Why Do People Order Cakes Like This?

I've been getting specific requests for cake orders recently that have been bothering me and in this video, I am going to talk about why! I think it's important to educate our customers and let them know what will look best and do what we can to help them make the right decision when ordering cakes!
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VIDEOS I REFERENCED:
BARNYARD ANIMALS CAKE TUTORIAL - • Make This Adorable Bar...
3D TEDDY BEAR CAKE TOPPER - • Adorable Teddy Bear Ca...
HOW TO BAKE LARGE CAKES - • 12 Inch Round Cake - B...
CAKE TORTING ADVICE - • When To Torte And When...
SHEET CAKE TUTORIAL - • This Is The First SHEE...
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Karolyn’s Kakes provides cake decorating tutorials and tips to help you make amazing cakes.
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[@aracelisoyola7166]

The “annoyance fee” should be a thing 😂😂🥰

[@KarolynsKakes]

So glad I'm not alone and people can relate to that! 😂😂

[@sweetpjess]

I am HOWLING while watching this.🤣🤣🤣 I had someone do the same recently. They wanted the exact size you said, 10" to serve 10 people. I was like ma'am.... a 6" or 7" would be sufficient. They were shook. The best is when they send pictures thinking they know the size. And YES!!! we know better serving sizes and proportions because we've been doing this for YEARS! This video needs to go out to EVERY single cake client that exists on the planet. HAHAH yes to the annoyance fee!!!👏👏👏

[@poppywallace9759]

I had a nightmare of a customer who wanted a cake to feed 10-15. I did a 6 inch, and it was even a tall 6 inch, and she went crazy! She actually told me that it won't feed that many (This is all in msg after she picked up and thanked me.) I sent her the cutting chart showing that it's a 14 serving cake, and she told me that I HAVE to be kidding.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that we can all relate to this! 😂😂😂

[@laurasaralegui9431]

Because you guys are not hispanic here in mexico a 10 inch cakes feeds 10 because the servings are bigger then in us I sell mainly to Hispanics and that's the norm if you make the pieces smaller here it means you are cheap and couldn't afford a big enough cake to serve decent slices

[@Childfree_Forever]

​@@laurasaralegui9431I agree. I'm African American and we eat really big slices as well (at least in my family and friend group), so if I'm going to be feeding 15 people, I want a cake that serves 30. Depending on how many guests I have, I want twice as much cake. Besides, people like to take home a slice as well.

[@maggieburris1081]

The annoyance fee lol, we all relate. I’ve had some people ask for large 1 tier cakes. If I can’t talk them into a 2-3 tier cake then I too will just make it and be done with them. I had a lady that finally agreed to a 2 tier but she wanted a 10 inch on a 12 inch. Just decorated on the sides, no topper, she bought something for the top. 😒 she assured me they had something. She didn’t realize quite what this would look like. She was disappointed but also admitted it was exactly what she ordered. She did however LOVE the cake and how it tasted. She has since ordered 2 more large cakes from me, gave me complete creative control. She just gave me a theme and a number of servings she needed and said run with it.

[@KarolynsKakes]

It's almost like you want to get the cake dummies and send them a picture so they know in advance what they are asking for. A lot of people have no idea what it will look like, so a visual really helps! And at least she didn't blame you for how it looked and ended up being a repeat customer!

[@maggieburris1081]

@@KarolynsKakes I use my cake dummies a lot for bridal consultations. I have a bride who just can’t meet with me. She’s had my cakes before at anniversary and birthday parties. But we just can’t meet up because of her schedule. So I’m taping a yard stick to the wall and stacking dummies and sending pictures… that’s our consultation lol

[@Patdif]

I absolutely agree with you! People that are not in the cake industry just do not understand correct proportions that look good. I get this all the time in my wedding cake business.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I don't blame them for not knowing, but hopefully they listen to us and what we recommend because we know what will look good and what won't!

[@eileenbelk1231]

I actually have in my wedding cake agreement document that while they will decide on the elements and look of their cake, the final design details are mine. I remind them that they hire me for my experience and knowledge to make their cake look beautiful and taste delicious and knowing what works and what won't is included in the fee. Cuz you are right! It is so annoying when they insist on something that won't look right. Lol, I can get a little snarky cuz I say so innocently....."oh show me how you did that on the cake you made". Usually crickets for a second or two and then we carry on. I think the request for single tier cakes or smaller cakes are usually based on a low budget not understanding, like you said, it isn't the amount of cake that drives the cost. But even the cakes you aren't happy about look great to me.

