Celebrate your lockdown birthday in style

One positive thing to come out of this horrible Covid-19 situation (you have to focus on the positives right?) is that I’ve had so many more celebration cake orders! If you’re going to celebrate your birthday in lockdown, you may as well do it in style. And a show-stopping birthday cake will definitely help.

From beautiful birthday cakes to boxes of cupcakes just to say hi to a loved one, I’ve been spreading some cakey joy around North Dorset over the last few weeks.

My favourites are from customers who are unable to visit their friends or family, and so it’s a complete surprise when I turn up on their doorstep - a social-distancing friendly two meters away of course!

Here are some highlights from the last few weeks…

A galaxy effect buttercream cake with sugar MIllennium Falcon and sugar light sabers. Star Wars logo and piped detailing around side.

Salted Caramel birthday cupcakes

Buttercream Easter cake with pastel wreath of buttercream rosettes and mini eggs.

Cake in the post - delivered through your letterbox to enjoy at home.

Buttercream birthday cake with pastel buttercream rosettes and personalised birthday presentation board.

Caked continues to offer celebration cakes of all sizes and cupcakes in boxes of 6 or 12. Free delivery to SP7 and SP8 postcodes or free collection from the Caked Studio just outside Shaftesbury. Please allow at least a week’s notice where possible.

Contact Claire here to get in touch!

Favours, tick. Place-settings, tick!

With wedding planning, it’s all about working down the list to make sure you’ve covered everything off. And when it comes to around the 6 month mark, it’s all about the extra details. Cake, flowers, table decorations, favours, place-settings…

What if you could tick two of those off in one go?

At Caked, I’ve been designing and making beautiful biscuit favours for years. They can be decorated in any way and often feature the bride and groom’s initials or wedding date.

They make the perfect favour - they’re small enough to fit in the tiniest of wedding handbags, edible so they normally never make it to those tiny handbags, and guests love them.

What guests love even more is seeing their own name on a biscuit!

Rather than spend extra money on a piece of paper and printing, which will be thrown in the bin at the end of the day, kill two birds with one stone and have your guests names piped beautifully onto decorated biscuits.

Simply send me your full guest list (with all the names spelt correctly!) and I will do the rest. Favour place-settings start at £3 each for a simple heart or circle piped with a name. Each favour is presented in a clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon colour of your choice.

And if you order alongside a wedding cake, that’s three things ticked off your list in one go!

For more info on favour place-settings click here. And if you would like to arrange a consultation to talk about your wedding cake and favours, contact Claire here.

How to make the most of your cake consultation

I may be biased, but the cake consultation is definitely the best part of wedding planning!

You get to eat cake, talk about your wedding day, and see your dream cake starting to come to life. All with a cup of tea, sat in a lovely little cake studio. What could be better?

Chances are you’ve had a think about what sort of cake you like, even if you haven’t quite decided yet. It’s good to arrive at your consultation armed with a few details to make the most of the session.

Here are my top tips for making the most of your wedding cake consultation…

• Make sure you have an idea of how much cake you would like served on the day, and whether you need any for after your wedding day. Is it to serve as dessert, or after a large meal? Will you be having a small celebration the next day? Do you want to keep the top tier? You can check out my top tips for cake portions here.

• Think about your venue and imagine your cake there. This will help decide what kind of cake to choose. For more information on types of wedding cakes, take a look at this post for some pointers.

• Pinterest boards are a bride’s (or groom’s!) best friend, and they give me a great idea of the style you’re drawn to. Get pinning!

• I’ll ask you lots of questions about your wedding plans. It’s not just me being nosey, we might touch on a detail for the cake that you hadn’t thought of. Feel free to bring along any invitations, dress swatches or photos of your flowers.

• If you have a budget you want to keep within, let me know. I can guide you through options to get your dream wedding cake even if budgets are tight.

• Make a list of any questions you have- it’s easy to forget them at the consultation.

• Be open to new ideas - you might just fall in love with something you didn’t even know was possible!

After your consultation, I’ll start work on your designs and send them over to you with your quote within a week. And I’ll keep designing until you’re completely happy.

