Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order a cake ?
We have a wonderful staff that is trained to take your cake order and answer any questions you may have. They can also help you with design and flavor ideas. The number of cake orders we can accept is limited. When placing an order, please have an idea of how big a cake you need, or how many people you would like to feed as well as the sort of style or design you have in mind. Tell us your theme, colors, and any specific design ideas you have. We will also ask for detailed contact information, event information, preferred pick-up or delivery times, and payment or deposit information.
What about ordering cupcakes ?
Cupcakes are baked fresh each day and are available for purchase to walk-in customers. However, to ensure enough are made for each day, we prefer that orders be placed in advance if possible. Cupcake orders may be placed in person or over the phone, and must be paid in full at the time the order is placed. Orders may be placed for any quantity of cupcakes of the five du jour flavors currently available. If you would like to order a special flavor that is not being featured that day, we require a minimum order of one dozen cupcakes. Specialty cupcakes may also be ordered that have custom-made fondant or gumpaste decorations at extra cost.
How far in advance do I need to order?
If your cake is shaped like a cake, and feeds less than 100 people, we can probably do it with two days notice. That said, an awful lot of the time, we are making some pretty crazy cakes around here, and we need to cut off our weekend orders by Wednesday at 4 PM. The sooner you know what you want, the better. For 3D cakes, cakes with a lot of detail, or cakes to feed more than 100 people, we recommend that you order at least a month in advance. Most of our wedding cakes are booked 6 to 12 months in advance, and the crazy months of May, June, and October often sell out entirely.
Can I order a cake just like the one on your website ?
Some cakes, like our Argyle and ganache, drizzle cakes we make all the time, but many of the cakes on our website were made for past clients, and are meant to serve as examples of what is possible. We do not like to replicate cakes made for other clients or made by other cake designers. We do, however, use pictures and past cakes as inspiration for a new custom cake made just for you. Our goal is for each of our clients to have their own personal, unique cake creation!
How much is that cake on your website?
Basic cake pricing is on our menu page, but many of our cakes are custom creations, made for a specific person or event. Therefore, the price would not be relevant to your party or event. We cannot tell you how much a previous client paid for their cake, because cake prices depend on many different factors. However, if you are interested in a similar cake and are willing to provide us with some specific details about your desired cake, we would be happy to provide you with a base price estimate. Please call us for more information, or read more about our pricing information.
What are your cake prices?
Our basic a' la carte cake price is about $2.75 per serving, and our wedding package prices start at $5/serving for buttercream, $5.50/serving for buttercream with limited fondant design work, and starting at $6/serving for fondant covered cakes. Our base prices per slice can give you a general idea of the the estimated price of your cake. The base price includes the layered cake with flavored buttercream and filling, buttercream or fondant icing, and very simple decoration. Other factors that add to the price include cake sculpting, gum paste decorations, detailed piping, painting, airbrushing, or other time consuming design elements, and delivery. Price estimates will be provided when orders are placed, but final prices are usually not set until closer to the delivery date and are subject to change if necessary to compensate for unexpected time or level of difficulty. All cakes must be paid off in full with cash, debit, or credit card at least one week before delivery date, or the order may be canceled.
Do you deliver or ship cake?
Yes, we deliver. No, we do not ship cakes at this time. We prefer to deliver all wedding cakes and most large event cakes, as they may require some set-up. Delivery prices are calculated according to total travel distance. Local delivery cost is usually $15 - $25. There is no limit to the distance we are willing to deliver, however, our availability does limit whether or not we will be able to make some deliveries. Long deliveries or out-of-state deliveries may require special arrangements, so please contact us for more information or estimates.
What is a filled cake?
Except for our Kids Cakes, all Sugarland Cakes are filled. They have buttercream, custard, fresh fruit or any of our other specialty fillings between two layers of cake. Wedding and specialty cakes have 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of filling in each tier of cake.
How much cake do I need?
Our cakes are 4 inches tall, and we allow for 20-30% more cake per serving than bakers using the "Wilton Chart." At Sugarland, we believe in good Old-Fashioned Southern Hospitality-sized pieces of cake.
I would like a cake in the shape of....Can you do that?
Yes we can, and we do make those "Ace of Cake" style 3-D cakes. We love doing them and we are very lucky to have very fine artists here at Sugarland. Not all cakes can be made in all flavors, and they can get very costly since we have to make a lot of cake that gets thrown away in the carving process of design. Design charges are $35 an hour. We are happy to work with your budget in creating your cake. Options like 2D instead of 3D, or creating 3D figures for the top of a traditional cake are much more affordable and equally adorable. Traditional fondant covered cakes start at $48, 2D cakes start at $150, and 3D cakes start at $250.
What is fondant, anyway?
Fondant is a sugar paste that is made with many of the same ingredients as a marshmallow, but it's texture allows it to be rolled and shaped to create an infinite variety of designs. There are a lot of cake designers who use some pretty nasty fondant. Ours is fresh, and made with a recipe from a Swiss Chocolatier. If your cake design is best executed in fondant, we'll let you know, and we're happy to have you sample our fondant during your cake consultation.
I don't like fondant, can my cake be made with buttercream instead ?
Most cakes can be made with buttercream. They never have the truly flawless finish of a fondant covered cake, and we cannot do 2D or 3D cakes in buttercream.
I would like a cake decorated in bright colors, can you do that?
Absolutely! At Sugarland, we use natural food colors. It is important to know that especially dark or bright colors can be difficult to achieve, they can taste like their ingredients (dark red can taste a little "beety"), and they will definitely dye your mouth. We suggest that all bright decorations be executed in fondant.