[@KarolynsKakes]

Thank you Eileen! I think I'm going to steal your idea and add some wording on my contract that states something similar. If you never ordered a cake before, you wouldn't know what looks right and what doesn't. So it's important that we educate them!

[@eileenbelk1231]

I love that you want to use a practice of mine!! For me the bottom line is they will ALWAYS blame the cake/cake maker no matter how adamant they were about what they thought they wanted. That's why I won't do base cakes for fresh flowers and I state that several times in writing and verbally. If someone gets sick it will be the cake and not because they stuck toxic, chemical laden, sap oozing flowers in it. Lol, I'm not quite as snarky there, I let them know it's for safety purposes cuz you don't want your wedding to be the event where you find out someone is deathly allergic to Eucalyptus. They just don't realize these flowers and foliage that are so commonly used are actually toxic. As you say, it's our job to educate them. ❤

[@paulajohnson1096]

I now know why I look shorter than I used too😳😱😭

[@sharimcdermott8139]

Kar, I don’t even make cakes & I’m over here learning all the things and laughing. I get so excited when I see you post a new vid - You’re the best!

[@KarolynsKakes]

Awwwww I miss you!! Thank you love! 💜

[@Ms16Mona]

I love making small one tier cakes and love the taller ones better. I call these my personal size cakes when a customer say it’s just for 10-20 servings. I sell these size cake more than the two tier. No, one wants to be bother with cutting a two-tier.

[@niviamendoza1143]

I agree, and especially for big events 2 layer large cakes are so much easier to cut for 300 people than a 3 or 4 layer tall small cakes. Just depends on the event, I think.

[@lindyannfarrier8463]

In my country we do one tier on a regular basis, just not 10" but 9". Tiered cakes are more often for wedding or grand events ...

[@KarolynsKakes]

Interesting! Where do you live?

[@clwest3538]

I love cakes and have been decorating for my grand daughters' (and family) birthdays! I've learned so much from you! If I had ordered that owl cake, I would have passed out - I think it turned out so stinking cute (albeit not like her picture)! Love the log look!! My reason for loving cake (besides taste) is how happy I was with my favorite birthday cake - I was really in to horses and covered wagons etc. The lady made my cake a sheet cake ... green frosting with a road through it ... royal icing trees, pebbles on a stream the road crossed with a bridge ... and a china horse and covered wagon on the trail. I am in my 60s and still have that little china wagon and the horse head vase I received that day - my absolute favorite birthday; think I was 11 or 12! I strive to make my cakes memorable for my family and appreciate your videos!

[@KarolynsKakes]

This is so sweet! Cakes really do help create lasting memories. My mom used to make us special cakes when I was little and it's one of the reasons why I started as well!

[@HappyDog47075]

One tier is easier for people to transport. They want multiple servings so people can have multiple servings and they can also send dessert home with guests. They want something that tastes good and looks are secondary. It’s pretty common in large and 1st-2nd generation families. If you afraid it will break, but a piece of cardboard underneath the box.

[@KarolynsKakes]

That's understandable! If someone ordered a big cake and told me that they don't care how it looks and just want something that tastes good, then I'd be more inclined to just make it as big as they want. I should start asking that when I get these requests!

[@michelewells85]

I absolutely agree with up to the part about sheet cakes. I think they are boring and I will not make them. Some customers start off requesting a sheet cake because they think they need that to have more servings. I steer them towards a round, tall or tiered cake using a video on how to serve them. So far, every client has agreed and loved the outcome!

[@KarolynsKakes]

I was against sheet cakes for so long, but I've found my love for them again! But I agree, I do try to educate people so they know that a tiered cake will look so much better.

[@sandramendoza4735]

Thanks for ur honesty. Love ur channel.

[@sharonmaher6208]

Much needed video, you are speaking the complete truth.

[@KarolynsKakes]

Thank you Sharon! 🙏

[@veronicastephens5408]

Thank you so much for sharing. It all totally makes sense! 👏🏽.. Love your NJ girl. 💜

[@KarolynsKakes]

💜💜💜

[@veronicastephens5408]

@@KarolynsKakes 😉

[@reginathornton3148]

I agree just learning to decorate

[@deloreslee8381]

Yes, we've received those requests as well.