Consultations are held at my cake studio in North Dorset, just outside Shaftesbury, and usually take about an hour. Contact Claire to book yours today!

Not able to make it down to Dorset? No problem! Caked now offers cake tasters by post, so you can enjoy them with a cup of tea in the comfort of your own home. Let me know if you would like cake delivered straight to your door (who wouldn’t?!).

Wedding cakes portion guide

So you know how much cake you’ll need for your wedding day, but what does that actually look like in cake form?

Last week I gave some tips on how to decide how much cake you’ll need on your wedding day - if you haven’t read it yet, take a look here. It’s a great place to start.

I always use a 3 tier cake as a guide for portions and prices. A 3 tier cake serves about 80 portions comfortably, and is usually the perfect size for a wedding of 80-100 guests if you’re serving cake in the evening.

At Caked, my standard tiers are made up of 4 layers of sponge, so they’re extra tall. Therefore portions can be cut smaller if needed.

Once you know how many portions you’re looking for, you can start building up your cake. To help, I’ve created this super simple guide below. And to make it even easier, scroll below the guide for options for small or large weddings.

Wedding Cake Portions Guide

Wedding cake for under 50 guests

There are so many options for smaller weddings, and don’t think you can’t have a wedding cake just because you don’t have enough guests to justify it. Here are some ideas:

• Opt for a small version of a tiered cake. Typical 3 tier cakes are made up of a 10”, 8” and 6” cake, but going for an 8”, 6” and 4” gives you a 3 tier cake with smaller portions.

• Single tier cakes - don’t think you have to have a multi-tiered showstopper of a cake. Single tiers or double tiers look just as beautiful.

• Dummy tiers - if you’re set on multiple tiers but really don’t want that much cake, go for one or more fake tiers, to give the illusion of a bigger cake.

• Cupcakes or similar - individual cakes take up more room and look like more cake!
  

Wedding cake for 120+ Guests

You’ll need a lot more cake to serve everybody. Here are some ideas:

• Large 4 tier cake - with a 12” cake on the bottom, this cake will serve 140 comfortably. That’s a lot of cake! You can upgrade to a 5 tier by adding a 4” cake on top for the ultimate showstopper.

• Cutting cake - this is a great way of adding more cake portions without breaking the budget. These are undecorated cakes that I hand to your caterer to slice up along with the rest of your cake. Your guests will never know!

• Dessert tables - you don’t have to just offer cake to your guests. Choose from a whole range of delicious desserts and mini cakes to serve alongside your main cake.

My final tip on deciding on portions for your wedding cake is over-order rather than under-order. You don’t want your guests fighting over the last slices of cake, and you can always freeze any leftover cake. You can enjoy it a few months later and it will taste just as good!

Hopefully my portions guide and tips for smaller and larger weddings will help you start to make sense of all the options available. Of course, I talk through all the possibilities in depth during your wedding consultation. To book yours for 2020 and beyond, contact Caked here.

Caked's top tips for deciding how much cake you need for your wedding day

One of the first things to decide when booking your wedding cake is how much cake you need (or want, two very different things!)

It sounds like a simple decision doesn’t it? Simply make sure there is a portion of cake for each of your guests?

There’s so much more to consider! And ultimately it comes down to how much cake you as a couple WANT at your wedding.

Read on for my top tips on how to decide…

Number of guests

This is one of the first things I ask my couples at a consultation. It also makes a difference if you are having additional evening guests, who will definitely want feeding!

Don’t assume all guests will have a piece of cake, especially if they have been gorging on delicious food throughout the day (see the next section!). Equally you don’t want to run out and will need to account for those who have more than one piece.

The wedding menu

An important thing to consider is what other food is being served throughout the day. If guests have enjoyed a seven course sumptuous wedding breakfast, they may not want a lot of cake straight after the meal. Equally so if you’re opting for evening food e.g. cheese or a food truck.

When to serve cake

Traditionally, the cake is served alongside coffee after the wedding breakfast. However, more and more couples are opting to serve cake as dessert. Offering a few different flavours will keep everyone happy, as well as cream, ice cream and fresh fruit to serve alongside.

