“but I just need a simple cake”…

We hear these words a lot at the bakery.  I wish we never had to turn ANY cake orders away, as its just as frustrating for us as it is for the poor customers trying to order it. I thought it may be interesting to our customers to see the steps we take to create the cakes that you purchase from us. Also, it may help explain why we're not always able to make a cake with a short turn around time. When we’re asked on a Wednesday to make a cake for Thursday and we regretfully say no, this is why….

1^st, we bake the cake, which I know sounds fairly rudimentary. It just happens to be the first step in getting the cake on your dessert table. Each cake needs to be worked into the overall weekly bakery production schedule to ensure its as fresh as possible when you pick up your final cake.  We have a fairly small kitchen and its extremely important that things be scheduled well, in order to ensure production goes smoothly and according to each cake's pick up/delivery date. We have a great group of bakers that make sure our cakes are fresh, flavorful, and just plain delicious!

2^nd, we stack and layer the cake with buttercream and fillings in preparation for the actual cake decorating.  Caroline is one of our primary cake stackers,  and is photographed below. So when you pick up a cake and its perfectly straight and symmetrical, you can usually thank Caroline or Angie for its symmetry.

3^rd, we let the cake set in the refrigerator for at a couple of hours to ensure its firm enough for one of our designers to begin decorating the cake. This is an important step, as it creates a smooth background for the designers to start with.

4^th, each cake is assigned to a primary cake designer, and a design plan is created.  Using buttercream, fondant, gum paste, and a variety of other edible mediums, the cake designers create a mini piece of art that will hopefully provide you with lasting memories for years to come.  Aubrey, one of the cake designers,  has eluded my blog action pictures thus far. Therefore, I'm forced to post a picture of her from our 1 year anniversary celebration last week, dressed as a cupcake for the day:). She was a very good sport about it, and agreed to wear the costume after NOBODY else would! My VERY favorite part about the outfit is the green cherry stem on her head- Adorable!!! 

At certain times, we’ve tried to shorten some of these steps in order to be able to accommodate last minute orders. However, in the end, we found that people usually want something really unique when they come to our bakery.  And really “unique” cakes require time and preparation. So, in the event you may ask us to turn a cake around in 1 day and we’re not able to do so,  we ask that you be patient and give us some time to ensure your cake is truly a piece of art, and something that you’ll be proud to show to your family and friends!

For those times that you need something immediately, we have lots and lots of cupcakes and pull apart cakes to choose from!  Cupcakes are prepared fresh by our team members.  Below, you’ll see Caitlin Sacco preparing some of our delicious sticky toffee cupcakes to be covered in rich, creamy buttercream.  Sticky Toffee is ABSOLUTELY  a fan favorite. If you’re a patron of the bakery, and you haven’t tried it,  you should do so… quickly.  Its good stuff. 

Jack Buccella and Evan Dean are also part of our prep staff.  You can see them below high fiving, as the last of the cupcakes were made for the day.  I particularly enjoy this picture given they both have matching, hot pink,  polka dot aprons on. :)  We’re nothing, if not color coordinated, at the cake bar! 

So, I’ve rambled enough for one night. I need to get some sleep so I can jump out of the bed tomorrow and say, “its time to make the cupcakes!!!”, just like Michael Vale did in 1983 -a little 80’s New England pop culture reference for you all:).  Props to anyone who actually knew Michael Vale’s name too – I had to look it up!  Tracie

And ps, the cake bar staff will be laughing at the thought of me jumping out of bed to make cupcakes. The visual is funny though, and that’s all that matters really :)