Cake Cost

Typical costs:

• 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[1] , 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[2] 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[3] in Arkansas and Janet's Cakes[4] 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[5] 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[6] in Columbus, OH, offers a one-hour consultation with tastings of two possible cake flavors for $25. Meanwhile, Carlo's Bakery[7] 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[8] 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.

1.  www.publix.com/food/catalog/Bakery/DecoratedCakes/Information.do
2.  www.essentialcakes.com/cake_flavors
3.  www.cakesbysam.com/all_about_cakes.html
4.  www.janetscakes.com/infopage.html
5.  thetwistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/40-bday.jpg
6.  www.cakedot.com/KidsCakes1.html
7.  www.carlosbakery.com/consultations/
8.  independentbakeries.com/

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