[@natashaaquino1591]

I totally agree with you! The biggest cake I make is a 9 inch, I won't go bigger than that. Cakes are more "aesthetic" being tall and narrow. People are still on the 90s. Oh and I totally hate sheet cakes too. And one of the things that gives me the ick is when clients say, something like: I don't need a huge cake, it's only for 20 people. And Im like, since when a cake for 20 people is small??? Or when they're like: it's a simple cake, and then proceed to send me a reference picture of a not-at-all simple cake. Smh, I'm instantly discouraged from giving them a quote because in most of the cases they're expecting a super low price for that "small/ simple"cake.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I get that too! I think people say that to try to get in your head that it shouldn’t cost a lot because they believe it’s small. 🤣

[@ninibren]

I just had one of these. A lady wanted a cake for 50 people and she kept saying It was a really simple design. She wanted it to have the quilted look with dragees and thought that was a really simple design. I said you have no idea how long placing all those dragees takes. And then to make matters worse , she wanted it for $100 for 50 people because itwas such a simple design. 😂

[@nataliedowning4392]

Hi uk watcher here love your videos im wanting to try cakes iv done two already. But very stressful on the day making and decorating how long do you defrost your cakes for after freezing before decorating and where do you store your fondant decorations when doing in advance xx

[@TheChoco5]

Love your videos. Love your work!

[@KarolynsKakes]

Thank you so much!

[@juliesigmund3836]

It's so funny you posted this video. I have to make a semi naked wedding cake for my son's wedding next weekend. His fiance and I decided to go with a three tiered cake that's 10' 8"and 6" instead of a large 12". It's also our anniversary and her parents'anniversary so, I'm making two 8" cake's to set on each side. Hopefully it won't look too awkward. 😂 That's a lot of cake for 50 people but, she wants extra to take home.

[@angelanash3109]

Wow!! Karolyn there are a lot of things consumers need to consider before choosing the in-outs of cake buying. Btw I love your cakes.🎂 This was a much needed video! Tfs:) …Keep Up the good work😊

[@KarolynsKakes]

Angela! Thanks so much!!💜🙏

[@erickapujol265]

I absolutely agree with you

[@maxinebracey9176]

Smaller tiers are so much easier to deal with.

[@jpendowski7503]

I’m not a baker, I’m a cake fan. I have been served tiny specks of cake at parties by people who did not know how to cut a tiered cake. Then there is a large slab of cake sitting around and it is awkward to ask for seconds. I went back for a forgotten jacket and saw the staff dump it in the trash. Listening to your baker and having staff who can cut & serve is key to getting your money’s worth for a special occasion cake.

[@KarolynsKakes]

Exactly!! You would think that restaurant staff would know how to properly cut and serve, but that's not always the case. That's insane that you saw it in the trash! What a waste.😢

[@jesskakesllchorton4940]

😂😂😂😂😂drives me crazy!!!! On the cake request on my website asks the customer how many serving do they need and they still order by the inch. It also clearly says 15 serving minimum and they put 10 servings.

[@JoCreative66]

Hi Karolyn,what would you say if a customer wanted a 5 tier wedding cake,to feed 200 as the dessert.Would you make one layer for the 'cutting'photos,and the other dummy cakes with sheet cakes to serve,or 5 large cakes?always wondered!hope this makes sense x

[@carollageson9839]

Agree 100% with everything you said

[@Brandi_the_Baker]

I hate when someone shows me a cake completely decorated with fondant but then says I want it all buttercream because I don’t like fondant. SMH. They just don’t understand the limitations buttercream has. Also, my fondant actually doesn’t taste bad but you can literally take it off and just eat the cake. Why people are against this, I will never know.

[@KarolynsKakes]

Yes! It's so hard to replicate a fondant cake only in buttercream. I personally don't like fondant. I never eat it. When I have a piece of cake that has fondant on it, I eat the cake and the icing and leave the fondant on the plate!

[@brookeogara2202]

Mine is kinda the opposite. I get requests for an extravagantly decorated cake, and they order a 2 layer, 6 inch cake. 😂 Buy yes, I don’t like big one tiered cakes, either. The biggest I will do is a 9 inch. But would much rather do a 7inch-5inch tiered cake!

[@KarolynsKakes]

Agreed! And I get those requests too. It's like...I need a lot more space to be able to fit all of this on one cake!😂

[@belle1761]

pardon my ignorance (I am a newbie) but what's the purpose of torting a cake?

[@victoriasmith2965]

Lol. I said ick the other day and my husband was like did you just say ick? Like i did something wrong 😂😂😂😂😂 im 33 😂

[@KarolynsKakes]

I feel like after 30, we should just stop saying the current vernacular. We sound ridiculous! 😂😂

[@mombux]

and i hate making sheet cakes too. smoothing the edges is hard

[@KarolynsKakes]

It's definitely harder to ice sheet cakes than round ones. However, with sheet cakes, we can cover up the edges with a border so it can hide a lot of the flaws!

