Your client wants the moon but they're also on a budget. How do you keep them happy AND make a profit?
As an enthusiastic cake decorator, it can be so tempting to over deliver especially when you are super excited about the design request.
To help you STOP undercharging and over delivering, here are my 5 top design tricks used in my cake business to deliver show stopping cakes to match your client's budget.
Deliver a sculpted cake - the cheats way
Sometimes they literally want a moon! While a full 3D cake may not fit in budget, a half ball is a great way to create the wow factor with little extra effort. Bake in a half sphere cake tin for a zero effort sculpted cake.
TIP: Apply the buttercream with a flexible scraper. You can buy these or make your own from the thick plastic divider from an office folder.
TIP: Place a flour nail in the centre of the half sphere baking tin for an even bake.
2. Create height for impact.
On this extra tall cake I've strung paper bunting between three candles. This extra height helps balance the height of the dinosaur detail on the top of the cake with the extra tall cake height.
TIP: Make your own bunting from washi tape and 2-tone twisted thread. Just fold the tape over the thread then cut into triangles.
3. Choose a focal point.
The dragon was the most important detail for this client, so I've spent most of my decorating budget focusing on this. The castle itself was quick to produce with a 3 shades of buttercream and a brick texture pressed in after chilling. The door is made from modelling paste.
(I've also added height for impact again on this cake with the flag.)
TIP: Incorporating the child's name into the crenellations / battlements is a creative way to make it stand out.
4. Mix simple and detailed decorations.
This child wanted a fire engine while mum only needed a small cake. To create an impactful design, I chose to make the detailed fire engine in 3D (so the child could play with it before eating) and created the impact with simple and quick-to-make flat plaques.
(On this cake you can see that height has been incorporated for impact and I've used a half ball shape for a fun and unexpected design)
TIP: Cookie cutters are a great way to make flat shapes quickly, or you can cut them freehand. To do this, after rolling out the modelling paste, allow it to dry for a few minutes to firm up, then cut to shape with a scalpel or the cutting wheel tool. Leave to dry on a foam mat.
5. Create impact with texture.
Kids LOVE this popular design and it only needs a few quick-to-make modelling paste features. The fur detail is created with buttercream and Wilton 234 piping tip. It takes a little time to get the hang of this tip but the results are spectacular.
(If you look back, I've also used texture on the castle walls and door and on the moon cake)
TIP: Coat the cake in a thin layer of blue buttercream before adding the hair to conceal any gaps.
6. My №1 tip to AVOID undercharging
Creative designs are a great way to deliver cakes with the WOW factor on any budget, but the only way to really avoid undercharging is to get your quotes right in the first place.
You'll never be able to pay yourself a fair wage if your prices aren't accurate, and that starts with understanding your costs.
Want to know what to charge?
Grab the FREE recipe costing guide here.
Or get the Cake Pricing Guide and Calculator here
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