FAQs
Advanced Ordering
How early should I place my order? How do I go about doing that?
As soon as you know that you would like a cake! The further I can plan in advance, the better. For instance, if you want a certain theme with your cake, I need time to order the kit, which takes an average of about a week to arrive. The earlier I can start planning, the more creative I can get with your cake. I do work full time during the day, so my availability is limited.
I don’t plan that far ahead, what is the minimum amount of notice that I can give?
For a simple cake, I ask for a minimum of 1 week notice but may accept orders 72 hours in advance. During my busy season (May-August), I ask for a minimum of 2 week notice if possible. For weddings, I need at least 2 months’ notice.
I designed a cake that I want, can you make it?
The best answer I can give you is maybe. I will do my best to get you exactly what you want but I have some limitations. As far as copyright images and characters, if you give me enough warning, I can try to purchase them legally or draw them with royal icing but I can’t guarantee that I can get them for you.
Can you do a gender reveal cake on short notice?
If you let me know in advance the size, flavor and design of the gender reveal cake you would like, I can turn around a gender reveal cake within 24-36 hours. I recommend either almond or vanilla cake (the only cake flavors that can be colored) and I will color the inside of the cake and frosting filling either blue or pink. You can either bring the envelope to me after your appointment if you don't want to know, or you can just send me a message after your appointment and I will get working on it.
Product Information
What is fondant?
Fondant is a sugar-based frosting that can be rolled on top of a cake or cut into shapes and placed strategically on a cake. If it is touching frosting, it will be soft and pliable; if it is out in the open, it will dry up and get hard. It is basically Play-Doh for adults but more expensive and you can eat it. I charge $10 per color for fondant on cakes. With the cost of the fondant and food coloring used, it gets expensive for me.
I have a food allergy, what can you do for me?
I am testing out recipes for gluten-free cakes but I can’t promise there won’t be any flour in the cake because flour seems to get everywhere. For nut allergies, I have a few recipes that do not contain nuts. If you are highly allergic to either of these, I leave it up to your discretion because I use the same cake pans for all of my cakes and even though they are washed thoroughly, you never know where flour or nut residue has made its home.
What flavors do you offer?
Please visit my Menu page, where I have listed my flavors. I am always up for new ideas and suggestions! Just send them my way far enough in advance and I will see what I can do!
Do I have to refrigerate my cake or cupcakes?
Cakes iced in fondant or with fondant decorations should NOT be refrigerated! The fondant will melt.
Cakes iced in buttercream do not need to be refrigerated and can be left on the counter until serving.
Cakes with cream cheese icing must be kept in a cool place, such as a basement.
Cakes with edible images should NOT be refrigerated! Please keep the packaging opened slightly as a closed container acts as a greenhouse and causes the image to bubble.
Cakes iced in buttercream do not need to be refrigerated and can be left on the counter until serving.
Cakes with cream cheese icing must be kept in a cool place, such as a basement.
Cakes with edible images should NOT be refrigerated! Please keep the packaging opened slightly as a closed container acts as a greenhouse and causes the image to bubble.
Do you put pictures on cakes? What are the rules?
I do have an edible image printer so I can put high quality photos on cakes if they are not under any form of copyright. You can email me a picture or I can scan it. If it is a copyright photo, I can try to find a way to get that photo on the cake for you. Edible images are $10 extra.
Do you have filling?
If I have a cake to fill, I typically fill it with the flavor of frosting on the cake. As a general rule, any filling that is not the frosting on the cake will be $10 extra.
Can I have my cake half chocolate and half white?
Yes, if you don’t like the idea of marble, I can do half and half. It will create a larger cake since it will be two cakes put together. An extra fee may be added and the frosting needs to be the same flavor to make sure they can be connected.
Wedding Information
Do you do wedding consultations?
