for cakes that small. If I have to make a double batch or more of batter anyway, then I let the customer have the choice of making it marble or half and half, but not if I would normally only need a single batch. Unless of course, they are willing to pay extra for it, then they may have any flavor their little heart desires. If it's extra expense for you, then it should be passed on to them.
Thank you for the advice. I think I'm just going to go for it and let the customer know that 1) I am new and 2) I will try to do the people as realistic as possible but that it definitely won't look exactly like the webpage. I'll let her know if they want a copy of the webpage then they can go to Cub Foods and have them do the cake b/c I don't have the ability to do an exact copy. Thanks again for your help. I'm up for a challenge!
I agree with Indydebi...you can print their logo (or have them print one for you) and take it to a bakery and they will probably be able to print you an edible image. this way you will not have to draw it out. Very easy and add this to your cost of the cake because it may be like $10 more for that image.
I have been open for 3 months and I never turn anyone down for anything, At least not yet. If it is something that I am not sure about the results then I tell them I am going to do the best I can on this. I don't turn anyone down because I know that once they taste my cakes, I have got them away from the grocery store forever, woo, ha ha. When I get really busy, then I can be more discriminating. I don't know if any of this applies to you, but that is how I'm doing things.
I wonder if she wants an exact copy? I often do my own creative interpretation on things like this. Is the person holding the baby something you could do in fondant for a 3D cake and really WOW them? Then hand draw some of the other elements and match colors?
As far as half and half flavors. You could bake one single 8" round one flavor and the other single the other flavor, then cut them in half and stack and put the peices together. That is what I would do. But I am not in a position to say No just yet.
If I'm not getting much $$ out of a cake like this then I try to upsale fillings and such!
Good luck!
Oh, I just saw that it was a 1/2 1/2 sheet cake for 15, I do these all the time. I just make a 9 x 13 sheet cake and tell them it serves 20 so they'll have some left over. They have all been happy so far!
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