Why Do Hand-Made Cakes Cost More Than Store-Bought?

This is a question independent cake makers are asked often! How many home bakers have been told that their cakes cost too much? Here is a log of the making of an average custom cake from start to finish! We have tried to add a rough estimate of the time taken by each step in bold!

  1. These steps only relate to the actual making of the cake. They don't show the time spent talking to the client about design, dates, collection, etc... Or the time spent shopping (ingredients and materials)....Or the time sketching the design, assembling everything needed, covering the board and rolling out fondant!  2hrs
  2. The cakes are baked (most cakes are made up of several cakes!). Then you wait for them to cool whilst doing washing up, cleaning and tidying. 1 hr
  3. The cakes are carved into the final shape, given a thin layer of buttercream coating and left to set.  25mn
  4. The surface is smoothed, then covered in fondant. 20mn
  5. The outside of the cake is polished and left to dry. 15mn
  6. Whilst this is all happening, the main character and all the decorations and details are made by hand. 2 1/2 hours
  7. The cake is finally assembled, ribbon is placed around the board, final details are added, and any trace of icing sugar is removed. 1 1/2 hr
  8. The kitchen and cake decorating tools are cleaned, aprons and tea towels are put in the wash, floor is mopped and all materials put away. 30mn
  9. Finished cake is placed in the box and delivered (free local delivery, delivery fee applied for long distance and out of state). 30mn
The grand total comes to about 9 hours work or more! Would you do any other job and happily accept to be paid next to nothing?

Now, none of these calculations include money spent on ingredients, materials, electricity, or gas! So, next time you feel you are being charged too much, keep in mind how much work your baker puts into making your event as special as it can possibly be.