Cake Cost

• Bakeries typically charge per serving or per slice when making a cake for a birthday party, special event or gala.
• Supermarket cakes typically range from 35 cents -$2 a slice. These are normally white, yellow or chocolate sheet cakes decorated simply with butter cream icing. Publix, a chain of grocery stores in the Southeast, offers a full sheet cake with 80 servings for $76, or 95 cents per serving.
• Inexpensive bakery cakes typically range from $1 -$2 slice. This includes decorated round cakes, square cakes and sheet cakes, typically with butter cream icing. For example, Essential Cakes in Brooklyn sells a 14-inch round cake to feed 60 guests for $95, or $1.58 per slice.
• Moderate bakery cakes typically range from $3 -$4 a slice. These cakes may feature premium ingredients, specialty flavors and fondant icing. Chicago's Bittersweet bakery offers an 8-inch cake to serve 12 guests for around $42, or $3.50 per slice.
• Sculptured cakes or 3-D cakes typically range from $4 -$14 per serving. The skill level of the cake artist will determine the actual price within this range. At the lower end of this range, Cakes by Sam in Arkansas and Janet's Cakes in Kentucky both offer 3-D sculptured cakes for around $4 per serving. On the flip side, the minimum order from Charm City Cakes in Baltimore is $1,000, making a 50-serving cake about $20 per slice.

• A party cake should be baked fresh according to the pick-up day and time.
• Cakes are commonly decorated with butter cream frosting, royal icing or fondant. Fondant is a thick, smooth icing that can be rolled out like dough or cut into decorative shapes. Colors and flavors are often added to fondant before it is placed on the cake.

• If not included in the order cost, consultations including tastings can cost $25 to $100 per hour, though some bakeries provide this service for free. For example, Cake Dot in Columbus, OH, offers a one-hour consultation with tastings of two possible cake flavors for $25. Meanwhile, Carlo's Bakery in New Jersey charges a non-refundable $100 fee to secure a cake consultation.
• Expect to pay up to a 50 percent deposit on large cake orders.
• Cake delivery is not typically included in the price. Deliveries within the area can cost $20 to $45. Charm City Cakes charges $175 per hour for this service, and delivers within four hours of Baltimore.

• Save up to 45 percent per serving when ordering a bakery's largest cake. Generally, the larger the cake, the cheaper each slice will be.

• Search the Independent Bakeries directory for cake shops, categorized by state and city.
• Higher-end bakery cakes and sculptured cakes typically require a consultation with the cake artist. Ask if a consultation or tasting is included in the cost.
• Depending on the bakery and total order, a contract may be issued. Read the fine print before signing or placing a deposit.
• Research accredited bakeries at the Better Business Bureau.

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