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Choosing a birthday cake baker

If you’ve decided that the last-minute panic to straighten a toppling castle cake or fashion fairy wands from nothing but a few pieces of licorice is not your thing, then investing in a cake decorator to achieve your vision is a smart investment.

So, how do you choose the right cake decorator or baker to ensure you get the cake of your dreams?  Tania Spagnolo from Pure Cake Art offers her tips:

• Ask the right questions.  “Don’t be afraid to ask your baker if she makes her cakes from scratch.  If you’re paying a specialist baker, you want to know that your cake will have the best ingredients,” Tania says.
• Use word of mouth recommendations.  As with most things, word of mouth is usually the best way to source a good baker.  Ask other people who have had parties, christenings or weddings recently for their recommendations.
• Take a taste test.  Ask your cake decorator if she’ll make a sample cupcake of the cake flavour for you.  That way, you’ll be able to try before you buy, and it will also demonstrate her commitment to doing a good job for you.
• Do your homework. “When choosing the perfect cake for your child’s birthday or any other special occasion, it’s easy to get lost in the myriad of choice available,” Tania says.  “Spend some time doing some research – flick through magazines and surf the Internet to gain an idea of what you want before you meet with your cake decorator.”
• Share your inspiration. Take along ideas and inspiration – such as pictures, invitations, ribbons, motifs or colours - with you to your first meeting with your baker.  “Telling your baker that you’d like a green cake isn’t enough information,” Tania advises.  “Do you mean Lime?  Sage?  Jade?  Emerald?  The colour options are endless, so bring along enough visual information to show your baker exactly what you want.”
• Know your catering requirements. “It may seem simple, but make sure you have a firm idea of how many people you’ll be catering for.  That way, your baker will know exactly what size cake you need from the outset.”  Tania also suggests that people shouldn’t over-cater.  “You’ll find that some people don’t want to eat cake, so you’ll always have a few left over pieces as spares.”

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