Another option is to serve cake after your ceremony - people get hungry waiting for their meal! Remember there are absolutely no rules as to when to serve your cake, and it will definitely get the cake noticed more.

Take-away

You may wish to offer cake boxes to your guests at the end of the evening. Your caterers can prepare cake box portions at the same time as slicing up your cake so that they’re ready for guests to take when they leave.

Keep some!

So many of my couples tell me they never got to try their cake on the day because there was so much going on. What with photos, catching up with your guests, the first dance and everything else, it’s easy to miss the small details. I always advise my couples to save a little cake for the next day for themselves (breakfast anyone?)

If you’re having a gathering the next day, it’s great to have some cake to serve. It will still be delicious!

And of course, all of my cakes freeze well, so if you have leftover cake or a whole tier, it will last for up to 4 months. As long as you wrap it well and store it correctly, it will taste just as good!

Thank you to Divine Day Photography for the photo

So they are my top tips on deciding how much cake to serve at your wedding. The next stage is deciding how that looks in cake form…watch out for my post next week on how to decide how big your cake should be.

It’s wedding consultation season! Caked is super busy at the moment with enquiries and consultations for 2020 and 2021. Contact Claire here to book yours!

Naked, semi-naked, fondant - which cake is best for me?

As with any industry, cake design is full of terminology that you may not have come across until you come to order your wedding cake.

So what on earth is a semi-naked cake? And why are we even talking about nakedness? Here I’ve broken down the main types of wedding cake to make it all a little less daunting.

Naked cakes

Exactly what it says on the tin. It’s naked. Bare. Completely starkers. It’s filled with buttercream but that’s it. I don’t do a lot of naked cakes, as I always advise my couples that the outside edges will become dry - there is no stopping this! But if you have your heart set on a naked cake design, don’t let that stop you.

Semi-naked

This is half and half. You can see the sponge coming through, but it has a thin coating of buttercream around the edge. This is my most popular style of cake as they look beautiful, they’re affordable and the sponge won’t dry out.

Buttercream

This is a fully masked cake, you won’t see any sponge underneath. There are a number of different finishes for different effects. You can have a rustic imperfect finish, a beautiful smooth finish, or striped patterns for extra flourish.

Fondant

This is the traditional style, with smooth fondant icing. It’s what your parents or grandparents wedding cake would have looked like (although theirs would probably have been covered in royal icing which is a whole different ball game and very rare nowadays!) There are endless possibilities with decoration, colour and style. My fondant cakes have a layer of chocolate ganache inside to create a super neat finish, plus it makes it extra delicious.

So they are your four main types of wedding cake. Can’t decide? Why not mix and match! There are no rules when it comes to wedding cake design, so if you like the idea of a fondant tier topped with semi-naked tiers, that’s fine!

Caked designs and creates wedding cakes in Dorset and throughout the south and south west. Contact Claire to book your wedding cake consultation today!

Thank you to Anthony Keiler for the photograph.

Cake tasters delivered right to your door

Caked is now offering cake tastings by post!

The wedding cake consultation is arguably the best part of wedding planning (I may be biased!) but it’s not always possible to squeeze it in.

Now that Caked is based in Dorset, I have lots of London-based couples who are planning their wedding here, but find it difficult to fit in the countless consultations on their visits.

Though I still highly recommend a cake consultation in person if you can, you can now enjoy your cake tasters in the comfort of your own home.

You’ll receive a box of delicious cake samples in a range of flavours, sent in the overnight post to ensure they’re as fresh as possible. And you don’t even have to be in to sign for them. They’ll fit right through the letterbox so there’s no need to worry, you’ll cake will be waiting for you when you get in from work!

All you need to do is get the kettle on and enjoy.

Cake consultation boxes are £15 to order (this is still a complimentary part of your wedding booking, so this fee is deducted from your order at time of booking). We’ll then have a chat on the phone to discuss your cake and design in more detail.