[@BeeRavie]

I think there is a bit of intimidation about how to cut and serve a two tier cake

[@KarolynsKakes]

That makes sense!

[@mrs.m8732]

I absolutely love the annoyance fee! Great idea! 💡 YES!! 😂

[@KarolynsKakes]

😂😂😂

[@ninibren]

Yes! You know I have. Ugh! So annoying! I really love when someone says, “ I’ve seen your other cakes and I love them so here’s the theme, do your thing. ❤ An annoyance fee? Yes! 😂

[@CakesbyLaurel]

Do you ever make a sketch of what the final cake will look like using the odd proportions that people are asking for to give them an idea of what it is going to look like.

[@KarolynsKakes]

No, but I think I would just take a picture of my huge awkward cake dummies and send it to them to see what they say! 😂

[@CakesbyLaurel]

@@KarolynsKakes good idea 💡

[@carolinatorres7453]

This is an honest question and I mean no disrespect. Why does it make you annoyed that a person wants to buy a 10 inch cake to feed 10 people? The American way of standardizing how much people should eat when it comes to a cake is not recognized everywhere. Others go to a baker or bakery and instead of “how many people are you feeding”, the question will be “how many pounds of cake would you like?” Customer determines how much they will feed their guests.

[@KarolynsKakes]

No worries I don't think it's disrespectful! I go by the Wilton Cake Serving Chart, which is pretty much industry standard. I have modified it to my liking, but my chart pretty much follows the Wilton one, with some modifications. My cakes are approx. 5" high. A standard serving slice is approx. 1 - 1.5" wide x 2 - 3" long x 5" tall. If you want to cut larger slices from the cake, it doesn't mean that it serves less people, it's just that you're eating more than one serving of cake. Think of it this way. I've polished off an entire bag of Doritos all by myself. That was one serving to me that day. However, if you read the bag, one serving is approx 12 chips. There are like 9-10 servings in a bag! (I totally regretted that the next day 😂) If people want extra servings or extra cake left over, then I would recommend getting a larger cake. But, for the most part, a lot of people don't realize how many servings a cake yields. So it's my responsibility to educate them and let them know their options. I will absolutely make a larger cake if they want, I will quote the different prices for the different sizes and let them choose!

[@tessmazie]

American cake servings don't go by weight. I always ask how many servings and size & price my cakes in that way. Going by weight doesn't take into account the decorations wanted/needed for the cake. I take it you're not in America, how do you price by weight and take into account and price the decor?

[@jeanettemartinez6558]

I don’t like when people send me a picture cake from another baker and wants me to make it 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️same thing with how big of a cake.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I feel like it's inevitable that we will get pictures of other people's work and get asked to recreate it. I always tell people, "I can do something similar, but I can't guarantee an exact replica as artistic expression varies." That way, they don't expect it to look the same. It's hard for me to replicate my own designs exactly as they are in the picture, let alone someone else's!

[@tabindawhala]

Agreed

[@danandalihilton6076]

It happens to me sometimes too. If I know it won’t look good I just refuse. I absolutely won’t compromise and put my name behind a cake that isn’t my standard. I recently had someone ask for a 10”/8” wedding cake and I turned it down unless she was willing to let me do what I thought was best (biggest 2 tier I will do is 8/6, otherwise too clunky for my style!)

[@KarolynsKakes]

I totally agree!! And, if they want 2 large tiers, I don't understand why they wouldn't be okay with 3 smaller ones.

[@themegfox]

the sheer amount of unpostable cakes. that i have made in my life. for people who have no concept of a) the feasibility of their design or b) what will even look aesthetically pleasing… i’d have to shutter my doors forever. 😂😂😂 really just takes all the fun out of it too knowing that after all that hard work, i’m going to feel disappointed in it. the annoyance fee should be to charge double bc i can’t even use photos of those cakes to generate more business bc i don’t want to have to MAKE or out my name on any more orders like that! 😂😂😂

[@sarah35522]

I totally agree with you some people think that they know more when they have no clue how to decorate a cake. I hope you didn’t give her a refund you kept telling her she just thought her idea would be better but NOPE !! I feel like they will never get.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I didn't give her a refund, but I still hated seeing how disappointed she was. I knew it wasn't going to look right, but you can't change people's minds!