I do! Being I have a full time job, your consultation has to be scheduled after 5pm Monday through Friday but it can be any time on weekends. It is best to schedule your appointment once you have decided upon a date, venue, and some of your reception details. 6-9 months before your wedding is a good rule of thumb but it is easier to choose your cake once you have the larger details in place so I am flexible on timing. You can figure a general starting price by multiplying the serving prices by the estimated number of servings you need. It is helpful to have a preliminary budget in mind before you come to the meeting. Try to be flexible about your design, practical about your budget, and mindful of your needs. Please bring any pictures, fabric, Pinterest boards, and any ideas which may aid us in creating a special cake for you.
Do you charge for wedding consultations?
A $50 consultation fee will be taken up front. This does not count towards the price of your order. Since I don't have a storefront and I have to bake full batches of cupcakes for each consultation, I require the $50 upon scheduling of the consultation, via Venmo or a check written to Lb Cakes.
Can you save my date?
Yes, I only book one wedding per weekend so this is encouraged! Most couples pay the $50 save the date fee at their wedding cake consultation but it can be paid at any time, at least 1 month before the wedding. This $50 goes towards the price of the order, the wedding consultation fee does not.
What flavors can I try at my wedding consultation?
You can sample of up to 3 flavors that you would like at your wedding. If you would like to try more than 3 flavors, an extra fee will be charged.
How many people can I bring to the consultation?
I would prefer to keep the consultation to under 4 people, including the bride and groom. Along with added expense for more samples, it can create chaos for the bride and groom if there are “too many cooks in the kitchen.”
How much are your cakes?
Prices depend on the number of servings you would like. You can get a general idea of how much your cake will be by checking out my Wedding page.
How do I save the cake for our first anniversary? Will it still be good in a year?
First, remove any ornaments or large breakable decorations. You can leave some smaller icing decorations if you want to keep it pretty. The top tier of all my cakes sit on an unwrapped cake board, so you should replace the board with one wrapped in foil. This will prevent a cardboard taste from seeping into the cake. Next, place the cake in the freezer for about 20 minutes. This will firm up the icing and prevent it from adhering to the wrap. Completely cover the cake with plastic wrap, making sure to wrap airtight. Follow by wrapping with at least 2 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. The more protection you give the cake, the less chance of freezer taste or freezer burn. You can also place the cake in a storage container or freezer bag. One day before your 1st anniversary, begin defrosting the cake in your refrigerator. After about 2 hours, remove the cake from its wrapping and continue to defrost. Just before serving, let the cake rest at room temperature.
Speaking from personal experience, I followed those exact steps and our wedding cake was delicious on our 1 year anniversary!
Speaking from personal experience, I followed those exact steps and our wedding cake was delicious on our 1 year anniversary!
General Information
How long have you been in business?
I have been baking cakes professionally since 2011 when I started taking cake classes and working in the SuperTarget bakery. Since 2013, I have been making cakes and cupcakes for family, friends, coworkers as Lb Cakes, an officially licensed bakery.
Do you deliver?
If I can drive to your destination from Grand Forks, North Dakota, I charge $0.75 per mile both ways.
Can I stop in to see what items are available for purchase?
I do not have a retail location, so you will need to check out my previous projects to see what I can do. You can check out my Facebook page or Instagram where I post all photos of my cakes and cupcakes. I do not have consultations for celebrations outside of weddings.
I only need 6 cupcakes. Why do I have to order a dozen?
I need to have order minimums to keep my costs manageable. Because I am a custom-order only bakery and I don’t have retail space, the extra cupcakes would become a waste and loss of revenue for me. Standard sized cupcakes have a minimum of 1 dozen (12 cupcakes) per flavor. Mini cupcakes have a minimum of 3 dozen (36 cupcakes) per flavor.
Do you offer any large order or corporate order discounts?
I do not offer discounts to anyone, not even family members. Being a small custom-order only bakery, I can’t afford to offer discounts. I keep my costs low enough to pay for ingredients and make a small profit margin.