Now there’s no excuse to delay your cake consultation - contact Caked here to order your cake tasters today! And make sure to include your wedding date to ensure I’m available for your date!

Cupcakes - Classic edition - box of 12 for £18

Cupcakes are perfect for any occasion - birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties, and more!

Until now, I have offered bespoke cupcakes, decorated especially for your event or celebration. I’ll still be offering these, but for those times when you need some simple delicious cupcakes, I’m introducing a range of Classics. All time favourite flavours that look beautiful, taste amazing, and easy on your purse!

Available in boxes of 12 only, you can choose from the following tempting flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet and Salted Caramel (one flavour per box). Gluten-free also available upon request.

Whether you’re having a small celebration, or wish to add to a celebration cake order, these will be sure to keep your guests happy!

Click here to find out more and order your box today!

All celebration orders are available to collect from the Caked studio, based just outside of Shaftesbury. Delivery also available, please contact for a quote.

Classic Celebration Cakes

Cakes make any occasion special, and now Caked is offering a beautiful range of affordable celebration cakes that are quick and easy to order. With one simple design, and the opportunity to personalise your cake, there is something for everyone.  

The Classic Celebration Cake is decorated with delicious fluffy buttercream, multi-coloured sprinkles cascading up the cake and topped with buttercream rosettes. With six colours available, it’s a cake for all ages and occasions. 

It couldn’t be easier to order your cake. Just contact Claire with the following…

·             Choose your size – available in 6”, 8” and 10”

·             Choose your colour – available in white, pink, blue, green, yellow and purple.

·             Choose your flavour – take a look at Caked’s full menu here.

·             Add any personalisation – include a piped sugar plaque for an additional £5, or a personalised base board in modern-style calligraphy for £10.

·             Date of your celebration

And that’s it! Here is the all important portion and pricing info:

6” - 12 servings - £42

8” - 20 servings - £55

10” - 30 servings - £75

It’s best to allow at least 3 days notice for cake orders, although order early to avoid disappointment. Delivery is available, please provide details and a quote can be provided. As always, collection from the Caked studio is completely free.

Click here for more information on Caked’s celebration cakes and to order.

Wedding Cakes - The Designs

One of my favourite parts of the wedding cake timeline is the designing. I love getting the creative juices flowing!

At your wedding cake consultation, we’ll chat about your dream cake. Some couples know exactly what they want their cake to look like. Other couples don’t have a clue! It doesn’t matter though. During our consultation, I’ll ask lots of nosey questions about your big day to draw inspiration for your cake design. We usually get to a rough idea of how it will look by the end of the session, after which I set to work.

Whether it’s a simple semi-naked cake decorated with just a few fresh flowers, or a multi-tiered show-stopping cake, I create bespoke cake designs especially for each of my couples. I never recycle old designs. I may only send you one design if you know exactly what you want, or I may send you four. Sometimes there may be a bit of back and forth to reach your perfect cake - that’s fine!

It takes about a week to send designs after your consultation, during which time I’ll be sketching up ideas and final drafts, and the all important pricing. Each design is carefully calculated taking into account cost of ingredients and materials, and time to create.

I love sketching couples’ cake designs, although I have to admit my sugar skills are far better than my drawing skills (which is good I suppose - your cake will always look better than the design!) With a few years of wedding caking under my belt now, my cake sketches are getting better and better, but just in case, all my designs are annotated to give you the best possible idea of how your cake will look.

To start planning your dream wedding cake, get in touch to arrange a consultation, and you can have your very own bespoke designs…and beautiful bespoke wedding cake!

The Frome Wedding Fayre - Sunday 8th September

I’m very pleased to announce that Caked will be exhibiting at the Frome Wedding Fayre on Sunday 8th September. If you’re planning your big day, come along to the Cheese & Grain in Frome to meet a whole host of lovely and unique suppliers.

Be sure to stop by the Caked stand to see my latest cake designs and try some delicious cake!

It’s completely free to pre-register for the event, just head over to The Wedding Emporium’s website here: https://the-wedding-emporium.com/pre-register/

I look forward to seeing you there!