[@traciw71]

Just explain like you did here and they all will see the error of their ways. Great Video. Your messages comes off so sweet no one will be offended by hearing this. You are the professional. TW

[@MariaGonzalez-nn9gu]

That happens to me all the time. A client wanted an 150 cake for 30 people. They even told me the cake pan dimensions.

[@lindagonzalez6005]

I'm going to start asking fir annoyance feee lol u are soo right but no one understands until the customer is the one making it 😊

[@KarolynsKakes]

Exactly! I always say that. They can't appreciate it until they try it themselves.

[@cherylcobern4483]

Personally, i think it shouldnt matter how big of a cake they want, for however many ppl... A wedding cake being the exception. Some ppl like BIG pieces of cake, & most of those servings equate to about a 1, 1.5 in wide piece of cake... Some ppl like to freeze part of it for later... I think you should just make the customer whatever size they want, so long as they are willing to pay for it.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I understand if people want more cake to get bigger slices and / or have some left over. But it looks MUCH better if the proportions are correct!

[@faithcraig9195]

Yes! I totally get where you’re coming from. I just made a wedding cake that I was given a photo reference for. The original picture was a 4 tiered cake that probably fed 150 I’m guessing. It all was a bit of a pain since The Mother of the bride was the one placing the order and had to confer with her daughter after each discussion (how annoying is that?). But originally, the bride only wanted 3 tiers not 4, which wasn’t a problem for the design. However, I learned that it needed to feed around 300 people!!!!!! We got it all sorted in the end but whoowy🤦🏼‍♀️ Another one I did was a ugly single 10” cake that the lady specifically asked for. I ended up torting the layers just to get as much hight out of it as I could because it looked so squat and dumpy😂

[@KarolynsKakes]

3 tiers to feed 300?! How is that even done?! I'd love to know why she only wanted 3 tiers. Something to feed 300 would be 6 or 7 tiers! If I were asked to do that, I'd make a nice 3 tiered cake and extra cakes to cut and serve, not to be displayed.

[@faithcraig9195]

@@KarolynsKakes she only wanted 3 tiers because she thought it would be cheaper. I ended up making a 4 tiered cake and a full (undecorated) sheet cake for serving because the cake had to travel 2 hours to the venue and go up a flight of stairs, so I didn’t think it would be wise to make a taller cake lol. I also did not charge enough as the mother is a friend, so I just chocked it up to a learning experience.

[@JR-cj3jm]

Price is on the details….

[@madelineS98789]

For such a large one tier cake they may as well order a sheet cake!

[@cindylepo6784]

Annoyance fee 🤣🤣 I come across this issue from time to time and I simply tell them based on my experience I don't believe your design will give you the effect you desire. And I follow up by telling them that one huge cake is not less expensive, because cakes are based on number of servings and complexity of design. Most are open my expert opinion. I've done it for so long now I think I've ran across everything. I've been running across people wanting huge battel cakes...like 10 in. Or 12 ins. ...same problem! So disproportionate. I always talk them down to no bigger than 8 in.

[@KarolynsKakes]

I think most people who order cakes really have no idea about what looks right, that's why we have to educate them. They think a 12" / 14" 2 tier will look like the 6" / 8" in the picture they send and that's not the case!

[@divinetouch3084]

❤❤❤

[@bettymota7900]

😂😂😂 agree 100%

[@Lollos_Cakes]

Big cakes looks so 80s or 90s, "out of fashion", Also whenever I will make a big cake, it always end up dense! Not cute at all

[@KarolynsKakes]

Exactly! They just look better with some height.

[@user-yr2zp1nc2q]

I think the problem is people don’t know how to cut a cake lol everyone i know cuts a cake like you’d cut a pizza 😂

[@KarolynsKakes]

Yes!! I try to educate my customers and show them (I mime it with my hand). But a lot of people cut the wedge.

[@CLokilanirose]

My ick is when people want black butter cream wedding cakes, 😢the teeth staining😢

[@KarolynsKakes]

I agree! Cover it with fondant and eat the cake and white icing underneath!

[@Cakegirl485]

I live in an area of the country where you can’t have 200 dollar minimum orders, I have a 75 dollar minimum and that’s still shocking to ppl. So I usually turn down sheet cakes because the level of detail they want vs getting something at wal mart for 35 dollars I just can’t compete and they expect the 35 dollar price how do you handle that. Do you still charge 200 minimum for a sheet cake?

[@shwee1855]

you are NOT 46🤣🤣🤣, please share your diet or lifestyle tips

[@KarolynsKakes]

Thank you my new favorite person! 😂😂