Beating the Heat

It’s the hottest day of the year (so far) and for most that means an uncomfortable day of commuting and generally trying to keep cool. But for cake makers, it poses some particular challenges…

With the summer months being the most popular for weddings – although “off-season” is becoming increasingly popular nowadays – cake designers across the UK have all sorts of strategies for keeping their cakes looking beautiful and fresh.

My own strategies include ice packs taped to the inside of heavy-duty cake boxes, cranking up the air conditioning in the car for a good 15 minutes before setting off and shivering all the way (I’m usually very environmentally conscious but here I’m afraid I have accepted defeat), and keeping my cakes in the fridge for as long as possible before a flurried last minute prep.

In preparation for the big day, it’s always a good idea to discuss where the cake is going to be displayed, and make sure that it won’t be sat in direct sunlight. Venues will be able to advise on where the sun comes in during the day to avoid any such mishaps.

The type of cake is important as well. A fondant-covered cake is much more robust and can be left out without any problem (though still not in the direct sun!), but it’s always best to arrange delivery for semi-naked and especially buttercream-covered cakes as late as possible.

Buttercream wedding cake decorated with fresh flowers - photo by Alexander Newton Photography

 In short, we cake designers do everything in our power to make sure your cake arrives in pristine condition. It’s all about the planning, so speak to your cake maker if you’re worried about anything and they will be able to advise. Particularly as you never know what an English summer day will bring.

Happy heatwave everyone! I hope you and your cakes stay cool!

Introducing the Caked Studio

For the last few weeks I’ve enjoyed settling into my brand new studio, and I’ve been loving it!

After relocating my business from London to Dorset, I decided now was the time to create a dedicated cake space. I wanted somewhere that I could store all of my cake equipment and ingredients (there’s a lot!) and host consultations in a relaxed atmosphere.

As always with these kinds of projects, the final version ended up quite a bit bigger than the original plan, but I couldn’t be happier with my little cake studio. I enlisted Garden Affairs for the build and can’t recommend them enough (there’s a link to their website at the bottom of this post). They were so quick and efficient, and understood my vision perfectly.

Since the build, friends and family have been helping me paint and add all the finishing touches to make it my little cakey haven. Thank you to everyone that has been involved!

I’m now super excited to reveal all the hard work!

Come and see the studio by booking a wedding cake consultation or ordering a cake for collection (all by appointment only). Caked is located just outside of Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Garden Affairs design and build the most beautiful garden buildings, from sheds to actual mini houses! The designs are beautiful as well as functional, and the team are fabulous. Check out their website here: http://www.gardenaffairs.co.uk/

Love That Wedding Recommended

I’m excited to announce that Caked is now recommended by Love That Wedding! You may notice the new badge on my website, and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Love That Wedding. They’re a fantastic source of all things weddings in the South West, specifically throughout Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

I recently exhibited at their wedding fair in Salisbury back in March, and I’m hoping to attend more later in the year. The shows are the perfect way to meet all sorts of interesting suppliers in the area and collect inspiration for your big day.

Love That Wedding have been a great support to me while I relocate my business in the West, and I look forward to working with them closely over the next few years!

Dessert tables - when cake just isn't enough

Dessert tables are becoming more and more popular, with couples choosing to offer their guests a sumptuous spread of desserts and treats alongside their cake, rather than a traditional table-served dessert.

This can be a sumptuous display of desserts stretching as far as the eye can see, or simply some mini versions of your main cake or even cupcakes. You really can let your imagination run wild, and certain themes such as colours or flavours can be interweaved to create a gorgeous display.

I created this decadent display of desserts for Mary & Mark last summer. Alongside their show-stopping 4 tier wedding cake, they had brownies, mini cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, marshmallows, chocolate strawberries, sweets and decorated biscuits, all in romantic tones of pink, white and gold.

Louise & Nick opted for smaller wedding cakes rather than one large one as part of a dessert table, along with a macaron tower and more. All of the individual cakes and treats incorporated their colour themes and leaf motifs.

Beautiful photo by @parrotnpineapple

If you’d like to add fewer desserts to your cake table, smaller versions of your cake are a popular option. Serving a selection of mini cakes or cupcakes alongside your main cake creates interest and is a great way of adding portions. They’re also easy for guests to take home at the end of the evening, and children love them!

Caked offers a fully bespoke service for all budgets, so if you’re interested in adding something a little different alongside your wedding cake, get in touch to start designing your truly individual dessert table. Contact Claire at Caked to book your consultation here.

Love That Wedding Show 10th March 2019

I’m thrilled to announce that Caked will be exhibiting at the Love That Wedding Show at Salisbury City Hall on Sunday 10th March!

This is my first wedding show in the area and I’m excited to talk to couples about their wedding cakes, and meet all my lovely fellow suppliers.

If you’re planning your big day come along for what I’m sure will be an amazing day!

Caked has moved to Dorset!

I’m pleased to announce that Caked has relocated to the beautiful West Country.

For 3 years, Caked has been based in London and I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many beautiful venues such as Hedsor House, Kensington Roof Gardens and St Bart’s Brewery. I’ve also loved working with all the amazing wedding suppliers in the area.

Now it’s time for a bit of a change, and I’m delighted to be relocating to Shaftesbury in North Dorset. I’m busy building my cake studio which will be ready for action in a few weeks, and I’ll be hosting wedding consultations there from end of March onwards. I can’t wait to show it off soon!

I’m excited to explore my new area and meet new clients, suppliers and venues. I’m hoping to take full advantage of all the delicious local produce in the area, and integrate Caked into the local community.

I’ll be delivering throughout the South West and further if needed (cakes travel surprisingly well!), so if you’re planning a wedding or celebration soon, get in touch to enquire. I still have some dates free for this summer but don’t leave it too late - everything is handmade from scratch so I only take on a small number of orders per week.

For couples who have already booked for this year and next, not to worry! Nothing will change for you and you will still have your beautiful delicious wedding cake.

Interested in booking a consultation? Click here to contact Claire and start planning your dream wedding cake.

Friday Flavours - Strawberry Prosecco

Chances are, you're ordering a cake to celebrate something - perhaps it's your wedding day, a birthday or anniversary - and what better way to celebrate than with bubbles!

Caked's Strawberry Prosecco flavour is everything you want from a celebratory cake. Light vanilla sponge soaked in a prosecco syrup and filled with prosecco buttercream and strawberry conserve. It's light, it's fun and a little bit cheeky!

Glass of Prosecco optional.

Click here for more information on booking your wedding cake with Caked.

Friday Flavours - Classic Carrot Cake

Whenever I include carrot cake in a consultation, without fail someone will say - "Ah my mother/grandmother/aunt used to make the best carrot cake"

And that's why we love it! Carrot cake is comforting, it's delicious, and it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

I offer my carrot cake with or without walnuts (my preference is with), and with or without raisins (my preference is without). Everyone has an opinion on these details! A white chocolate buttercream filling is the perfect accompaniment.

Got a sudden craving for carrot cake? Click here to find out more about booking your wedding cake with Caked and to arrange a consultation (and eat some cake).

Your Wedding Cake Consultation with Caked

It's a busy time in the Caked Kitchen! Wedding season hasn't officially started yet, but lots of couples are now at the stage of planning all the extras for their day, and most importantly their wedding cake.

A consultation is a great opportunity to talk in detail about your wedding cake. We'll talk about all the aspects of your wedding - your flowers, your wedding breakfast, your schedule for the day - all the details that can affect the cake. You'll be able to flick through some magazines and my portfolio for inspiration. You can even bring along your invitations and dress swatches.

I'll be able to advise how much cake is needed, where the cake should be displayed, and all the other details for your big day. 

All of this over a cup of tea and plenty of cake to taste. It's one of my favourite parts of cake designing! 

Together we'll come to a design you love. This may not be at your consultation, but I will keep designing until you have your dream wedding cake.

Contact Caked to book your wedding consultation! Consultations are a complimentary part of your wedding cake booking - there is a £25 charge but this is deducted from your order at time of booking.